For whom is LarKC?
The LarKC platform architecture allows an effective combination of techniques coming from different disciplines by following a service-oriented computing approach. Following such approach, a complex problem may be split in simpler pieces (the LarKC plug-ins) which can be composed in an execution workflow and combined in an appropriate manner for the execution of a concrete task. This structure enables researchers and practitioners to run their own experiments and applications, and should allow scaling well beyond what is currently possible. The pieces of data access and reasoning functionality contained in the plug-ins, having self-contained functionality, may be reused for multiple applications.
Target Groups
The LarKC Platform targets three groups of users:
Plug-in developers: they design and implement single plug-ins and deploy them in the Platform for future use. They should focus on chapter 4 and 5 of the platform manual. Chapter 2 is recommendable, in order to get an idea of the different Platform components and the overall architecture.
Workflow designers: they select existing plug-ins and combine them in the appropriate way to solve a certain task, either by implementing a scripted Decider or an intelligent one. As the previous category, they should focus on chapter 4 and 5 of the platform manual. Chapter 2 is recommendable, in order to get an idea of the different Platform components and the overall architecture.
End-users: their main task within LarKC is to use the services provided by the Platform, i.e. a particular workflow configuration to execute SPARQL queries1. This includes both interaction with existing application interfaces and application designers who implement applications that use the services provided by the Platform. The most interesting part for them is chapter 3 of the platform manual. Chapter 2 is only recommendable in case they are interested to know how the LarKC Platform is designed.
Platform Manual
The complete platform manual can be download from Sourceforge.