Free D Path
 | |
| Original author(s) | Fred Mayall |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust |
| Initial release | April 2012 (1.1)[1] |
| Discontinued |
5.2.2 (Unknown) [±] |
| Preview release | none [±] |
| Written in | FileMaker Pro |
| Platform | Cross-platform |
| Type | Reporting software |
| License(s) | GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 |
| Website | freedp.org |
Free D Path was free open-source web-based reporting software built for proprietary closed-source FileMaker Pro. The software was developed primarily for histopathologists.
Product history
The U.K.'s Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust were tasked with improving the delivery of pathology services through an NHS Improvement project in 2012. After not finding an available system capable of doing what they wanted, they opted to create their own cancer pathology system.[2] The team chose to use FileMaker Pro, noting benefits such as how "it was possible to update the software without shutting it down and interrupting work — this allowed the medical staff to improve the software in many small steps; checking and adjusting each step as it was implemented."[3] However, a GitHub project lead later recognized despite the benefits, "a major drawback in that it has a dependency on the proprietary and closed source FileMaker application."[4]
The first version was released to the public in April 2012, though it's not clear where it was made available. Development continued, with expansions in reporting templates or "pro formas" for a wide variety of cancers.[2] As development continued through 2013, a website was set up in March[5] and several articles appeared in the media discussing the software.[2][3][6]
On March 5, 2014, the source was dropped on GitHub as "a big blob of FileMaker Pro file," released under an OSI-approved open-source license. The project initiator stated "[w]e have 'forked' this [intellectual property] here, in the hope that there may be interest in refactoring the project to use a genuinely open source platform."[4]
In late 2017 or early 2018, the Free D Path website stopped functioning. No new activity seems to have been made on the open-sourced files, though the software seems to still be supported commercially by Diagnostic Path Solutions.[7] The open-source efforts seem to be dead.
Features
The developer has not made the features of this software clear, other than to note it has histopathology reporting templates for a variety of cancers. Base features were assumed to be those of the FileMaker Pro platform.
Hardware/software requirements
A trial or full version of FileMaker Pro 11, 12, or 13 was required. The developer had stated the files may eventually get updated to FileMaker Pro 13 format, but for now they remain formatted for version 11.
Videos, screenshots, and other media
Entities using Free D Path
Further reading
External links
References
- ↑ "The Free Diagnostic Pathology Software Project". Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust. http://freedp.org/. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Evenstad, Lis (9 August 2013). "Pathologist creates open source software". E-Health Insider. EHealth Media. http://www.ehi.co.uk/news/EHI/8820/pathologist-creates-open-source-software. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bridgwater, Adrian (4 June 2013). "NHS cancer diagnostic pathology thriving in open source". Open Source Insider - Computer Weekly. TechTarget. http://www.computerweekly.com/blogs/open-source-insider/2013/06/nhs-cancer-diagnostic-pathology-thriving-in-open-source.html. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "FreeDPath". GitHub. https://github.com/openGPSoC/FreeDPath. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ↑ "The Free Diagnostic Pathology Software Project". Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust. 10 March 2013. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130419092930/http://freedp.org/2013/03/10/index/. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ↑ Swabey, Pete (11 April 2013). "Open-source cancer diagnosis". Information Age. Vitesse Media. http://www.information-age.com/it-management/strategy-and-innovation/123456962/open-source-cancer-diagnosis. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ↑ "About Us". Diagnostic Path Solutions. http://www.diagnosticpathsolutions.com/about-us.html. Retrieved 04 May 2018.
