Hardtack FAQ |
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What is Hardtack?Hardtack is a web site and demonstration application of a concept called "content based integration." Hardtack was built using a platform for RSS based integration called "Boomerang." Boomerang was developed by OSG to employ the power of content based integration towards enterprise computing, and large scale data scavenging and aggregation. The concept behind Hardtack is simple - provide a means to monitor high level statistics on hundreds of local, state and region real estate markets across the United States. To do this Hardtack employs a small program called a "Feedlet" that treats the web as a database. These Feedlets scavenge real estate listings from web sites and aggregates them based on location, product type, price and a list of other attributes. These aggregate listings are then used to compute market statistics, which are formed into web usable content. A small web site then is able to use this content and display it to users in a variety of forms. What is Boomerang and Savant?Boomerang is a technology concept created by OSG. Boomerang creates components and templates to enable content based integration from a wide variety of data sources. The basis for Boomerang is a framework called the "FeedKit" that provides a plug and play template for the most common pieces of a Boomerang implementation. Savant is the commercial implementation of Boomerang that OSG uses to produce content focused applications for its customers. Using Savant, OSG is able to rapidly implement cutting edged applications for customers, with a typical time span from concept to delivery as short as 90 days. Savant applications process and refine even the most time critical and data sensitive applications in the enterprise. Our solutions help power brand names, providing tactical business intelligence. Where does the data come from?The data behind Hardtack comes from real estate web sites. Most notably realtor.com. “Hardtack monitors and tracks an extensive list of markets across the United States.”
Why did you build Hardtack?Hardtack came about as an intersection of ideas. We were implementing applications with Savant, and wanted a public "demonstrator" of what the technology was capable of. It needed to be an interesting subject, display some useful information that was not available by normal means, and should be fast to implement. At the same time, our Savant customers had a level of interest in the US real estate market. Knowing how the market is moving, where it is gaining strength, where it is slowing down is very important to them, and a wide variety of companies that were not yet our customers. Hardtack was built to provide a high level summary metric on top of this important market. Nice application, what do you intend to do with this data?All of our data is at a summary level for each town, city, state, region and nationally. We have no intention of every publishing specific MLS data for an individual property, or playing any direct role in a local market. The information on this site is likely to help consumers looking to buy or sell real estate do so with greater information backing their decisions, and that is probably a good thing. Can you build a system like Hardtack for my business / industry?We can certainly try! Contact OSG and we can start a discussion. Who is OSG?OSG is a technology company based in Dallas, Texas. OSG provides professional services to Fortune 1000 companies in addition to developing cutting edge tools like Savant. Who wrote Hardtack?
Bruce Henderson - Concept and Design What markets are you tracking?Hardtack monitors and tracks an extensive list of markets across the United States. For a complete list, please check out the application. Are there more statistics than what you display on the web site?At present we are showing a subset of the metrics we are collecting through Hardtack. As we grow and expand this site we are looking forward to bringing you new views of what is happening in real estate, and new features on this site. Please stay tuned. |
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