Skip to main content
Version: 1.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ODE installation, usage, and development.

General Questions

What is ODE?

Open Data Ensemble (ODE) is a platform for mobile data collection and synchronization. It provides tools for creating forms, collecting data offline, and synchronizing data across devices and servers.

Is ODE free to use?

Yes, ODE is open source and free to use. The code is available under the MIT license.

What platforms does ODE support?

ODE supports Android and iOS mobile devices. The server component runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Do I need internet connectivity to use ODE?

No, ODE is designed to work offline. Data is stored locally and synchronized when connectivity is available.

Installation Questions

What are the system requirements?

See the Prerequisites page for detailed system requirements.

Can I run ODE in the cloud?

Yes, ODE can be deployed to cloud platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure. See the Deployment guide for details.

Do I need a database?

Yes, ODE requires PostgreSQL for data storage. The database schema is created automatically on first run.

Usage Questions

How do I create forms?

Forms are defined using JSON schema. See the Form Design guide for details.

Can I customize the user interface?

Yes, ODE supports custom applications and renderers. See Custom Applications for details.

How does synchronization work?

ODE uses a bidirectional sync protocol that pushes local data to the server and pulls new data from the server. See Synchronization for details.

What happens if two devices modify the same data?

ODE automatically resolves conflicts using a version-based approach. The most recent version takes precedence.

Development Questions

How do I contribute to ODE?

See the Contributing guide for information on how to contribute.

Can I extend ODE functionality?

Yes, ODE is designed to be extensible. See Extending ODE for details.

What programming languages are used?

ODE uses React Native for mobile apps, React for web components, and Go for the server.

Troubleshooting

The app won't connect to the server

  • Verify the server is running and accessible
  • Check the server URL in app settings
  • Verify firewall and network settings
  • For Android emulator, use 10.0.2.2 instead of localhost

Forms are not appearing

  • Verify forms were uploaded to the server
  • Check that the app has synchronized
  • Review server logs for errors

Data is not synchronizing

  • Check network connectivity
  • Verify authentication credentials
  • Review server logs for sync errors
  • Ensure observations were saved locally

Build errors

  • Ensure all prerequisites are installed
  • Check that dependencies are up to date
  • Review error messages for specific issues
  • See component-specific documentation for build instructions

Getting Help

If you cannot find an answer to your question: