Brazil Court Adopts Open-Source Software

Brazil's federal district and territories court (TJDFT) has decided to migrate to an open-source platform having implemented a database system supplied by local software firm InterSystems, according to a TJDFT statement.

TJDFT's migration is aligned with the current government's policy of stimulating the adoption of open-source technology.

The court automated its processes in 1997 using InterSystems' Cache databank solution with the help of its own team of developers. The tool permits judges, directors and appeals court judges to access processes remotely and update opinions or send procedures.

Today, 14 of the court's 15 Cache databanks are already based on Linux platforms. The next step will be to migrate the court's administrative systems within a month. Full migration should be finished by February of 2005 and its success so far is attributed to the high level of Cache automation, according to TJDFT technology sub secretary Bernardo Araujo.

"The solution is extremely adaptable and created an environment highly favorable for the migration," he said.

The new system is expected to have 30 percent better performance and higher availability. TJDFT expects to double the number of system users from 1,500-1,800 staff members using it today.