When you merge a PR the team has been working on for a few months into develop, it's kind of a thing you want to celebrate.
Today is the day. We are thrilled to announce the release of OpenBB Platform v4 Beta, marking a significant milestone in our journey.
Less than a year ago, we introduced OpenBB Platform v3, a powerful tool that offered a vast array of data and functionality.
It was a collaborative effort, with over 200 talented open-source contributors collaborating to create something truly remarkable. The platform served as a gateway to Python for many newcomers, igniting their passion for coding and inspiring them to contribute.
However, v3 was not without its challenges.
While it boasted an impressive collection of almost 1000 commands and almost 100 data providers, some of these providers relied on web scraping techniques.
As time went on, maintaining these web scraping functions became increasingly burdensome, resulting in broken functionality. The design of the platform also presented difficulties, with the codebase resembling a plate of tangled spaghetti.
Don't get me wrong; despite the challenges, v3 was a true culinary delight. Like a plate of delectable spaghetti, it offered a rich and aromatic sauce crafted by a diverse group of contributors from all corners of the globe. The combination of flavors resulted in a mouthwatering bouquet of financial data, satisfying even the most discerning of data connoisseurs. However, the spaghetti code structure made it difficult to maintain, add new features, and fix issues.
Recognizing the need for change, our team set out on a mission to transform the platform. And transform it, we did. Instead of a plate of delicious spaghetti, we now present you with a platter of exquisite ravioli, each one more delightful than the last. With our new modular approach, you can choose the specific functionality you need, customize your experience, and enjoy a variety of flavors, sauces, and toppings.
Through conversations with our users, we discovered that at the heart of it all, what they truly desired was the data. While some enjoyed our interactive charts and parametrized Jupyter notebook reports, the core of their experience centered around accessing reliable and comprehensive financial data.
And so, we went after the data. During the process of rewriting the platform, we focused on creating a more modular, resilient, maintainable, testable, and scalable infrastructure. Along the way, we developed several outstanding features and tools, each deserving of its own dedicated post. But for now, let us whet your appetite with what's cooking in OpenBB Platform v4:
Light-weight core: With less than 20 top level dependencies, as opposed to 400-ish in v3, the platform is now leaner and faster than ever.
Extensions: Choose the functionality you need, tailored to your unique requirements.
Data provider integrations: Our new framework seamlessly integrates data from a variety of sources. Experience the power of a harmonized datasets with blazingly fast data field validation powered by Pydantic.
REST API: Out-of-the-box support for building robust and scalable web applications.
Python interface: Our meticulously crafted documentation and interfaces make it a pleasure to work with the platform in Python.
At OpenBB, we understand that “you are only as good as your data”. Your models, research, and insights rely on the quality and reliability of your data. With OpenBB Platform v4, we have refined our focus, ensuring that accessing high-quality financial data is now easier and more efficient than ever before.
So come and feast on the delightful ravioli that is [OpenBB Platform v4]. Join us in celebrating this milestone achievement and experience the difference. Together, let's unlock the power of comprehensive and integrated financial data like never before.
pip install openbb --pre
Stay tuned for more in-depth posts on each of our exciting new features. In the meantime, feel free to explore OpenBB Platform v4 and embark on a data-driven journey that will elevate your financial research to new heights.
To browse the OpenBB Platform v4 source code, visit our GitHub repository and be a part of our global community of over 25,000 passionate developers.
Let's build a better future, one data point at a time.
Bon appétit!