Distributed Data

• We've been distributing data for a long time.
• The Internet (1.0) itself is just a collection of data.
• It's easy if there's one copy of the data.
• It's easy if there are multiple copies of the data and they are all exact duplicates.
• Having multiple copies and versions can lead to problem.
• If version 1 says that Gordon Brown is Prime Minister, and version Red says David Cameron is, which one is it?
• Moreover, versions can get saved in different formats.
• Revision control systems can help here.
• However problems can continue when data forks, and multiple different copies are kept.