Datashades.info is a comprehensive search hub and discovery tool for the global CKAN community, designed to enhance the accessibility and usability of open data.

Developed by Link Digital, Datashades.info serves as a vital resource for navigating the expansive landscape of CKAN data portals. As the number of these portals worldwide continues to grow, finding and understanding the vast repositories of public information they hold can be a significant challenge. Datashades.info addresses this by providing a centralized, user-friendly platform to search, explore, and gain insights into these valuable open data sources. One unique quality is that many of the portals have been indexed over several years, so user can see how portals have evolved over time. The project is entering a new stage of development in 2025 and new features will progressively be added to deliver more value for the CKAN community. Today, the platform offers users a visually engaging and intuitive experience, allowing them to discover data portals through an interactive map and a powerful search interface. Each listed portal is accompanied by a summary of its key statistics, offering a quick and clear overview of its contents and scope. This focus on user experience aims to make open data more approachable and actionable for a broad audience, from seasoned data scientists and researchers to journalists and engaged citizens. By facilitating the discovery and understanding of open data portals, Datashades.info plays a crucial role in the civic tech ecosystem. It empowers individuals and organizations to more effectively find and utilize public data, fostering greater transparency, enabling evidence-based decision-making, and supporting the development of innovative, data-driven solutions to civic challenges. In essence, Datashades.info acts as a vital piece of infrastructure for the open data community, promoting the discoverability and use of public information and, in doing so, strengthening the foundations of civic technology and democratic engagement.