Abstract

The digital scholarly edition (DSE) concept is reviewed and discussed, as well as the various denominations used to refer to it. The study investigates the scope of the quality standards set for this type of edition and explores the software available for its publication. The work is completed with an evaluative analysis of a sample of applications, delving into their characteristics, the constraints on the user interfaces to which they give access, and how well they meet the standards. The conclusions confirm the urgent need to critically and systematically evaluate edition software. The gradual development of open and interoperable software stands out as a positive result, based on the coding of texts following the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI), which optimizes data reuse and preservation. However, the durability of web interfaces and the sustainability of these digital projects require adequate research infrastructures, for which it is proposed to promote synergies with libraries and traditional publishers, among other mediators. Finally, to advance with the adaptation of publishing models to the digital paradigm, the need for the academic community to agree on DSE display formats is underlined, as well as to undertake user studies that guarantee the adaptation of DSEs to the target audience they address.