  The arXiv is the most popular preprint repository in the world. Since its
inception in 1991, the arXiv has allowed researchers to freely share
publication-ready articles prior to formal peer review. The growth and the
popularity of the arXiv emerged as a result of new technologies that made
document creation and dissemination easy, and cultural practices where
collaboration and data sharing were dominant. The arXiv represents a unique
place in the history of research communication and the Web itself, however it
has arguably changed very little since its creation. Here we look at the
strengths and weaknesses of arXiv in an effort to identify what possible
improvements can be made based on new technologies not previously available.
Based on this, we argue that a modern arXiv might in fact not look at all like
the arXiv of today.
