Database Report

Team:

The database project consists of the following developers Susmita Basu (new to Computerbank),  Michael Cassidy (returning member), Greg Hubbard, Wendy Langer (returning member), Con Validas (soon to go overseas),- Project Leader  Jan Smith
Overview This project commenced in April 2007.  The aim is to design and build a web based database to cover most of Computerbank's work processes. The database will cover contact details, sales, user support, free training, computers, inventory and eWaste. We will release the completed database code it may be useful to other non profit computer recycling groups.

Preparation: Before Phase one could be started we researched our existing in house database Rhadam to make a note of its strengths and weakness.  We installed and examined the US Free Geek database and reported on its strengths and weaknesses.  From this base we are now compiling a schema for phase one. 

We are using PostgreSQL for the database and Django for the web based front end.

Con has set up a development box known as Mandrake, at Computerbank.  Mandrake has Apache, Subversion, Python, PostreSQL and Django. We are using Subversion for version control and the web based Launchpad for our blueprints, bug tracking and FAQ's 

Phase one of the project is to revise the fields for clients and their computers and build a more user friendly web user interface. This does not use any of the pre existing code or content.  The content was deemed corrupted by the inability to record a second computer against a person, the inability to record our faster computers and a couple of other gremlins cause by the fact that there weren't many automated entry checks in Rhadam.

Phase two will be adding inventory and ewaste areas.

Detailed information on this project available at:

Database Wiki

Launchpad

regards
Jan Smith