About CHADDB
The Technical Side of CHADDB
CHADDB's database table definitions lend to its modularity. This fundamental design allows front-end developers to add functionality to CHADDB through modules. The modular development model offers several advantages over the monolithic development model. CHADDB is flexible enough to allow the user to modify existing functions or even create their own functions.
One of the major advantages of CHADDB is that it can be run on GNU/Linux, Mac, and Windows systems. Some users will want to run CHADDB in native mode, that is, as a basic stand-alone client-server application. Other churches will want to use its web-interface as a web-enabled application. Churches whose members are familiar with the World Wide Web will want to take advantage of the web reporting capabilities inherent in CHADDB.
CHADDB & Relationships
Relationships are important. Christianity has always focused on the relationship we have with our Creator. Because modern families are not always easy to define, and because the relationships within those families change over time, maximum flexibility is accorded to the church for showing the connections between various members. For instance, sometimes one spouse is saved, while the other is not. Children grow up and start families of their own. Now they are spouses and parents.
CHADDB allows churches to show when relationships change - and how. Churches can see the various ways in which attendees are affiliated with the church. Some may be occasional visitors, while others may be both members and contractors. With one child in high school, another in college, and a third in the military stationed away from home, CHADDB allows churches to send the offspring abroad e-mail and care packages.
Events & Attendance
In larger churches, it's much more difficult to realize a member's attendance is dropping off until they've been absent for some time. If small group leaders use CHADDB's group reporting function, the church leadership will know when people who have been attending faithfully are starting to miss activities. They can make a phone call, or visit the person to be sure they're doing o.k.
With CHADDB, churches will be able to publish their activity calendars to the web. Each church defines its own activities, but worship services, demographic group meetings, and special occasions can all be a part of the calendar.
History
Don Parris, Pastor of Matheteuo Christian Fellowship, was unaware of any serious church management software available for GNU/Linux systems. While his fledgling ministry could run on OpenOffice.org, he anticipated the need for a more powerful solution. In January 2003 he began defining the tables of CHADDB for MySQL. In May 2004, he released the CHADDB code under the General Public License. Three months later, in response to a NewsForge article, "GNU Believers", Carl Mosca offered to build the Java front-end. Marcus Monroe also recently joined the team as a documentation writer.
CHADDB's Development Team
- Don Parris
- This bi-vocational, ordained minister leading a house church is also self-taught, especially where computers are concerned. Don has taught basic computer skills, developed web sites, installed three different GNU/Linux distributions, and is familiar with MySQL, and PHP. He is perhaps best known for his GNU/Linux advocacy to the universal Church. He has written two booklets, two articles, and was featured in a third article.
- Carl J. Mosca
- Is an experienced Java developer, who moved to Java when it first arrived on the scene.
- Marcus Monroe
- A high school senior, Marcus already has several years experience with networking and a bit of PHP. He also has some graphics design and web experience under his belt.