1,583
edits
Changes
→Motivation
== Motivation ==
The main focus of a Gramps-based webapp is collaboration. The Gramps webapp will allow users to easily move their genealogy data to the web to be seen, and possibly editedwith proper login and permissions, in a live, collaborative environment.
Here is a small list of goals:
## Reports
## Tools
## VisualizationVisualizations## Date and calendar functions## Translations## Manual and documentation
# Use standards and well-known, well-tested frameworks where possible
## WSGI protocol for running code
## Django framework
## Underlying powerful database engines
=== FAQ ===
1. ''Aren't there already many fine, web-based genealogy programs? Why don't you just use one of those? Aren't you re-inventing the wheel?''
There are indeed many fine, web-based genealogy programs, and some are even free software/open source. However, there are a few good reasons to develop a Gramps-based webapp:
# Gramps has hundreds of thousands of lines of code, some of which could be re-used directly in a webapp. For example, the reports could be run and downloaded directly from the webapp.
# Gramps has a very well-defined set of tables and relationships that could be re-implemented for on-line use.
# Users have grown to appreciate the design of Gramps, and we want to continue to build on this design.
# Many users want to collaborate. Currently, they would either have to move their data in and out of Gramps, or give up Gramps completely.
# We want to keep the developers and users that we have, and so not splinter our groups. By linking
2. ''Why do you need a web framework like Django? Can't you just use the same Python code, and same database?''
We can't use the same database (what is called a "backend") directly. Currently Gramps uses BSDDB, and it is not configured for use in a multiuser, client/server environment. But even if we could use the same backend, we would still want some type of web development framework. Django is one of the best in any language, and it just happens to be in Python.
== Overview ==
