Development [LWN.net]

ClaSS - a Web-Based Student Information System

ClaSS, the ClaSS Student System is a project based on the LAMP structure (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP..) that provides a web-based administration system for educational institutions. The project was started in 2002, and is headed by Stuart T. Johnson. [ClaSS]

ClaSS is a complete and integrated student information management system turned on its head. It takes a classroom-first approach to collecting and disseminating information in the most dynamic of ways.

By placing at the disposal of teaching staff the wealth of information traditionally horded in management databases and spreadsheets, it encourages early intervention in the learning process based on authoritative data. Speeding the recording of data and freeing staff from the duplication of administrative effort, it brings ease, efficiency, and immediacy to all the information processes in a school.

A single installation of ClaSS on a web-server allows access to the system for all staff from the classroom, office, or home. All that is necessary for access is a networked PC (running ANY operating system) loaded with the web-browser Firefox. This provides a single point of access to all information and functions (dependent on access permissions) through a unified and easy to learn web-based user-interface.

Class provides a long list of features, including storage of information about students, curricula, and teacher schedules. It allows this information to be organized and output in various report formats. ClaSS can also be used to organize online course material.

The Technical Whitepaper (PDF) provides an overview of the project architecture, its history, and its goals.

The Administrator's Guide discusses the terminology used for ClaSS, and explains what is involved in setting up a working ClaSS environment.

The online demo site is perhaps the best way to get a feel for the system.

According to the installation FAQ, ClaSS dependencies include PHP, Apache 1.3, MySQL, and PEAR::DB. The project has yet to be tested with PHP5 or Apache2, volunteer help is needed.

Release 0.6.1 of ClaSS was recently announced: "Update to the 0.6 version includes a couple of bug-fixes which are critical to a correct installation process."

Support for ClaSS is still in the planning stages. There is a business opportunity available for a company that can provide ClaSS support.

ClaSS seems ideally suited for schools with a tight budget, and an IT staff that is reasonably proficient in the use of open-source software.

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System Applications

Database Software

Firebird 1.5.3 RC 3 is avalable

Release Candidate 3 of the Firebird 1.5.3 database is available. "This sub-release introduces a number of retrospective fixes to bugs that became apparent and were fixed in the Firebird 2 tree during the pre-alpha and alpha phases of the Firebird 2 development. This release candidate (RC3) will become the released version in about two weeks, provided no regressions are discovered."