Rewrite of database activity module

Rewrite of database activity module

by David Bogner -
Number of replies: 6
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Hi,

the Austrian Ministry of Education wants to have a tool, that is used for accreditation (displaying information of teachers, who have a certain certified knowledge). The database module provides already most of the features required for such a tool.

Furthermore we (virtuelle-ph.at) use the database module a lot, but there is space for improvements in usability and features.

So rewriting (or improving) the database module would be perfect for killing two angry birds with one stone wink.

There will be funding to finance the whole project. And it would be a good way to improve the database module, that has not been improved since a long time. It would be nice to have this in the Moodle core modules too.

All features, that are very specific for the accreditation feature could than be developed as a small fork from the actual database module, but as far as it is useful for general use of the database module, it would make sense to include them into the module.

From the point of view of the core developers: Would you appreciate an improvement of the database module?

Some possible improvements:

If that would be wanted for Moodle core, I could develop a complete feature list and also discuss all possible improvements.

A second possibility would be to entirely fork the database module and develop a accreditation module separately, but that would have by far less benefits for the community and for us too. Deadline should be october 1st, this year, so a quite narrow time schedule.

I have to develop specs, feature list, etc. very soon. So this would be an essential decision for either going the way improving database activity (that has most of the features for accreditation module included + usability improvements), or to develop an accreditation module separately.


Best regards,

David

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In reply to David Bogner

Re: Rewrite of database activity module

by Itamar Tzadok -

Hi David,

There already is a "rewrite" of the database module that is called Dataform and that already realizes some of the features you mention (and many others), e.g. multiple views, multiple view types, notifications, reuired fields and other formatting rules etc. See http://substantialmethods.com/subject/view.php?id=4 for more info (although no complete docs yet). Funding would probably make it possible to realize the rest of your wish list by Oct. 1st. Message me if this could work for you.

Itamar smile

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In reply to Itamar Tzadok

Re: Rewrite of database activity module

by David Bogner -
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Hi Itamar,


that would definitely be a very good possibility. I will have I look at it and get in touch with you.


Best regards,

David

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In reply to David Bogner

Re: Rewrite of database activity module

by David Bogner -
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Hi Tim and Itamar,


thank you for your responses. I am evaluating right now how to proceed. Our goal would be to improve the core module of the database, but I don't know why there is no actual improvement on the module.

We would prefer to fund such an improvement in the core. If that is not possible, for any reason, we would choose, one of the other solutions dataform or dataplus to adapt to our needs (We are still evaluating these two modules).

As we use the database activity a lot in our courses, we would prefer an improved core database activity, with increased usability in core, than to have to switch to a fork. I think that would be more sustainable. It would also be an advantage for our daily use of Moodle. Our course creators have much difficulty to create good looking databases, whereas it is a wonderful learning tool, when it is designed in a good way.


Best regards,

David

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In reply to David Bogner

Re: Rewrite of database activity module

by Itamar Tzadok -

When the dataform started Martin suggested that it could be considered for replacing the standard module precisely in the sense that it offered desired improvements of the standard module. The dataform could still get to the core one day. It is definitely developed with that in mind. smile 

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In reply to David Bogner

Re: Rewrite of database activity module

by Tim Hunt -
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OU's dataplus uses sqllight to store the data, not Moodle's database. As such you need to install other things to make it work, so it is unlikely to be added to Moodle core - but it is valuable to have it as a contrib module for people who want to go through the necessary set-up for the flexibility it brings.

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