Welcome to the community-aid wiki!
This is a LAMP-based (as in Linux+Apache+Middleware+PostgreSQL) Call Centre system to support local communities. Operators keep track of incomming calls, do calls back to the clients. Interface is via web browser.
I picked up the project as my volunteering effort for the local community in Blanchardstown, Dublin and it grew into a full scale development. In 2005 I went out to help the local community Call Center with configuration of their Linux server and they asked, if I could make some changes and add some features to the system. And so it began :-).
The idea came from GoodMorning project (http://www.goodmorningproject.org/ ). The guys have developed the software for community Call Centre in Glasgow and it served them well. I want to express my gratitude to the guys for the idea and the software they developed!
As the result of my effort, I made more changes that I anticipated. The system was re-written from scratch. The database layout was changed (introduced new tables, data integrity improved by use of foreign keys, stored procedures and triggers), PHP code undergone great deal of changes.
The original GoodMorning system uses MySQL as the database backend. Community-Aid system uses PostgreSQL , which has reputation of the most advanced Open Source database. Features like foreign keys, stored procedures were present in PostgreSQL long before it was implemented in MySQL. And compliance with industry standards is the halmark of this RDBMS.
There is huge choice of operating systems in Open Source world. Combination Apache+PHP+PostgreSQL runs on nearly any UNIX or UNIX-like OS (free or otherwise) , but having installation manual for every OS is impossible. I'm going to describe installation on both BSD and Linux, although I describe installation process on only two flavours: Debian Linux and FreeBSD UNIX. If you an experienced UNIX user, you can get the system up and running with no problem at all on any other OS of your choice where Apache+PHP+PostgreSQL runs. If you need help or the manual seems unclear, let me know and I'll be more than happy to help you.
I did my best to improve the system. Hope the software will be of help to your community. Please, let me know how it works for you and feel free to comment or request new features.
If you need help to install the whole or a part of the system or a complete Call Centre solution (design, networking, software installation, etc.), feel free to contact me. We will discuss your requirements and come up with the solution tailored to your needs.
Alex.
Next: Installation manual
