explaingit

argosback/jcgenealogy

Analysis updated 2026-07-16 · repo last pushed 2018-02-01

PHPAudience · ops devopsComplexity · 3/5DormantSetup · moderate

TLDR

A self-hosted web application for recording and displaying family trees. You install it on your own server so you keep full ownership of all your genealogy data.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Record family relationships
      Display family trees
      Store ancestors and descendants
    Tech stack
      PHP
      MySQL
      Apache web server
    Use cases
      Private genealogy database
      Family history society sharing
      Hobbyist genealogists
    Audience
      Self-hosters
      Server admins
      Privacy-minded users
    Status
      Still in development
      Command-line install

Code map

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What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Build and maintain a private family tree on your own server.

USE CASE 2

Share a collaborative genealogy tree among members of a small family history society.

USE CASE 3

Record ancestors and descendants in a structured digital format instead of paper charts.

What is it built with?

PHPMySQLApache

How does it compare?

argosback/jcgenealogybpleslie/laguna-techjeffwidman/wp-svbtle
LanguagePHPPHPPHP
Last pushed2018-02-012017-12-202022-03-16
MaintenanceDormantDormantDormant
Setup difficultymoderatehardmoderate
Complexity3/51/52/5
Audienceops devopsdeveloperwriter

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · moderate Time to first run · 30min

Requires a server with Apache, PHP, and MySQL already installed and running a command-line installation script.

In plain English

jcGenealogy is a tool for building and displaying family trees. It's designed to help you record family relationships, ancestors, and descendants in a structured digital format, rather than relying on paper charts or scattered documents. Behind the scenes, it runs as a self-hosted web application. This means you set it up on your own server or web hosting account, and then access it through a web browser, much like visiting a website. The project is built using common web technologies, a web server called Apache, the PHP programming language, and a MySQL database to store all the family information you enter. Getting it running involves downloading the project files and running an installation script that handles the initial setup. This tool would appeal to someone who wants to maintain their own private genealogy database rather than using a commercial online service. A hobbyist genealogist who already manages a personal server, or a small family history society that wants to share a collaborative tree among members without relying on third-party platforms, would find this useful. It gives you direct ownership of the data and where it lives. The project is still in development, as noted in its documentation, so it may not have the polish or full feature set of a mature commercial product. The installation process is geared toward someone comfortable with basic server administration, it expects you to have Apache, PHP, and MySQL already in place and involves running a script from the command line. The README doesn't go into detail about specific features like chart types, data import/export options, or user management, so those capabilities aren't clear from the available documentation.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
I want to self-host a family tree web app using Apache, PHP, and MySQL. Help me plan the server setup and installation steps for jcGenealogy.
Prompt 2
Help me compare running my own genealogy tool like jcGenealogy versus using a commercial online service, focusing on data ownership and privacy.
Prompt 3
Write a step-by-step checklist for installing a self-hosted PHP and MySQL web application on a personal server from the command line.

Frequently asked questions

What is jcgenealogy?

A self-hosted web application for recording and displaying family trees. You install it on your own server so you keep full ownership of all your genealogy data.

What language is jcgenealogy written in?

Mainly PHP. The stack also includes PHP, MySQL, Apache.

Is jcgenealogy actively maintained?

Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2018-02-01).

How hard is jcgenealogy to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is jcgenealogy for?

Mainly ops devops.

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