RecordFlow Desktop

RecordFlow Desktop is a desktop administrative registry application built with C#, WPF, .NET 8, PostgreSQL, and Npgsql. It provides a simple local workflow for capturing and reviewing structured office records that can be adapted for client registries, service desks, internal case tracking, intake logs, or appointment-oriented administrative processes.

The public product identity is generic by design. This repository does not include official institution branding and does not ship with real personal, operational, or client data.

What It Does

RecordFlow Desktop gives a small office or internal team a Windows desktop interface for maintaining registry-style records in PostgreSQL. The current prototype focuses on creating and listing basic records with identifying, contact, and intake-style fields.

Problem It Solves

Many small administrative workflows begin in spreadsheets or scattered notes. RecordFlow Desktop explores a more structured desktop alternative: a local application with a database-backed record list, a data-entry form, and room to grow into case tracking, scheduling, and operational reporting.

Current Status

Early-stage sanitized prototype, not production-ready software. The app builds successfully and includes a working desktop shell, a demo login gate, and a generic record list/create screen. Scheduling and case-history navigation items are placeholders for future modules.

Implemented Features

• WPF desktop shell with left-side navigation.
• Demo login screen that accepts non-empty credentials for local prototype use.
• Administrative record listing from a PostgreSQL records table.
• Administrative record creation form with name, reference code, account code, category, date, address, and phone fields.
• Parameterized insert queries for record creation.
• Database connection string supplied through the RECORDFLOW_DB_CONNECTION environment variable.

In Progress

• Better validation for required fields and contact/reference formats.
• User authentication and authorization suitable for real operational use.
• User-friendly empty states and database setup checks.

Planned

• Record search, filtering, editing, and archiving.
• Case or service-desk tracking workflow.
• Appointment/intake scheduling, if required by the target workflow.
• Tests for data access and UI behavior.
• Migration-based database setup.

Known Limitations

• The app is a prototype and should only be used with fictional demo data until validation, access control, and operational requirements are complete.
• There is no production-grade authentication, audit trail, encryption strategy, or role model.
• The database schema is provided as a simple setup script, not a full migration system.
• No automated tests are included yet.

Tech Stack

• C#
• .NET 8 for Windows
• WPF
• PostgreSQL
• Npgsql
• Visual Studio solution/project files

Architecture

RecordFlow Desktop uses a small WPF UI layer backed by a .NET 8 desktop application. Data is stored in PostgreSQL, accessed through Npgsql, and configured at runtime through the RECORDFLOW_DB_CONNECTION environment variable so credentials stay outside source control.

Project Structure

.
├── WpfApp1/              # Main .NET 8 WPF application source
├── database/schema.sql   # Fictional demo schema and sample records
├── docs/PRODUCT_SCOPE.md # Product and technical assessment
├── .gitignore
└── README.md

The public product and repository identity is RecordFlow Desktop / recordflow-desktop.

Screenshots

Screenshots will be added once sanitized demo data views are prepared.

Requirements

• Windows
• .NET 8 SDK
• PostgreSQL 13 or newer

Local Setup

1. Create a local PostgreSQL database for demo use.
2. Apply the demo schema:

psql -d recordflow_demo -f database/schema.sql

3. Set the connection string for the current PowerShell session:

$env:RECORDFLOW_DB_CONNECTION = "Host=localhost;Port=5432;Username=postgres;Password=<local-demo-password>;Database=recordflow_demo"

4. Restore and build:

cd WpfApp1
dotnet restore RecordFlow.Desktop.sln
dotnet build RecordFlow.Desktop.sln --no-restore

5. Run locally:

dotnet run --project RecordFlow.Desktop.csproj

Tests and Validation

No automated test project exists yet. Current validation is limited to restore/build checks:

dotnet restore WpfApp1/RecordFlow.Desktop.sln
dotnet build WpfApp1/RecordFlow.Desktop.sln --no-restore
git diff --check

Repository Safety

Use fictional demo data only. This repository does not include real institution-specific records, regulated-domain records, client data, credentials, database exports, screenshots, or operational documents. The included SQL records are fictional examples for local development, and database access is configured through environment variables.

Roadmap

• Add validation and clearer form feedback.
• Add record search, edit, archive, and export workflows.
• Introduce a data-access layer separate from WPF code-behind.
• Add automated tests and database migrations.
• Replace demo login with a real authentication design or remove it until requirements are defined.
• Add case tracking and optional scheduling modules.