This is the backend repo for the Christian Campus House app chores reminder app. It manages chores and notifications for 64 residents, automating what was previously done manually with Excel.
IMPORTANT: If you are a house admin, navigate to INSTRUCTIONS.md for instructions on updating the database.
- REST API made with Java Spring Boot
- User authentication
- Chore scheduling
- Scheduled push notifications
- PostgreSQL database
This project was initially deployed using AWS Elastic Beanstalk with PostgreSQL on AWS RDS. While technically sound and successfully serving the house for a full semester, the project was unnecessarily costly for a small, fixed user base.
As of January 27, 2026, the backend application and PostgreSQL instance were migrated to Railway in order to:
- Reduce cloud costs
- Simplify deployment and database management
This migration preserved the existing architecture while simplifying the deployment and management process for this student-run organization.
- Language: Java
- Framework: Spring Boot
- Database: PostgreSQL
- Infrastructure: Railway (formerly AWS Elastic Beanstalk, AWS RDS)
- CI/CD: Railway-managed build and deployment
- Used PostgreSQL due to fixed data size and strong relational constraints
- Prioritized cost efficiency and simplicity over horizontal scalability
- Centralized admin operations via database-level procedures to reduce risk of accidental data corruption
- 64 active residents rely on the app for daily chore reminders
- Eliminated a manual Excel-based workflow used by house leadership
- Reduced missed chores through automated scheduling and notifications
Database ER Diagram:
- Rework notification scheduling approach away from a polling approach. This will help reduce cloud costs.
- Potentially consider Client side scheduling
- Look into self-hosting for even cheaper costs.
- Admin dashboard for chore/role management.
- Analytics on task completion.
- EX: Task completed at
timestamp, etc
- EX: Task completed at