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Craig Haseler edited this page Oct 19, 2024 · 1 revision

EMPACT Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General Questions

What is EMPACT?

EMPACT (Environment and Maturity Program Assessment and Control Tool) is an open-source implementation of the IP2M METRR Environmental and Maturity evaluation model. It's designed to assess and control project management maturity and environmental factors.

Who developed EMPACT?

EMPACT was developed as an open-source project sponsored by the US Department of Energy's Office of Project Management. It's based on research conducted in collaboration with Arizona State University but is independently developed. EMPACT was conceived as a project by Craig Haseler, a contractor for DOE's Office of Project Management. The code has been primary written by Craig and the DOE-PM software development team that operates the PARS application for DOE-PM.

Is EMPACT related to ASU's IP2M METRR tool?

While EMPACT is based on the same IP2M METRR model, it is an independent, open-source implementation. It is not affiliated with or supported by ASU's proprietary tool.

Usage

Can I use EMPACT for free?

Yes, EMPACT is open-source software and free to use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This means you can use it for any reason, including building it into your own applications, relabeling it and operating it under your own brand, or using it in commercial products. The only requirement is that you provide attribution to this original open source version, and that you don't use the EMPACT brand or name in your own product. (Simply operating an instance of EMPACT without modification under the name is fine, but if you make significant changes, please choose a new name to avoid confusion).

Is there a web version and a desktop version?

Yes, EMPACT is available both as a web application and as an installable desktop application for offline use.

Does EMPACT work on mobile devices?

EMPACT supports mobile devices for people taking assessments, allowing users to complete surveys on smartphones or tablets. Administrative and Facilitator functions do require a full sized device.

Technical Questions

What technologies does EMPACT use?

EMPACT is built using a modern tech stack including NextJS for the frontend, Rust for backend operations in the desktop version, and supports various database options for different deployment scenarios.

Can I contribute to EMPACT's development?

Absolutely! We welcome contributions from the community. Please check our Contributing Guidelines for more information on how to get involved.

How do I report a bug or request a feature?

You can report bugs or request features by opening an issue on our GitHub repository. Please check existing issues first to avoid duplicates.

Deployment

Can I install EMPACT locally without Docker?

Yes, the desktop version of EMPACT can be installed locally without the need for Docker. It currently supports Windows computers, but there are few technical limitations to releasing for other platforms if there is interest.

How do I set up EMPACT for my organization?

Please refer to our Installation Instructions for detailed guidance on setting up EMPACT for various deployment scenarios.

Data and Security

Is my data safe with EMPACT?

EMPACT takes data security seriously. When self-hosted, you have full control over your data. For more details on our security measures, please see our Security and Authentication documentation. When using an instance hosted by a particular organization, please work with that host to review their data security and privacy implementations.

Does EMPACT support Single Sign-On (SSO)?

Yes, EMPACT supports flexible Single Sign-On options, including support for organizational Identity Providers via OIDC.

Support and Community

Where can I get help if I'm having issues with EMPACT?

You can seek help through our GitHub Discussions, by checking our documentation, or by opening an issue for bugs or feature requests.

Is there a community around EMPACT?

As a new project, the community is growing. We hope to continue to involve more members of the IP2M METRR community to support the project as a standard tool for the model. You can join our discussions on GitHub to connect with others using EMPACT.

Licensing and Usage Rights

Can I use the EMPACT name or logo for my project?

While EMPACT's code is open-source, the name and logo are trademarked. Please refer to our Trademark Policy for guidelines on usage.

Can I modify EMPACT for my own use?

Yes, under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, you can modify EMPACT for your own use. However, please note the trademark restrictions on the EMPACT name and logo.

If you have a question that's not answered here, please feel free to ask in our GitHub Discussions. We'll do our best to provide an answer and may add common questions to this FAQ in the future.