TNG, The Next Generation of Genealogy Site Building, is a low-cost software set developed by Darrin Lythgoe using MySQL and PHP that enables genealogists to create full-featured Web sites that support data entry, reporting, and dynamic page generation. Since it is built on MySQL, a fully functional relational database, your genealogy data is readily accessible to any processing you wish to do. TNG includes a large number of PHP scripts that generate pages and reports and handle data entry. You can also manage user accounts if you wish to build a community of researchers to share genealogy data. The product must be hosted on a public Web site for it to be useful. You can purchase a Web site and a domain name for less than $10 per month and your site can be hosted, backed up, and maintained for everyone you wish to share with.
I haven't had a chance to set up a site yet, but I am preparing a Linux server on my home network to experiment with the product. If it works as advertised (it does get great reviews), I will set up a public site using my hosting provider, GoDaddy.com. I maintain my genealogy data locally on my Mac using Reunion and will be looking at processes to keep Reunion and TNG in sync as I do my research.
The really neat thing about TNG is that you have the full effect of a genealogy database accessible from anywhere with a Web browser. You don't need access to your genealogy database. This would be a great candidate for genealogists using one of the new NetBooks available for under $500. When Apple comes out with a NetBook, I may start using one, too.
