25 Problems with genealogy research that Augean solves

Why did we design and write Augean? Let's discuss the genealogy problems we were trying to solve.
Twenty five  gaps we found with some existing genealogy software, that we tried to fix with Augean.
Please review all 25 points.

1. Source-Centric Research

All genealogy facts originally come from source documents.
It's the media and source documents that make the genealogy fascinating.
Augean supports the viewing of more types of media than any other desktop genealogy program.
With the ability to zoom in and tag documents.
Relevant Media is displayed in the  Event Stream  for each person.

Augean software interface displaying a source-centric event stream where genealogy media, like wills and census records, are attached directly to ancestor events.




2. Cognitive Accessibility

Avoid context switching—that is, switching back and forth between screens.
Context switching, or switching screens, can cause a loss of focus.
Augean is designed to prevent context switching.
See all the information on one screen.

Augean uses a large screen and a scrapbook layout to display the needed information.
Place the windows where you want them to be.

•   Avoid context switching.
•   No switching back and forth between screens.
•   No need to rely on memory.

Visually align everything so it is all on one screen.
The UI puts you in control; the layout can be changed to suit your preferences.
The UI adapts to your needs, rather than requiring you to train your brain to adapt to the UI.

 Less eye strain and less brain strain when using Augean.

Augean's scrapbook layout featuring multiple floating profile windows connected by relationship lines, eliminating context switching when analyzing family trees.


Augean works best on large screens and uses a scrapbook approach.
Display all required information at once, in your preferred format.
Avoid switching back and forth between screens.


3. Visual Accessibility

Existing genealogy tools often gave me eye strain.
Genealogy programs often try to cram all the information into a small space.
Augean works with large monitors, and it is much easier on the eyes.
Augean is a visually accessible application - 1926 different fonts available in any size.
Everything is driven by vectors—vector graphics and vector text.
No eye strain - Augean presents the information in the most visually accessible way possible.

Augean genealogy interface demonstrating visual accessibility with large, resizable vector text and clear ancestor portraits to reduce eye strain during research.

Zoom in, change the fonts to any size.



4. Spelling, Grammar, and Generative AI writing

Integration with spell checks like Grammarly is helpful for genealogy note-taking and is often lacking in existing genealogy applications.
Grammarly is also a generative AI tool that assists with writing notes, summaries, and genealogical proofs.
We integrated Augean with  Grammarly 
Check the spelling, grammar, and use generative AI in every text field.

5. 3D Charts

Lack of 3D charting in the existing genealogy application.
Augean has several 3D charts, which help visualize relationships.

6. Mac, Windows and Linux Support

Linux and Chromebooks were often not supported in existing genealogy apps.
Augean runs on (Mac, Windows, Linux, Chromebooks)⨯(Intel, Arm)

Flowchart showing Augean genealogy software's cross-platform compatibility across Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, and major web browsers.






7. Read / Write integration with FamilySearch

FamilySearch offers a free platform for sharing genealogy - anyone can create a free account, with no subscription fees.
Augean integrates with FamilySearch for Persons, Relationships, Events, Sources, Notes, Discussions, and Media.

3D diagram illustrating Augean's data bridge functionality, connecting standard GEDCOM files seamlessly with the FamilySearch platform.



Augean software interface displaying a read and write integration table with FamilySearch, importing ancestor profiles and media into the local genealogy database.




8. Read Integration with Geni

Read persons from Geni, and generate vector graphics charts.

Augean table view showcasing read integration with Geni, displaying imported historical profiles and portraits for comprehensive genealogy research.




9. Read Integration with WikiTree

Read persons from WikiTree, and generate vector graphics charts.

Augean interface demonstrating integration with WikiTree, displaying a table of imported historical profiles with their WikiTree IDs and portraits.




10. Vector Graphics

Vector graphics are ideal for creating wall charts, but they are generally not supported in existing genealogy tools.
Augean has several charts based on vector graphics - ideal for creating wall charts.
Add overlays to enhance the decoration of these wall charts. 1926 different fonts available in any size.

A decorative pedigree wall chart generated using Augean's vector graphics engine, featuring ancestor portraits and customizable fonts for family historians.


Print vector graphics wall charts 
Augean, which displays in Chrome, will print the vector graphics charts to a PDF file.
The PDF file is composed of vector graphics, which can be enlarged without loss of detail.
We sent the PDF file to MegaPrint and they created wall charts from it.

A genealogist holding a massive, high-quality printed wall chart with an ancestor grid and fan chart, created using Augean's scalable vector graphics.




11. Google Maps

Advances in mapping should be reflected in Genealogy tools.
Google Street View is phenomenal; it allows you to see the streets where your ancestors lived, helping you gain a deeper understanding of the area.
Augean has support for  Google Maps  and  Street View 

Augean interface integrating Google Street View alongside an ancestor's profile, allowing genealogists to visually explore historical geographical locations.




12. GEDCOM Database

Database formats used by genealogy tools were often proprietary and non-standard.
GEDCOM is the industry standard.
Augean runs on GEDCOM  preventing  Vendor Lockin
Import from any GEDCOM  program without losing information.
Export to other genealogy programs as GEDCOM.
Augean preserves your genealogy in an industry-wide accepted format.

Augean's raw GEDCOM database view showing a genealogist editing an ancestor's internal data structure, including events, notes, and linked census media files.


The GEDCOM database in Augean runs on  Microsoft OpenJDK and handles large datasets.

File    Size    Persons    Families    Memory usedAugean load time
 ITIS Species DatabaseITIS.ged95 MB472,67665,799624 MB11 seconds
 Mennonite AncestryGM2107MB.GED430 MB 1.48 million473,9922874 MB51 Seconds
 2010 Catalog of LifeCoL2010.ged666 MB 2.4 million249,8673698 MB59 Seconds




13. Interactive Custom Reports

Adding interactive custom reports was a feature that was often missing in existing genealogy software.
In Augean, we designed two modules to provide interactive custom reports.

•   The  Proof report  prepares genealogy proofs.
•   The  Scripting report  based on JavaScript provides full access to the internal GEDCOM database.

Augean's interactive custom reporting tool using a JavaScript editor to generate a dynamic, media-rich genealogy report from the internal GEDCOM database.


Augean has reports that are not available in other programs.
The  Augean Island  report, unique to Augean, shows how your genealogy is structured.

The Augean Island Report interface, a unique genealogical analysis tool that identifies and groups disconnected family branches within a large GEDCOM database.


In Augean, all reports are interactive.  Click  on any Person or Family in the report to view them.



14. PDF Support

Existing genealogy apps often didn't support PDFs.
Many of my documents are in PDF format, and now I can view them using Augean.

Augean software viewing a scanned handwritten will PDF document directly within the application, essential for analyzing original genealogical sources.




15. Word Documents

Many of my documents are in Word format - I can also view them using Augean.
(See  Media ⟶ Word Documents  )

Augean viewing a Microsoft Word document containing a family history narrative directly within the genealogy software interface.




16. Video Support

Augean has support for adding videos.
Play video to see a demonstration.






17. Media Support for Events

The media support in Augean is first-class.
Media for each event can be displayed next to the event. (a feature lacking in many existing genealogy programs)

Augean event stream displaying an ancestor's birth and death events alongside high-resolution images of the original parish registers and civil death certificates.




18. Event Streaming

Augean supports event sharing for  Persons  and  Families. 
Each person and family has an  Event Stream ; adjust the radius of events to include in the event stream.

The  Extended Event Stream  captures events from other family members - even if the event was not shared.
This avoids having to manually share events with other family members.
For example, a census event originally saved under the Dad, will show up automatically in the extended event stream of the children.

Augean interface demonstrating automated event sharing, where a historical census record added to a parent's profile automatically streams to the child's timeline.




19. Custom Views of Tables

Augean provides  Custom views of tables. 
Tables are searchable, pageable, and customizable.
Use to select the table view.
Each view can be customized using  Right Click  ⟶  Change Displayed Columns 
In this example, the event table displays the events associated with a person.
View A has columns  Event ,    Date+Place 
View B has columns  Event Details ,    Media 

Augean interface showing customizable table views for an ancestor's timeline, allowing genealogists to toggle between basic dates and rich media displays.




20. Custom Views of Persons

A feature missing in some existing apps but fully supported in Augean.
Create customized views of both  Tables  and  Persons. 
The facts and media that you need are always displayed.

Customizing profile views in Augean using the column selection dialog to tailor how ancestor portraits and genealogical facts are displayed.




21. Search Language

Augean features a  Search Language  for more accurate searching.
The search query in this example is  I30   OR   I38   OR   I46  which searches for persons by Id.

Augean's advanced search interface executing a boolean query with OR logic to simultaneously find and display multiple specific ancestor IDs.




22. Language translation

Augean displays in Chrome, which supports language translation.

•   Translates to 243 different languages.
•   Full support for international character sets.

Augean genealogy interface utilizing browser translation to display a family tree table translated into a different language, supporting global research.




23. Tag Persons in Documents and Photos

Tagging photos and documents is critical for analysis.
For example, my ancestor was experiencing some financial difficulties; I found a record of this in an old paper.
I can enlarge the newspaper and tag the exact place in the newspaper for this record.
The record is highlighted in yellow in the 3rd column of the newspaper (as shown below).

Augean document analysis tool highlighting a tagged section of a historical newspaper page, pinning the exact source location to an ancestor's life event.


 The ability to zoom in on a document, and tag the exact location is essential for document analysis.



24. Backup Genealogy and Media using GitHub

Having a  one-click backup  of your genealogy and media is essential.
GitHub is a free and secure way to back up your genealogy.
Augean is designed to work with  GitHub, to backup both genealogy and media.
We recommend using a private repository in  GitHub to backup your genealogy and media.

•   Copy media files to the  Media Directory  to ensure that media is also backed up.
•   When you save the Augean project, the  GitHub Desktop Client stores a version in GitHub with one click.

Backing up an Augean GEDCOM database and associated genealogy media files securely to a private repository using the GitHub Desktop client.




25. AI Native

Augean is an AI Native  app.

•   Works with Gemini 
•   Works with Grammarly 
•   Create  Generative AI Prompts 
•   Chart generation uses  Stochastic Gradient Descent to optimize the layout.

Conceptual illustration of Augean's AI-native architecture, combining traditional family tree structures with artificial intelligence for advanced genealogical writing and charts.