Development and Implementation of a Near-Real-Time Class Scheduling System: Enhancing Efficiency and Conflict Detection

The Near-Real-Time Class Scheduling System (NRTCSS) is a desktop application developed in Java and SQL designed to streamline academic scheduling within a Local Area Network (LAN). The system enables multiple concurrent users to input block schedules while dynamically detecting conflicts via the ValidateSchedule algorithm, which evaluates section, instructor, and room availability based on day, time, and relational constraints. Conflicts are flagged using visual alerts, allowing immediate modifications to prevent double bookings. Upon schedule finalization, the system generates comprehensive outputs, including instructor timetables, section schedules, and room utilization charts. Deployed at Cebu Technological University (CTU) Barili Campus, the NRTCSS significantly reduced scheduling duration from several weeks to a few hours, minimized administrative inefficiencies, and received highly positive user feedback. Future enhancements will focus on migrating to a cloud-based database to improve scalability, accessibility, and data integrity.