Help required to design a database
The best first thing you can do is to look around at Open Source offerings in the same area as your own interest. I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "action plan creator" (clarify?). The beauty of Open Source is that you can run the stuff, see what you like and then open up the hood and see how it's done for the applications that appeal to you. Don't forget the KISS and YAGNI principles (Keep It Simple Stupid and You Ain't Gonna Need It). Don't be overambitious on your first pass and don't forget that you'll (very probably :-) ) have to throw the first app away anyway (Fred Brooks).