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I wonder if one or any of these is "extensible":

http://www.sql-ledger.org/cgi-bin/nav.pl?page=features.html&title=Features

http://chasesagum.com/open-source-payroll-time-management

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39175137,00.htm

Even in:

http://www.compiere.com/industries/

I don't see "Education/Universities/Distributed Academic Education Systems"

> replacing IE, Outlook, MS Office, and MSN messenger [on Windows] does some differences

Actually, you're right, it makes a lot of difference, by cutting off attack paths for viruses and ad/spyware. Good point!

> things I miss and/or have not found good free/opensouce solutions for:

> antivirus (never liked AVG)

It wouldn't surprise me if the Open Source antivirus products are weak. It's a question of motivation -- most developers would choose to be improving good software, to make it more virus-proof, rather than creating band-aids for Microsoft's mess.

> book-keeping(small company, products,prices,inventory,payroll normal stuff)...

There is a growing number of small business accounting solutions for Linux:

See: Linux - Accounting Software

The list includes some known names, such as Accpac, and Appgen.

I've also heard good things about the Open Source project SQL-Ledger. Because it stores its data in an SQL database (such as PostgreSQL), you can create your own reports, using, for example, the OpenOffice Database tool. Or, because it's Open Source, you can get even more adventurous, and customize it for your business.

> software for doing labels and stickers (haven't really looked)

There is support in this area. See Printing Avery labels with Linux.

I found this part rather funny from http://www.sql-ledger.org/cgi-bin/nav.pl?page=misc /terms.html&title=Terms%20%26%20Conditions

Licenses are there to protect intellectual property however there will always be people who abuse a license thinking that the license gives them a license to steal. You will find people who distribute forks thinking they do anyone good. In reality they are just stealing someone elses hard work and circulating as theirs. Most of the time you will hear that their's is an improved version of SQL-Ledger and the original is a piece of shit.

Notably the last part.

This was news when first submitted to Slashdot, as it could be read on the Firehose, the license link was really other than GPL. But now this link is back showing GPL 2 (although in a bad html), and it seems like they moved back to the original license. That's what happens when they take 4 days to accept a story.

http://www.sql-ledger.org/ Now you don't need QB and can write your site to query the Postgres DB. There are also several OSS CRM packages each having their own strengths. vtiger is one...compiere another, opentaps another...compromises have to be made using virtually any software and the OSS CRM's/ERP's generally make their money helping you customize. Of course there are more issues here, but see it's OSS...you can fix it yourself. And even if you can't and require paid support, you can least count a moral victory by not perpetuating what's wrong w/ our current system.

I solve that by using GnuCash. The datafile is synced on the *nix machines I use. I have used it over VNC and X in Windows (but now you can build it on your windows machine).

If you're looking for someone else's server to run this on, Yodlee is your best bet.

If you're looking to run a webapp on your own server, try SQL-Ledger.

If quickbooks is your only stumbling block, you may want to look at trying SQLLedger http://www.sql-ledger.org/ which is IMHO a far superior piece of software. It's multi-platform as well, and paid support is available.

It's time to take a look at SQL-Ledger in that case. I would list the features here, but it would probably take all day. Suffice to say that for a system which can handle invoicing, inventory, reporting, quotations, POS, customer and supplier tracking, multiple currencies, templated documents (in HTML and LaTeX), etc. it does everything my business requires and then some. There's even a number of working online demo's, so you can try it out with almost zero effort. IMNSHO it is a very high quality system and a beacon for business-ready OSS apps.

They're (GNUCash) retooling their backend as SQL . . .

The SQL Ledger portal offers a double-entry accounting package, supported by a Postgres backend. I've found it to be relatively feature-rich.

http://www.sql-ledger.org/
It has inventory control.

And obviously you can't beat the price of FOSS. Plus the support is very reasonably priced as well.

And obviously you can't beat the price of FOSS. Plus the support is very reasonably priced as well.

And obviously you can't beat the price of FOSS. Plus the support is very reasonably priced as well.

We have been using Open for business (http://www.ofbiz.org/ for some time which is gettting there. Some modules are much more complete than others and we've had to supplement it with SQL-Ledger (http://www.sql-ledger.org/ for financials to get most of the functionality we need but the accounting module is under development and the order management sections are stable. It also has a manufacturing module (we don't use), a content management module and some contact management and CRM functionality. There are a few other projects which have been spun off the main branch which concentrate on different aspects.

HTH

Ian

"I've been using GNUCash on Linux for awhile, and have wanted to also use it on Windows, as I've found it to be better than Quicken"

Although more suited to business, you may want to check out sql-ledger. It's multi-platform capable, free as in beer, and in every way an equal to Quickbooks:

http://www.sql-ledger.org/

Short of writing my own replacement for Quicken (not very likely) what are my options?

Personally I use a hacked up version of SQL-Ledger. But personally I think Quicken is a piece of shit, and that GNUCash is a poor copy of it. SQL-Ledger isn't great either, but you have easy access to the raw ledger, and can program the other stuff you need on top of that.

For your purposes, it seems like you just want the cheapest thing that can perform at the level of Quicken, so I'd say try out GNUCash and see if that does the trick and if not then use Quicken and your old copy of Windows (I don't understand where the $80-200 comes into play, as you already have a copy of Windows on your old system).

I think I've tried every viable *nix accounting system out there, and the only one that cut it was SQL Ledger.

That being said, we paid for some add-ons (realtively inexpensive) and we had to use the Beta version. The currently available version didn't cut it

If you take a look at the http://www.sql-ledger.org/ website's "What's Ahead" list, you'll see a lot of 100% items that are in the beta and work well.

We just updated our accounting system. While it may not fit all, I decided to go with SQL Ledger http://www.sql-ledger.org/.

One of the primary reasons we went to SQL was the fact that it was open, and we could hook into our other corporate systems

The added bonus is that we were able to have "reasonable" features added sooner, with a minimal amount of cash, and the developer is actually available.

SQL Ledger

I'd be interested in that discussion as well, as per my own ask slashdot article on this very topic about a year ago ( http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/09/07/22 7252 ).

I think that maybe what needs to happen here is for someone to start a project for an OSS legal time billing app, possibly building on something like sql-ledger

Because I'm still having to troubleshoot PCLaw for my dad and it grows tiresome :-)

-Leigh

ps. feel free to email leigh [at] hypatia.ca rather than PMing

It sounds to me like you're trying to do accounts/client management, not journal management. Easily, you might only need to tweek the label printing functionality. You could even look into enhancing their support for "subscription" based services, and you would have everything you wanted.

http://www.sql-ledger.org/

I mean, there's not even a Quickbooks alternative

sql-ledger? The interface could use some work, but Quickbooks' interface doesn't look all that great either.

1. Integrates with back office financials, such as Quickbooks?

Why would it need to? SQL-Ledger is more than capable of doing the accounting. Take a look at it: here

2. Handles integrated credit card processing... through with merchant services?

Forthcoming. Have a customer who just agreed to pay me to develop this feature.

3. Handles all standard POS hardware, such as card swipes, receipt printers, pin pads, cash drawers, pole displays, and touchscreens?

Touchscreen (keyboardless) support forthcoming (assuming my current lead pans out for sponsorship of this feature). Card readers, barcode readers, pole displays, receipt printers, cash drawers, etc. are currently supported.

Honestly, most of this is *really easy.* Barcode readers are currently only supported as decoded signals via keyboard wedge interfaces. Same with mag card readers. We support the Logic Controls PD3000 pole display, but others could be added with minimal work.

Printer redirection is also supported btw. So if you want all your restaurant orders to print to a printer in the kitchen, this is relatively easy to impliment.

For example, one of my customers is using a computer with insufficient RAM as a terminal to the main server. The printer and pole display redirection allows them to redirect it to the terminal even though the application is run via firefox on the main server!

4. Can be easily taught in less than 5 minutes?
Yep :-)

Well, the online cash till countout report might take another 5 minutes... But that is currently being worked on.

We are currently working on resolving the last three critical bugs before release.

Honestly, the currently supported features so far cost approx $2000 in development time. This is nowhere even near the high 5 digits you speak of because SQL-Ledger, while its architecture (CGI) may seem at odds with the environment is really solid, and can be easily extended to provide for all this.

Forthcoming features (ones that people have agreed to pay for at the moment) include:

1) Portable data terminal support for receiving and inventory adjustment
2) Cashier-based roaming till.
3) Integrated credit card processing
4) Movie rental application
5) Coffee card discount app (as in every 10th espresso is free of charge)
6) Credit card processing with a DBI/DBD-like model (allowing for easy expansion for additional gateways).

Likely features within the next year:
1) Keyboardless operation
2) Restaurant module
3) Bookstore module (online ordering, books in print, etc)
4) Online shopping card module.

You don't have to ask for donations. You can go ahead and ask them to pay for developer support accounts, subscriptions to value-added services, etc. in order to fund the further development. Or you could sell complimentary products.

For comparison, look at http://www.sql-ledger.org/ and http://www.digium.com/

what's your opinion of sql-ledger?

i'm not making a recommendation, just curious. i like the idea of a web-based accounting system, but haven't the qualifications to evaluate it. it sounds like you might.

Probably SQL-Ledger. It's GPL software but if you want the PDF manual then you have to pay $190. Notice how that isn't $200? Now that's savings ;)

Probably SQL-Ledger. It's GPL software but if you want the PDF manual then you have to pay $190. Notice how that isn't $200? Now that's savings ;)

There is another example of Open Source ERP: SQL-Ledger.

It is open source, and uses PostgreSQL as the database, not Oracle.

My brother uses it to run his business for years now.

He contributed the Arabic internationalization part of it. He was interviewed by the Egyptian LUG on that some time back.

Did you look at SQL Ledger?

Don't know if it will fit your needs or not, but my brother has been using it successfully to run a small business for a few years.

He was even interviewed by the Egypt LUG about it, as a case study.

A double-entry accounting program written in perl
Accounting data is stored in a SQL Server, for the display any text or
GUI browser can be used. The entire system is linked through a chart
of accounts. Each item in inventory is linked to revenue, expense,
inventory and tax accounts. When you sell and purchase goods and
services the accounts are automatically updated.
.
With the assembly feature you can build manufactured goods from parts,
services and assemblies. When you sell assemblies all the accounts
linked to the individual parts, services and assemblies are updated
and stock levels adjusted accordingly. If any item belonging to an
assembly is changed all assemblies are updated as well.
.
Invoices, Packing List, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Sales and
Purchase Order, Statements, Receipts and Checks are generated from
templates and may be changed to suit your needs. Templates are provided
in html and tex format. The tex templates are processed with latex
to produce postscript and PDF documents and can be sent to a printer,
displayed in a PDF viewer or sent out via email ...

http://www.sql-ledger.org/

Recommended. Other suggestions Here

I found this. Altough it maybe over kill for what you are looking.

SQL Ledger Perhaps this might work? It seems to be more oriented towards billing things rather than maintaining a contact list.

If you want accounting software for Linux, try: GnuCash

or

SQL-Ledger

Gnucash is similar to Quickbooks and handles multiple currencies. SQL-Ledger runs on a webserver, so you can run it either on the same computer, or from a webbrowser on a different computer.

Both are open source. There are other projects too, but you ought to do the research yourself.

it's written in perl, but - have a look at sql-ledger... i think a consulting crew who customized SQL-Ledger for businesses could make some bucks. you could partner with general-practice linux consulting companies who need a subcontractor to take care of their clients' accounting migration needs. you could even offer hosted accounting.

I have heard good things about SQLledger, but IIRC, it runs on MySQL, which has a nasty habit of truncating large numbers, so I am not sure if I would trust it. It should be easy to port to PostgreSQL though, I would think.

SQL-Ledger does not work with MySQL. It's a high quality project and works great with Postgres. I use and recommend it.

For CRM, we use TUTOS.

For accounting, it's SQL-Ledger. Both the CRM and accounting apps are backed by PostgreSQL.

For office suites, OpenOffice.

Web browsing is Mozilla; e-mail is whatever our employees prefer (Mozilla, Kmail, Evolution, Pine, Mutt, whatever...)

We are completely MSFT-free and intend to stay that way.

There is the PERL based SQL-Ledger
http://www.sql-ledger.org
(Presently using, will be moving to)
The java based Compiere.
http://www.compiere.org
Downside to Compiere - Oracle based. They are taking $$$ to move to PostgreSQL (then MySQL seems to be the next target)

Finally, there is a package called NOLA
http://sourceforge.net/projects/nola/
A double entry system using PHP.

Do a search on sourceforge and see if any of the 'new' ones excite ya.

Don't forget that GNUcash and SQL Ledger already exist and are both GPL'd.

...I'd like to know what Accounting software they use... gnuCash?

Maybe they use SQL-Ledger, an awesome, open-source, server-based accounting package.

Every business has special needs. See the recent discussion right here just a few days ago.

Compiere and SQL Ledger sound promising, though.

I'll wait until something free (as in beer and speech) before I think it's secure enough for my data, thanks.

The new business features allowed me to replace SQL-Ledger with it. I'm happily generating invoices and handling payroll with GNU Cash 1.8.2 now.

Huh? Many of the software packages I use are configured via plaintext files and perform extremely well, and are very easy to maintain in an enterprise enviroment.

I use SQL-Ledger :)

SQL-Ledger is open Perl Web acctg software using PostgreSQL (or other transaction DB).

It doesn't have much for billing, but at least it has some accounting components to build on.

Security has been thightend on the upcoming release to include password checks for an encrypted password on each call to the system.

Dieter Simader
sql-ledger

What do you tell them when their CPA suggests they start using QuickBooks? No Open Source eqivilent will do because he needs data in the exact same format from all of his clients for use on his system.

I like SQL Ledger. If their CPA is unable to set up his Quickbooks to import data from my client's SQL dump, then HE needs help and may be willing to pay ME to help him! Even in the Windows-only world, good accountants need to be able to support Quickbooks, MYOB and Peachtree or they are just little-league bookkeepers.

As for the web-browsing issues, StarOffice will crash mercilessly if Java isn't set up correctly. SO requires Java to run javascript, too. Sun released a huge set of bug fixes to SO5.2 last December and many of the SO5.2 CDROMs that come with Linus distros don't reflect the fixes. As far as multimedia plugins for office users, well they should get back to work!

Back to my real-estate office install--they had a mixed Mac/Windows environment and an NT file server and since 4 of the five were salespeople/owners, were delighted to leave behind the issues of going all Mac (too high price), or all Windows (Mac users hated lame interface). Everybody thinks the SO interface is ugly, but the Mac users are happy not to be having to use Windows. They can go sit at somebody else's desk when they aren't around and log into the system with their own username and get their whole environment. They are delighted when I come by with a new freebie utility, such as one of those finance calculators, etc. It is working out very well.