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Open Source Linux Based POS Systems?

Posted by Cliff on from the third-time's-the-charm dept.

tha_mink asks: "I am currently working for a number of clients that have very similar needs for a cost-effective POS system that may be integrated online. (read : cheap if not free) These are all small business clients with small budgets and so I would like to suggest something Linux-based, with a nice GUI, and a database I can get at through the web (PostgreSQL would be great). I have searched for and read the past Slashdot articles on the subject only to find that they are old and out of date. I have also done numerous google searches only to find that there is not a clear leader. My clients don't really need things like payroll and purchasing but inventory control, accounting, and customer storage are important. So I ask: What systems are available to fulfill the needs of small business without breaking the bank and without requiring any software from Redmond?"

6 of 45 comments (clear)

  1. e-machines by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I got one of those cheapo e-machines once.. that thing was a real P.O.S. lemme tell yah...

    is that what you're talking about? :-)

  2. JWZ to the rescue by T-Ranger · · Score: 4, Informative

    JWZ's proof of concept pos. Note that he gave up, but IIRC thats because he couldnt find drunk-goon proof hardware.

  3. beONix by CertGen · · Score: 4, Informative

    I know for a fact that these guys have developed point-of-sale linux apps for big time customers. I've dealt with them before and they're friendly enough to contact. You may want to ask them if they have small-fry offerings that fit your budget.

  4. here's one. by anon+mouse-cow-aard · · Score: 4, Informative


    never used it. it's been around for many years, used to be a SCO app (so it's politcally a propos ;-) and they're still in business. Seems about the complexity you are looking for.

    http://www.linuxcanada.com/pos.html

    you can download evaluation rpms for free.

  5. ex-support supervisor by lostindenver · · Score: 4, Informative

    It depends on what type of POS you need. C-store, Qsr, Big store, Mom & Pop. I have worked POS most of my computer career you need to be A LOT more direct as to your needs. I know of several that the MS tax is less than you think. Contact me for questions.

  6. Been there... by baka_boy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Last summer, I accepted a contract with a client to customize and install a Linux POS solution based on L'ane POS, a Perl/Tk/PostgreSQL point-of-sale system designed for touchscreen-equipped terminals. The basic codebase was decent, (if typically under-documented) but since this particular customer had some very weird pricing and product bundle logic requirements, I ended up building them a custom app using Ruby, its Gtk+ bindings, and PostgreSQL.

    Needless to say, it was a fair bit of work to buird a full backend and GUI "while they waited," but in the end it was a much better-adapted system for their needs. So I would personally recommend that you keep in mind the possibility that you (or someone else -- I'm available for contract development work, of course ;) may need to develop (or at least heavily customize) an open-source solution to really meet your customer's needs. Just like any buy vs. build question, you just need to look at the time pressures, special requirements your customers may have, etc., and come up with some numbers and feature lists for each of the options.