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E-Postage for Linux?

Posted by Cliff on from the penguins-and-mailmen dept.

tyen asks: "While it's not dead yet (shades of Monty Python), Internet postage on Linux appears to be missing. The biggest player's software is Windows-only, and the other players mimic this requirement. You would be amazed how many businesses will dedicate a computer to printing off postage and shipping labels, why pay an annoying Microsoft tax for such an appliance application? Besides, these Windows-based solutions are heavily GUI-centric, and any integration into Linux-based automated processes would be unacceptably brittle. Has anyone successfully set up their business to print off e-postage from Linux or any other Open Source platform?"

8 of 35 comments (clear)

  1. Thoughts... by asdfx · · Score: 2, Informative

    I don't believe the UPS or FedEx software comes in a *n?x variant, so the answer is basically, "No."

    Even if they did, good luck finding *n?x drivers for an Eltron thermal printer (prints out stickers for packages). Not that I've looked... but I doubt you will find them.

    1. Re:Thoughts... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      I don't believe the UPS or FedEx software comes in a *n?x variant, so the answer is basically, "No."

      The FedEx server runs on Windows, but they give that machine to you with all necessary software installed.

      Communication with the server is done over a TCP socket, using an open protocol (the protocol is weird, but documented). You could definitely submit jobs into the system in an automated way - we have a system at work that does this.

      I'm not sure if printer drivers would be a problem on Unix. FedEx gave us a Zebra printer and said to use the standard / text-only printer driver in Windows. It needs to be shared using SMB, but Samba should be able to handle that. If this doesn't work, you could probably hook the printer up to the machine FedEx gives you.

    2. Re:Thoughts... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      I do believe both UPS and FedEx, as well as quite possibly USPS support HTTP/XML -based interfaces to their software. You just have to search through their site hard enough, or probably much easier - call their tech divisions.

    3. Re:Thoughts... by Dan+Ost · · Score: 4, Informative

      You don't need a driver to print via an Eltron (or any Zebra) printer.
      You can send print strings straight over a serial cable or, if your
      printer is networked, simply open a socket to it. We generate FedEx
      labels on both Linux and Solaris (for Intel). It's custom code, but
      creating print strings is essentially no different than creating
      valid XML or HTML. It's just another mark up language.

      --

      *sigh* back to work...
  2. Cold day in hell by Deagol · · Score: 4, Informative
    I was a stamps.com customer for a couple of years. Since then, I've become a 99% Linux convert, running only a couple of apps under VMWare when needed. The system really was very nice, worth the small monthly fee (plus the postage looks pretty cool). Last time I checked, Stamps.com had a Windows and Mac client. I emailed them (maybe 2-to-3 years go) about a Linux version, to which they (of course) politely replied that it wasn't in the forseeable future.

    From a (somewhat ignorant) corporate standpoint, I can understand why. Digital postage is pretty close to digital money. And while I don't know the cryptogtaphy involved, I assume it's a proven system (after all, this is the USPS), as least on paper, if not in implementation. However, the thought of "evil hackers" having low-level access to the system calls, snooping at the system would probably keep the CEOs up at night. I just can't see this happening solely due to a mistrust of the underlying OS. Granted, a skilled Windows "hacker" can do the same thing with debuggers under Windows, but everyone "trusts" Windows' security/obscurity.

    I guess it wouldn't hurt to inquire again, just to let them know that a former customer would return if they had a native Linux version.

    --
    Method of processing duck feet
    1. Re:Cold day in hell by mfarver · · Score: 3, Informative

      Digital postage is pretty close to digital money.

      Not really... in the case of stamps, each stamp is serial numbered, the bar code reader on the sorting line just checks if that serial number has already been used and rejects envelopes. New serial numbers are only activited when they are issued. Its actually easier to detect fraud then with the current stamps or postal meters.

      Mark

  3. Kinda related... by quinkin · · Score: 2, Informative
    My old business used a web based XML data passing demon to generate, store, and print PDF files (using libpdf I believe - but which ever) that were then sent to a high volume printer.

    This was only for the envelope and invoice/receipt/statement (no estamps), but I did integrate a barcode->image->embedded in PDF functionality that allowed us to semi-automate return mail.

    Worked like a dream - took me about a week to write.

    Q.

    --
    Insert Signature Here
  4. Re:USPS Web Site by sphariss · · Score: 2, Informative

    I use the USPS system for Priority Mailings under Linux and Windows with Mozilla 1.5 with no problems.

    A few days ago they added some functionality and part of what they did was check browsers. 1.5 is not recognized and I get a warning box telling me I must use the lastest version of IE, Mozilla, and Opra. Perhaps one other browser.

    I have not tried it with Linux since the change, but I would guess that it would still work if they are just checking browser versions.

    My main complaint with the USPS App is that not all addresses are recognized so I have to put stamps or go into the PO to get postage (and not get the free confirmation you get with the online lable).