Am 18.08.2011 01:23, schrieb Bryen M. Yunashko:

On Thu, 2011-08-18 at 01:55 +0300, Stathis Iosifidis (aka diamond_gr) wrote:

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Hello my friends,

After discussion with some friends of mine who run their business, a question came up.

Well, live dvd is OK for a small business to cover the office needs but there's a need for some special software such as ERP or financial or accountant software.

So, as we have openSUSE medical and openSUSE LiFE, is it possible to cover also some small businesses? Here in Greece we have a goal to do something with the medical for starters (since I'm more familiar with it).

Another idea that came up to me, is to create another remastered distro based on openSUSE with some CAD software.

There might be some on SUSE Studio but need a team that will support them. So people, what do you say? My advice is that specificity makes a difference. There's been discussions since time began for such a project as you are thinking of. But no one moves forward on it.

What I would suggest is get started with the first step. Create a wiki page with listing the goal of this project and the unique features this project should include. Then get a version going using SUSE Studio, and make one simple quick and dirty with some of the stuff you are thinking bout that should be included.

The result is people will have something real to look at and offer their contributions. You'll get much better returns than opening up with a simple discussion as doing here.

That's the best way, imo, to move it forward and I think you have a good idea here. Just needs a first step.:-)

+1 Build one with SUSE Studio, and let it add to the derivates page. By the way, I´m working on an announcement for the openSUSE OEM edition. If you´re ready with the first version of your "openSUSE business edition", we might could create an announcement for both and let it go out at news.o.o? thanks -- -o) Kim Leyendecker /\\ openSUSE Ambassador, openSUSE Wiki Team DE _\_v http://www.opensuse.org - Linux for open minds -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-project+help@opensuse.org

Am 18.08.2011 09:50, schrieb Stathis Iosifidis (aka diamond_gr):

1st: creation of a wiki page (I don't know where though) is the 1st step. It'll be the place where I'll write the goal of creating such distro. Also it'll be the place where I can have categories of software that must be included.

2nd: Since I know only about medical software, I don't know many things about commercial software for businesses. That's why I opened this here. Some of you who searched more than me, can help. I only know vtiger (http://www.vtiger.com/) and openerp (http://bit.ly/oFLux2). For openerp we have repository. For such thing must have a small group of people who either know the software or people who know how to install the software and test it. I'm not one of them. Also must have a place where they can meet (ML/IRC).

3rd: After we find this software, then can create a live media to deomnstrate to people. This media must have the software fully installed (I mean with MySQL etc). When I give it to people to test it, they only have to login and test it. Personally, I tried to create an image with SUSE Studio and medical software but when I tried to run the iso, the program had to be installed, run APACHE and then login. This is something that end user won't do, especially when he doesn't have a clue about computers. So I guess there must be other tool to create it. Kiwi is the tool I think (personally I tried to make an ISO of my installed system but I failed. So maybe I have to try harder to do it or there might be an easier tool such as remastersys of ubuntu or mylivecd of pclinuxos. I used both and I succeed).

4th: find a name for it. maybe openSUSE Business edition, or openSUSE for business or something like that. For small business software a short googling: http://www.google.de/#sclient=psy&hl=de&source=hp&q=small+business+software+for+Linux&pbx=1&oq=small+business+software+for+Linux&aq=f&aqi=g-L1&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=634l8002l0l8216l37l26l2l15l15l0l236l2577l0.8.6l14l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=b6a49baabb9c983&biw=1920&bih=890 -- -o) Kim Leyendecker /\\ openSUSE Ambassador, openSUSE Wiki Team DE _\_v http://www.opensuse.org - Linux for open minds -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-project+help@opensuse.org

jdd wrote:

Le 18/08/2011 10:22, Kim Leyendecker a écrit :

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4th: find a name for it. maybe openSUSE Business edition, or openSUSE for business or something like that.

don't forget accounting software are country dependant

jdd

Yes to some extent, but double-entry book-keeping is pretty standard nowadays. -- Per Jessen, Zürich (24.6°C) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-project+help@opensuse.org

jdd wrote:

Le 18/08/2011 11:29, Per Jessen a écrit :

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don't forget accounting software are country dependant

jdd

Yes to some extent, but double-entry book-keeping is pretty standard nowadays.

it's reports for taxes that are dependant

jdd

Yes, I agree - I don't mind that so much, as long as it can be added with a module or plugin (even if I have to write it myself). One more, very important thing that I'm also looking is an active community that can be reached via a mailing list. (I don't consider forum-only software to be really mature). /Per -- Per Jessen, Zürich (25.8°C) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-project+help@opensuse.org

Per Jessen wrote:

Stathis Iosifidis (aka diamond_gr) wrote:

...

Hello my friends,

After discussion with some friends of mine who run their business, a question came up.

Well, live dvd is OK for a small business to cover the office needs but there's a need for some special software such as ERP or financial or accountant software.

I've been running my business exclusively on openSUSE/SuSE since 2004 - sofar we've only had to use Windows software when it came to accounting. I have not tried sql-ledger, but we're likely to give that a go one of these days.

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So, as we have openSUSE medical and openSUSE LiFE, is it possible to cover also some small businesses? Here in Greece we have a goal to do something with the medical for starters (since I'm more familiar with it).

There is certainly room for it, but I think the time might be better spent in packaging.

I should explain - I meant that openSUSE as it is today is very well suited for small business, apart from a few critical applications such as e.g. accounting and ERP. -- Per Jessen, Zürich (20.4°C) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-project+help@opensuse.org

C wrote:

On Thu, Aug 18, 2011 at 07:48, Per Jessen wrote:

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I've been running my business exclusively on openSUSE/SuSE since 2004 - sofar we've only had to use Windows software when it came to accounting.  I have not tried sql-ledger, but we're likely to give that a go one of these days.

Have you looked at Quasar from LinuxCanada? Quasar is pretty comprehensive.

C

No, I didn't know about that one, I'll check it out. The one issue I found when I was looking (back in 2004-2005) was lack of support for multiple: 1) languages, 2) currencies and 3) VAT rates. /Per -- Per Jessen, Zürich (23.9°C) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-project+help@opensuse.org

Klaas Freitag wrote:

Am 18.08.2011 10:49, schrieb Per Jessen:

Hi,

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No, I didn't know about that one, I'll check it out. The one issue I found when I was looking (back in 2004-2005) was lack of support for multiple: 1) languages, 2) currencies and 3) VAT rates.

You want to check out Kraft [1], mainly done by an openSUSE fellow ;-) Depending on your idea what 'accounting' is it might help you. All the problems mentioned above are solved in Kraft.

Klaas

[1] http://volle-kraft-voraus.de

Thanks, that looks interesting too. Like I said, I have not been looking for a few years, but it is about time we "upgraded", so links like this are really helpful. Wrt "accounting", the things I need are: - double-entry book-keeping, pretty standard - keep records of ins and outs - MwST/VAT record-keeping (and reporting) - reconciliation with bank records, credit card, paypal - accounts in multiple currencies Nothing very unusual. /Per -- Per Jessen, Zürich (24.6°C) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-project+help@opensuse.org

Klaas Freitag wrote:

Am 18.08.2011 11:37, schrieb Per Jessen:

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Klaas Freitag wrote:

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Am 18.08.2011 10:49, schrieb Per Jessen:

Hi,

...

No, I didn't know about that one, I'll check it out. The one issue I found when I was looking (back in 2004-2005) was lack of support for multiple: 1) languages, 2) currencies and 3) VAT rates.

You want to check out Kraft [1], mainly done by an openSUSE fellow ;-) Depending on your idea what 'accounting' is it might help you. All the problems mentioned above are solved in Kraft.

Klaas

[1] http://volle-kraft-voraus.de

Thanks, that looks interesting too. Like I said, I have not been looking for a few years, but it is about time we "upgraded", so links like this are really helpful.

Wrt "accounting", the things I need are:

- double-entry book-keeping, pretty standard - keep records of ins and outs - MwST/VAT record-keeping (and reporting) - reconciliation with bank records, credit card, paypal - accounts in multiple currencies

Nothing very unusual.

Than go for KMyMoney or Skrooge or GNUCash.

I'll add them to the list. KMyMoney, Skrooge - I'm probably prejudiced, but I tend to avoid the word "personal" when I look for business accountancy packages. GNUcash - looks interesting too. I think I did look at it a few years back, but something made me skip it. Maybe VAT and multiple currencies? It seems there is quite a bit more choice now than back in 2004.

Also interesting: http://community.kde.org/Alkimia

Good name :-) /Per -- Per Jessen, Zürich (24.6°C) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-project+help@opensuse.org

jdd wrote:

Le 18/08/2011 11:37, Per Jessen a écrit :

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Wrt "accounting", the things I need are:

bullet proof database

Yes, and concurrent multi-user access. I was getting really interested in GNUcash when I discovered it's one-user-at-a-time. In truth, we can live with that, it's no worse than the current situation, but it would have been nice if we're going to "upgrade". -- Per Jessen, Zürich (27.8°C) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-project+help@opensuse.org

Basil Chupin wrote:

On 18/08/11 19:37, Per Jessen wrote:

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Klaas Freitag wrote:

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Am 18.08.2011 10:49, schrieb Per Jessen:

Hi,

...

No, I didn't know about that one, I'll check it out. The one issue I found when I was looking (back in 2004-2005) was lack of support for multiple: 1) languages, 2) currencies and 3) VAT rates. You want to check out Kraft [1], mainly done by an openSUSE fellow ;-) Depending on your idea what 'accounting' is it might help you. All the problems mentioned above are solved in Kraft.

Klaas

[1] http://volle-kraft-voraus.de Thanks, that looks interesting too. Like I said, I have not been looking for a few years, but it is about time we "upgraded", so links like this are really helpful.

Wrt "accounting", the things I need are:

- double-entry book-keeping, pretty standard - keep records of ins and outs - MwST/VAT record-keeping (and reporting) - reconciliation with bank records, credit card, paypal - accounts in multiple currencies

Nothing very unusual.

"Nothing very unusual", eh :-) .

To someone who knows about accounting and management accounting this is "not unusual" :-) . To to others it means absolutely nothing :'( .

Very true (applies to any dedicated application/field package).

An organisation (with a turnover of over $1m p.a.) of which I was the Assistant Treasurer and then Treasurer had, as the absolute minimum for accounting controls, a system which reconciled the bank records. No ifs or buts; it had to do be able to reconcile bank transactions as well as credit card and EFTPOS [Electronic Fund Transfer at Point Of Sale] (probably termed Paypal in your environment) transactions.

Basically paypal is just another bank.

The only such accounting package (in our part of the world) was Minding Your Own Business (MYOB) [http://myob.com.au/ ].

Unfortunately, it is only available either for Windows or MAC. But if you are running a virtual installation of either under Linux............

Yeah, once you go that way, there are plenty of options - Windows+ somepackage is where we are today. Seven years ago that was a quick(-and-dirty) solution to an urgent need, but now I'm slowly (somewhat inspired by this thread) beginning to look at the Linux solutions out there. /Per -- Per Jessen, Zürich (27.4°C) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-project+help@opensuse.org