[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: install sickness



Hi Darald,


If one have a recent (strong) workstation/laptop, it is easy to install the recommended distribution and get ledgersmb working.

Easy to install - - - - hmmmmmmmm - - - - 3 year old instruction list as the most up to date - - - - hmmmmmmmmmmmm - - - - working system - - - - not at all.

Somehow I will disagree that LedgerSMB is easy to install. If you have done it a number of times - - - it may be. As a computer user installation requires the services of a specialist and that defeats the purpose of using OSS.

On earlier occasions I kept quiet, because I didn't feel my contribution on the subject would be constructive or even positive. However, this time I can't suppress the urge to respond.

The age of documentation doesn't really matter if there's no release requiring different instructions. Apparantly, others worked off those instructions just fine or knew how to get it installed with some extra information from the users list. Additionally, there is a significant and well supported network of people who offer professional services, including installation services for very reasonable fees. Some may even charge less than the cost of a copy of proprietary systems on the market (e.g. Quickbooks Pro).

If you really think (F)OSS software can be managed without specialist knowledge, you're wrong. Some of the most complex software is developed as OSS. LedgerSMB, being an ERP (not just an accounting system), is among those complex systems. As Istvan pointed out, lots of things can go wrong if a system isn't managed with the right knowledge. Just being able to set up LedgerSMB isn't enough to safely manage your business's data.

Also, just bitching around on the users mailing list and then on the development mailing list isn't going to improve the situation. Frankly, from what I read, you were mainly showing your own incompetence to set up a working Linux machine, failing to select the right software to install -- not even getting to the point where you could start to install LedgerSMB, even though numerous people stepped up to help.
 
As my business does not need multi-user capabilities I will change to lurker mode and check back in about 4 to 5 years from now and see if the installation complexities have been changed. I just can't afford to have my financial data held hostage by outside companies.

I'm affraid waiting 4 or 5 years won't help. Installation and especially management of a LedgerSMB software install will get easier, but won't get to the levels where it's end-user-level point-and-click install and management -- the level that you seem to be looking for. The software is simply too complex. If you want something point-and-click, I suggest you try something else. Maybe osFinancials (http://www.osfinancials.org/indexold.php/en/) can offer what you're looking for. If osFinancials doesn't work for you, maybe GnuCash (http://www.gnucash.org/) can. The latter is definitely more aimed at the consumer level than LedgerSMB; a friend of mine uses the former.


I hope you do find what you're looking for somewhere. I really do. It won't be here. I'm sorry.

--
Bye,

Erik.

http://efficito.com -- Hosted accounting and ERP.
Robust and Flexible. No vendor lock-in.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Infragistics Professional
Build stunning WinForms apps today!
Reboot your WinForms applications with our WinForms controls. 
Build a bridge from your legacy apps to the future.
http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=153845071&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk
_______________________________________________
Ledger-smb-users mailing list
..hidden..
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/ledger-smb-users