SQL-Ledger: Impressive capabilities, but needs polish (Linux.com) [LWN.net]

Linux.com reviews SQL-Ledger, a web-based accounting system. "SQL-Ledger is a popular free accounting application with a rich set of features. It's written in Perl and stores your accounting information in a PostgreSQL database, which makes deployment much easier when you have users who work on different machines. Like GnuCash, supports double-entry accounting. Unlike GnuCash, however, it appears to be squarely aimed at the small business community, boasting multiple user support, multiple company support, point-of-sale entry, accounts receivable and payable, and stock tracking. It has a good list of supported languages (29, according to the Web site), and by virtue of its HTML interface is usable on practically any modern operating system -- or indeed a whole range of different operating systems simultaneously."

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Agreed

Posted Nov 12, 2006 19:50 UTC (Sun) by ccyoung (subscriber, #16340) [Link]

I have to agree. I had great hopes for SQL-Ledger, but when I investigated (about a year ago) I found:

the user interface is really creaky HTML, eons from Web2
the code is opaque
requires user manual $200 and developer manual/update at $1000/yr

I am forced to be currently working on an alternative.

Agreed

Posted Nov 12, 2006 20:44 UTC (Sun) by bronson (subscriber, #4806) [Link]

What alternative did you choose? I rejected SQL ledger as well so I'm very interested in alternatives.

A possible alternative.

Posted Nov 13, 2006 10:16 UTC (Mon) by csawtell (subscriber, #986) [Link]

A possible alternative to SQL-Ledgers is Quasar [1] from Linux-Canada.
It is a multi-profit centre system for a chain of outlets. It's offered
as a KDE application which uses PostgreSQL as the data-base engine. It is
very comprehensive and therefore pretty complex, far too much so for the
sole trader and his dog type of small business. About a year ago when I
examined the package I was of the opinion that the program packages and
particularly the documentation was in need of some polishing. Written in
C++ and SQL

[1] http://www.linuxcanada.com/

Posted Nov 13, 2006 9:49 UTC (Mon) by knan (subscriber, #3940) [Link]

SQL-Ledger works for small companies... as long as you have time to customize it for your needs, and can consult an accountant about the chart of accounts.

LedgerSMB seems to aim to be an openly documented and more secure fork. Haven't looked at it yet.

SQL-Ledger: Impressive capabilities, but needs polish (Linux.com)

Posted Nov 13, 2006 11:20 UTC (Mon) by terber (subscriber, #3311) [Link]

Lx-Office ERP is a mentionable German fork of SQL-Ledger. Started over some disagreement with the principal SQL-Ledger developer and unfulfilled special requirements for the German market. Development process looks way more open to me. See here (in German).

SQL-Ledger: Impressive capabilities, but needs polish (Linux.com)

Posted Nov 13, 2006 15:24 UTC (Mon) by charlieb (subscriber, #23340) [Link]

See also ledger-smb - a fork of sql-ledger which claims these improvements:

Enhanced security
Better Windows support
More reports
An Open Development Model
Better data integrity controls

open source accounting packages

Posted Nov 13, 2006 16:26 UTC (Mon) by DG (subscriber, #16978) [Link]

When we started our company (18 months ago) we spent a number of days investigating various accounting packages, hoping to find an open source one that worked and we could understand.

Unfortunately none of them appeared suitable - and as we're techies (not bean counters) we opted for the easy option of paying a relatively small sum for Quickbooks with the added comfort that it understands the UKs tax system (which most open source products don't seem to) and can do payroll etc.

As an aside, there's also http://www.enterprisegroupwaresystem.org/ which, I believe, has an accounting module (although I'm not sure if they've finished revamping it yet or not)

SQL-Ledger: Impressive capabilities, but needs polish (Linux.com)

Posted Dec 24, 2006 16:54 UTC (Sun) by eionmac (guest, #42397) [Link]

Agree, that opensource does not meet UK VAT standards in any acounting package for one man and dog (or many dogs) business.
All other business stuff on computers can be done well in Linux/Open source excopt reasonable VAT accounting system. For this reason we dual boot to Windows to use QuickBooks Pro for the charity we do books for , ands also our own company.
Pity it stops me using Linux for many charities when I set up their computers and unfortunately delivers them to Microsoft systems.
SQL Ledget was unsuitable for easy use in UK