Accounting software with Lazarus/FP

[ssliackus]

Hi,

I have an idea of developing accounting software with Lazarus/FP, where it would be the best place to discuss this idea?

Thank you.

[Phil]

I have an idea of developing accounting software with Lazarus/FP, where it would be the best place to discuss this idea?

For accounting questions I don't know if anyone here could help you, but any general or specific programming questions, even related to how to get started, can usually get pretty decent and quick (maybe even helpful) suggestions here.

My only question would be to wonder if you're a little late to the game. Aren't there already cheap and maybe even free accounting packages available?

[Mike.Cornflake]

What exactly is it you wish to discuss?

If it's development related, here is good.

If it's "what would an accounting package need", then I'd suggest over coffee with a bunch of accountants.

If it's "How to raise funds for..", then well I've no clue.

If it's "I'd like to drum up support for others to do the development for an idea I have" then here is probably also good (there's a child board somewhere for job adverts)

If I haven't covered your possible discussion items, then feel to provide more information :-)

[ssliackus]

Thank you for response.

At this stage there is only idea, but I want to disclose and discuss it and then
a) implement it
or
b) kill it.

There are many accounting packages, but only few exist on Linux, and almost no professional scale accounting software. I believe, that Lazarus/FP is good tool to develop for multi OS desktop software.  Recently (in past year or two) almost all accounting software rapidly moved to cloud and left users with no choice. I am an accountant and I really hate cloud accounting software for many reasons (speed, unpredictable behaviour, pricing policy and data ownership are main of them). Although software developers are pushing users move to cloud, market and users' habit do not change that rapidly and here I see market niche where new product can fit, at least for some time till it will grow into something else.

One of parts of the idea is to commercialise the product and share part of the profit (if there will be any, of course) with FPC/Lazarus community to support development. It is like pair  commercial product with open source to produce a bit sustainability.

I am not obsessed with idea, it will be ok if it is killed (I am not developer, I am just a bookkeeper, I do not know all and every aspects). I just want to meet and talk to right people about this.

I am not sure if this is a right place for such discussion, so I am ready to share my contact details (if I am allowed do this here).

I am London based, speak English, Russian, Lithuanian.

Thank you.

[Phil]

There are many accounting packages, but only few exist on Linux, and almost no professional scale accounting software. I believe, that Lazarus/FP is good tool to develop for multi OS desktop software.

Do you see this as being used by accountants or by small business owners, for example, who for whatever reason don't use an accountant and might use something like Wave (https://www.waveapps.com/accounting)?

[Josh]

GnuCash is Linux,Windows and MAC, maybe worth a look.

https://www.gnucash.org/

[JD]

Hi there,

I've had a similar idea for many years having worked as an auditor/consultant in public accounting and financial advisory firms and having written software to help the audit process. In this domain, desktop software is quickly going out of fashion.

A) There are many browser based ERP offerings that integrate accounting into the core product e.g

Odoo https://www.odoo.com/       
Dolibarr https://www.dolibarr.org/
Compiere http://www.compiere.com/

The only ones I know of written in Delphi or Lazarus are

GO ERP https://sourceforge.net/projects/gogestionale/  (Marco Cantu's product)
TurboCash http://turbocash.ning.com/
Gestinux https://sourceforge.net/projects/gestinux/ (cross platform Lazarus application)

The source code for TurboCash may still be available on the Internet somewhere. 

B) In addition, the big players such as SAGE and others are leaning towards browser based tools able to run on all platforms. It is the SaaS/Cloud (software as a service model) with a very cheap basic offering which becomes more expensive when you add more specialized modules and support.

This model allows the external auditing firm to have access to the accounting records of their clients in real time. A win-win situation for all parties since potential problems are more likely to be discovered earlier. 

In conclusion, writing accounting software from scratch is not a simple matter. General Ledger is easy but inventory, payroll, control ledger etc can be really tricky. You'll need to ask yourself if you want to go down that path given the fact that there are many popular cheap options available. If it is just for intellectual exercise then that is fine but if you want to develop something you can sell, believe me it is faster to take something that already exists and adapt it to your specific needs maybe by writing add-on modules for it.

If you still want to go ahead, I would advice getting a book on developing accounting packages using Microsoft Access/Visual Basic (I started with books like that too). They are available on Amazon. You'll get an understanding of the product and you can then convert the code to ObjectPascal as you would like.

Good luck,

JD 

[Phil]

GnuCash is Linux,Windows and MAC, maybe worth a look.

https://www.gnucash.org/

Looks to be a mature product and, if the mailing list is any indication, still in use. C source with some oddities:

https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Development

Interesting discussion on future plans:

https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/C%2B%2B

[Phil]

In this domain, desktop software is quickly going out of fashion.

Lots of good info in your post. I would suggest, however, that the shift away from desktop software is more than just fashion - your example of auditors having real-time access to records suggests otherwise.

Bucking tech trends is probably not the best approach for making software (and money). Still, we shouldn't let him go away empty-handed. He's on the right track: take specialized knowledge and look for a niche where that knowledge could be turned into software profitably. The problem is the lateness to the party, the general move away from desktop software, and probably just the increasing complexity of accounting rules and tax code (businesses more likely to turn everything over to accountant rather than having in-house people do it).

[avra]

I have an idea of developing accounting software with Lazarus/FP, where it would be the best place to discuss this idea?

You are not alone. Other people also had similar idea. Some open source and commercial software has been made in Lazarus already:
http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Projects_using_Lazarus#Management.2C_Accounting_and_other_Business_Software
Maybe some of them will be interested to discuss an idea with you. Just shoot your discussion in this thread.

[Thaddy]

Thank you for response.

At this stage there is only idea, but I want to disclose and discuss it and then
a) implement it

Labas ritas,

There are some very good Delphi based accounting programs that are open source.
But these rely on some custom components that are not yet translated to FPC.
The idea is sufficiently interesting to pursue it, especially since the new reporting engine in FPC trunk is very promising.
If you want to start it, also start with trunk FPC and at least Laz 1.8, for that reason.

Regards,

Thaddy

[JD]

In this domain, desktop software is quickly going out of fashion.

Lots of good info in your post. I would suggest, however, that the shift away from desktop software is more than just fashion - your example of auditors having real-time access to records suggests otherwise.

Exactly! I actually have a client right now that I advised to move away from their desktop accounting software to a cloud accounting software by Sage simply because their accounting records are a mess (incompetent staff) and it makes annual audits burdensome & unreliable. Many governments in the EU are also pushing businesses towards electronic billing and filing schemes because it makes their record gathering easier (less human input needed, the software just sends and XML/JSON record to the government agency). This is the an area that any new software must address in order to stay relevant. It is a major selling point nowadays. I've had to deal with these government agencies and they always want to know if the accounting software is compatible with their own system.

I believe the best starting point is to download the source code for something like Turbo Cash, get a book like Building Accounting Systems Using Access to get an understanding of the process and then proceed to develop a cross platform solution or better still like we both suggested a niche product that takes advantage of what the big players don't have and/or are not willing to develop themselves.

JD

[nummer8]

Hi,

I have an idea of developing accounting software with Lazarus/FP, where it would be the best place to discuss this idea?

Thank you.

OsFinancials is a Delphi project and open source, but indeed some custom components are used.
https://sourceforge.net/projects/osfinancials/

Jos

[StanleyPoter]

For accounting questions, I don't know if anyone here could help you, but any general or specific programming questions, even related to how to get started, can usually get pretty decent and quick (maybe even helpful) suggestions here.

My only question would be to wonder if you're a little late to the game. Aren't there already cheap and maybe even free accounting packages available?

[bylaardt]

I'm a accountant in Brazil.
Free software development is Ok, but free accounting assist, is not!
We have ethical issues by this kind of work. (Art. 6º) http://www1.cfc.org.br/sisweb/SRE/docs/RES_803.pdf