It seems like the FOSS community is continuing to grow, and FOSS apps keep getting better (Immich reallh blew my mind recently), which is a big win 😎 but there are still many apps I use that I would kill for an open source alternative. I am curious what you guys think? Are there any apps you'd love alternatives for?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 6 points 7 months ago (3 children)

It'd be nice to have some kind of FOSS business suite, aka point of sale, accounting, inventory etc. I'm not a fan of Intuit.

I've also not found journal software I really like. RedNotebook is about the closest. I tend to use my journal not only as a personal diary but also as a place to brainstorm and I would also like a checklist/to-do list system, and this I haven't found in any software free or proprietary. I may have to build it myself, with my rudimentary knowledge of qt.

[–] boonhet@lemm.ee 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

You can try out Odoo, it's heavily customizable so you can add in the parts you don't find existing modules for - and customize existing modules too.

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Oh I just love "FOSS" software with a "Pricing" page.

[–] fruitycoder@sh.itjust.works 5 points 7 months ago

Its business oriented software, the primary users of that software SHOULD be paying first and looking at supporting it themselves as a last resort.

[–] boonhet@lemm.ee 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Free in FOSS stands more for what you're allowed to do than what it costs. The devs have to support themselves somehow, the project is absolutely massive and has a bunch of dedicated developers on the payroll.

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Nah, this ain't FOSS, it's source partially available drawbackware. There's a list of features you don't get unless you pay for it. That ain't free as in speech, not the way the Linux kernel is. That ain't Stallman style "and give it away to anyone who can find a use for it."

I could understand if the business gave away the management software, and charged for, say, integration with payment/banking services, cloud hosting, tech support etc, things which are services that cost money. But according to this page inventory management via barcode scanner is a cost option? Is the free version of the software also restricted to ten active customers at a time?

Calling commercial drawbackware "FOSS" because they open some of the source code is fraudulent. I'll be bringing this to the attention of the FTC.

[–] boonhet@lemm.ee 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

You get access to the source code you use. If you pay for an enterprise license, you can access the enterprise source code too, but it's indeed a proprietary license, you can't really sell modifications.

I do wish it was fully free & open source (because that wouldn't affect me, I'm not on their payroll, I just work with the software), but I still prefer the current model over Dynamics 365 or SAP (though I believe Microsoft open sourced some or all of their Dynamics 365 Business Central code too? I haven't really kept up).

If Odoo ever decides to close their open source business and only offer it with a closed source, you bet your ass there are going to be dozens of forks of the latest open source version. I'm fairly sure my own employer would do the same, our CTO is an open source evangelist. Would probably RiiR the core even.

Not sure why you think the FTC would be the best body to talk to here. Odoo is not an American company, but rather a Belgian one.

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Do they do business in America?

[–] boonhet@lemm.ee 1 points 7 months ago

There's a localization module available for the US, it should handle the arcane tax code and everything, but I haven't tried.

[–] gerdesj@lemmy.ml 2 points 7 months ago

I (my little company) employ a bloke to support https://www.uzerp.com/ - we use it ourselves and ditched Sage (yay!)

If you fancy it then give us a shout - it is open source - you get it for free but our time is costed if you need assistance.

That is the Open Source Covenant

[–] CCRhode@lemmy.ml 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I may have to build [journal software] myself, with my rudimentary knowledge of qt.

Don't do that! Take a look at Tonto2.

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago

Looking around at that page...no thanks.