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cs2034 - Retail Business Software - CD Collection

A collection of Software Packages for the small business. Includes accounting and general bookkeeping packages, and Point-of-Sale (POS) support software. UNIX/Linux, Windows Copyright 2005 Edition Arnold Kochman. Other copyrights apply, including but not limited to the GNU Public License.

Users will need one of the commonly available unzip type utilities, such as PKUNZIP or WinZip, tar for Linux, etc. Programs are distributed with source, when appropriate, and some programs in C, for example, will have to be compiled.

These packages are particularly attractive because the source code is provided, and therefore maintainability of installed systems is assured for a long time. In addition, some of these packages are supported by commercial enterprises.

The various packages are at different levels of maturity and completeness, and I cannot certify that they are all worthwhile for any particular purpose. You will have to judge for yourself, but there is a lot to choose from.

Here is a listing of the packages included:

SQL-Ledger - Accounting system for manufacturing, retail and service businesses. Written in perl, multiuser, data is stored in SQL server, web interface, AR, AP, GL, POS, Orders, Inventory, customizable, postscript, PDF, foreign language and currency support, API.
    SQL-Ledger is a double entry accounting system. Accounting data is stored in a SQL Server, for the display any text or GUI browser can be used. The entire system is linked through a chart of accounts. Each item in inventory is linked to income, expense, inventory and tax accounts. When items are sold and purchased the accounts are automatically updated. Invoices, Packing List, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Sales, Work and Purchase Order, Statements, Receipts and Checks are generated from templates and can be changed to suit specific needs.
    The builtin translation mechanism for items and foreign language templates can be set up for each customer/vendor so it is possible to generate invoices in a foreign language. This translation facility can also be used to generate different forms for a group of customers/vendors. A couple dozen different languages are already supported.
    DWS Systems Inc. is the developer of SQL-Ledger and provides ongoing support and customizations. SQL-Ledger is licensed under the GPL license, and is free software. User interface exists for a couple dozen different languages.
L'anePOS - A point-of-sale (cash register) and backoffice program for retail businesses and restaurants written in Perl on Linux/Unix. It uses PostgreSQL for backend storage. It is available under the GNU General Public License.
    L'ânePOS is an integrated, multiuser point-of-sale (with some accounting) program for computer systems running a Unix-like OS (most commonly Linux). It allows businesses to track inventory, sales, customers, and other accounting tasks in a single or multi register setup. L'ânePOS is designed for both retail stores and restaurants. Any back office computer running X11 (or an intermediary) can access the system for reporting or modification.
Mercator - Mercator is a Point of Sale (POS) application written in Java. It is a OO, multi-purpose transaction engine that supports general retail and quick-order restaurant environments using standard POS peripherals (JavaPOS) and/or menu interface. Mercator POS is a retail transaction toolkit designed to allow easy extension of business logic through a component architecture and Java dynamic class loading.
    It is a Java application that is intended to be user extensible. It is in use primarily in general retail and quick serve restaurant environments. It supports grapical touch screen interface or retail device interfaces (Line Display, or CRT). Mercator is licensed under the GNU General Public License. Mercator is also available under the Mercator Community License (MCL), which places restrictions on distribution of source code to end users.
easyPOS - A GTK+ cash register released under the GNU General Public License. it has been in production for a year with slow but steady improvements. it is suited for a small retail/restaurant operation. but, it is what you make it. For all Linux/BSD/UNIX systems.
    easyPOS uses flat ascii text files for menu items and credit accounts. the menu structure is simply a directory tree. easyPOS stores each ticket with detail in another directory tree. All detail is kept, so it is possible to get full inventory control information on a daily basis; an export file is written at the end of the day with item summary information.
    easyPOS uses "standard" POS hardware. A slip printer is attached to the parallel port and is managed with by standard lpr commands. The cash drawer connects to a port on the slip printer which is pulsed to open the solenoid door lock when you send an ascii BEL character to the printer.
Toro Credit Server - A payment processing server written in Java. It interfaces with various merchant processing gateways like First Data, VITAL and Concord. It supports credit and debit transactions in a Retail environment. Distributed under the Common Public License, and the GNU General Public License. It is written in Java and uses a web interface. It is suitable for Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP, and all Linux/BSD/UNIX sustems. Mac OS X, Solaris, HP-UX, IBM AIX.
YAMS (Yet Another Merchant System) - An E-Commerce package, including Credit Card authorization (through Signio), persistent shopping carts for registered users, a retail management interface, inventory management tools, and tools to interoperate with affiliates. Distributed under the GNU General Public License.
Retail Auto Auction - This software, written in Python and Qt, provides a complete network-based Point-of-Sale software solution for an auto auction company. The program currently interfaces with a MySQL database hosted on one of the companies machines and can be installed on any number of machines that act as clients and connect to the database.
    In addition to tracking buyers/consignors, vehicles, and sales, the program includes powerful and extensible reporting capabilities. For instance, reports on buyer participation, vehicle history, car lists, etc. are available and can be exported. Contract printouts are generated for a dot matrix printer suitable for triplicate form printing.
    Operates with Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP, and all Linux/BSD/UNIX systems. Available under the GNU General Public License.
Gibbon is a point of sale (POS) front end or a cash register to be integrated in an enterprise resource planning system (ERP) like Interchange, Linux Kontor, SQL-ledger, phpShop and Gnu Enterprise. The software is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL). It runs on all Linux/BSD/UNIX systems, and uses a web interface.
DealerSys is a flexible retail e-commerce system for businesses which do not fit mainstream e-commerce systems. It handles items sold by length, area or volume, unique items, and auction items. DealerSys is a retail e-commerce system for businesses which do not fit mainstream e-commerce systems. It has evolved out of work done for two clients, one a specialist antique dealer, the other a sawmill. Specifically it is designed to handle unique items.
    DealerSys is designed to handle multiple currencies, and automatically to calculate shipping charges for different sized consigmnents to different destinations globally. It provides customer relationship management, automatically mailing customers when new items and content are added to categories in which they are interested.
    It is written in Java, and is therefore, relatively system independent. It requires a relational database, such as PostgreSQL. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License.
CybOrg, the Cybercafe Organizer, is a point of sales and administration system for internet cafes. It has a web-based interface and is written in Perl using Template Toolkit and a RDBMS. CybOrg uses a Windows/Linux client to block workstations.
    User interfaces are in English, Spanish, Dutch, Portugese, German, and Greek; documentation is in English and Spanish. It operates on Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP, and all Linux/BSD/UNIX type systems. Distributed under the GNU General Public License.
PHP Point Of Sale - Software to help small businesses with keeping track of customers, items and inventory, and generate reports based on sales. This program works great for businesses that use cash, check, or account numbers for their sales. It is written in PHP and uses a web interface, giving it system independence, but it requires MySQL. User interfaces in English, French, and Spanish. Distributed persuant to the GNU General Public License.
Crystal9 is a powerful E-commerce suite written in Perl, and designed to run under the Apache web server (soon mod_perl) with a MySQL backend. It is based on AllCommerce, an open source e-commerce suite developed by now defunct Opensales/Zelerate. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License.
    Crystal9 is an open source e-commerce engine. It's written in Perl, which allows it to be run on any platform that supports perl and under any web server that supports Perl CGI scripts. This means it will run on Linux, Windows 9x/NT/2000/XP, Mac OS X, Solaris, BSD, Irix, OS/2, and many more systems. It requires MySQL, but is adaptable for other relational database systems.
    Crystal9 is derived from AllCommerce, an open source e-commerce engine. Crystal9 was started in order for the development of the software to have a new focus (mainly security and bug fixes), as well as to avoid any copyright/trademark issues involved with the AllCommerce name.
Point-of-Sales (java) - A POS or cash register program integrates with sql-ledger accouting. User interface is English or simpilified Chinese. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License.
SHOPS - An "approximate acronym" for Squirrel Hill Point of Sale. It is a perl-mysql based system for tracking sales, suppliers, product requests, jobs, accounts and customer feedback; managing inventory and reordering; and agenda for the hardware domain. SHOPS is available under the GNU General Public License.
WSPOS - Wolfhaven Solution Point of Sale - A fully functional Point Of Sale (POS) program for your Linux system it uses a Postgres database as backend and can work with POS printers and barcode scanners. For all Linux/BSD/UNIX systems; requires KDE. Distributed under the GNU General Public License.
RedPOS - A simple and rock solid Point Of Sale - (POS) application. The POS is based on the JBoss MicroKernel, has a flexible graphical interface and can easily be connected to different backoffice/ERP systems. Its functionality can be extended during runtime. User interfaces in English, Spanish, and Swedish. Writen in Java, for system independence, and distributed under the GNU Library or Lesser General Public License.
Tina POS - A point of sales application designed for touch screens, supports ESC/POS ticket printers, customer displays and barcode readers. It's multiuser and has a backoffice part, with a product entry form, reports and charts.
    Tina POS is written in Java, and uses JDBC for database functionality. It will run under Linux, and Windows 2000 or Window XP. User interface in in English or Spanish. Distributed under the GNU General Public License.
TkKasse - A retail system designed especially for restaurants. The focus is on using cheap standard PC components, aside from POS printer. Multiple waiters/bills/screens at the same time possible. GUI design tested/optimized on real waiters. For all Linux/BSD/UNIX operating systems. German and English. TkKasse is distributed under the GNU General Public License.
FreeMercator - A free and open Java POS Point of Sale terminal and back-office. Project goals include scalabiliy, robustness, and ease of use. FreeMercator is a branch of the Mercator project originally written by Quentin Olson of http://www.globalretailtech.com/. It is written in Java, and is therefore relatively system independent. Distributed under the GNU General Public License.