OpenERP

OpenERP

OpenERP
Developer(s)	OpenERP s.a. (previously Tiny sprl)
Stable release	6.0 / January 20, 2011; 9 months ago (2011-01-20)
Preview release	6.1
Written in	Python
Operating system	Windows, Linux, Unix, Mac OS X
Type	ERP, CRM, Accounting
License	AGPL
Website	openerp.com

OpenERP is an open source comprehensive suite of business applications including Sales, CRM, Project management, Warehouse management, Manufacturing, Accounting and Human Resources. OpenERP has separate client and server components. XML-RPC interfaces are available.

It is based on a strong MVC architecture, flexible workflows, a dynamic GUI, an XML-RPC interface and customizable reporting system with convenient OpenOffice.org integration. On January 20, 2011, OpenERP s.a. released OpenERP version 6.0, including an "on-demand" (SaaS) version.^[1] Due to its modular approach customers can start with one application and then add other modules as they go.

OpenERP has launched its Apps library where all the OpenERP-based applications are open source. OpenERP Apps comprises applications like CRM, Accounting and Project Management as well as very specific applications like fleet management, marketing campaigns automation, e-Commerce integration, point-of-sale, etc. OpenERP Apps also includes vertical applications related to specific sectors. As an example, you will also find applications for managing hotels, auction houses, training centers, book stores, manufacturing industries, etc.

Business model

OpenERP follows an open source business model. The development and community efforts are managed through Launchpad, using the Bazaar versioning system. The company maintains the copyright and determines what is accepted into the software code base and the direction of the software. The OpenERP community is organized on the OpenObject website, where you can find the forums, the IRC and all the available modules for OpenERP. The documentations are also managed on launchpad but a website dedicated to all books has been set up in 2009.^[2]

OpenERP set up a business model with a win-win relationship between the community, the partner network and the editor. The partners are intended to create the market around OpenERP and the service offers, the editor is responsible for the quality and the vision on the development of the product and the community generates activities and contribute to the growth of the product. All modules produced by the editors, the partners and the community are to be open source.^[3]

License

Owner of the OpenERP code and licenses is Belgium-based OpenERP s.a. (previously Tiny sprl). Up to version 6.0, OpenERP Server and the GTK+ client were released under the General Public License. Since version 6, OpenERP Server and GTK+ client are published under AGPL version 3.0.^[4]

There are two licenses, the first one is the GPL, which is used for the GTK client and for the server. Some addons use this license. The second license is for the web client and is distributed under the “OpenERP Public License”. It’s based on Mozilla Public License (MPL) Version 1.1 with following restrictions:

• You can use the configuration interface to replace the “Made by Tiny & Axelor” logo by your own logo but you must keep all others references to Open ERP as is.
• All distributions of the software must keep source code with OEPL.
• All integrations to any other software must keep source code with OEPL.

Just like the Mozilla Public License those restrictions render the web client license incompatible with the GNU GPL.

The editor is currently considering for the next version OpenERP 6.1 to stay fully AGPL.

Architecture

The software is easy to use and users can choose whether they want to use a web browser pointed at the OpenERP client server or use an application client (GTK client) installed on each computer.

An OpenERP system has three main components :

1. PostgreSQL dataserver which has all the databases
2. OpenERP application server that has all of the enterprise logic
3. web server, a distinct application called the Open Object client-web, which allows you to connect to OpenERP from any web browser. This is not needed if the user connect through a GTK client.
4. Requires web browser with flash plug in, because OpenERP uses flash components.

Its integrated business intelligence capabilities allow multiple users to be able to handle all the aspects of the software. The reports and work flows that you require can be customized.

The server part is written in Python. Business functionality is organised into "modules". A module is a folder with a pre-defined structure containing Python code and XML files. A module defines data structure, forms, reports, menus, procedures, workflows, etc.

The client is thin as it contains no business logic. (Adding new objects, such as menus or forms, makes it available to any client; one OpenERP-server can be accessed by any type of client: gtk+, web or Qt).

The GTK+ client is the default and is based on the PyGTK (Python) platform.

The Web client is written in Python. It uses the turboGears platform up to version 5.0.1. Though content-wise GTK+ and web clients are equivalent, there are some differences in the functionality of the interface.

Development environment

There is no integrated development environment. Python code must be edited in an external editor. There is no official or de-facto editor, although recent community tutorials tend to go towards Eclipse/PyDev based development.

Some application logic (i.e. workflows and data structure) can be changed through the client interface.

A tutorial gives an example of using the free diagramming software Dia for visual creation of a module and saving (via a plugin) into a folder structure suitable for OpenERP.

A gEdit (text editor) plugin has also been created (if running Linux on the desktop) that speeds up development by generating code in the correct syntax for OpenERP. This approach leverages the snippets capabilities of gEdit. A video is available demonstrating this capability.

Tryton is a fork of OpenERP which began development in November 2008. The project is a popular alternative of Open ERP and a comparison with Tryton can be seen here.

References

1. ^ Content Management Connection, http://blog.contentmanagementconnection.com/Home/pages/news/?nid=464 .
2. ^ Documentation, OpenERP, http://doc.openerp.com/ .
3. ^ MBT Mag, http://www.mbtmag.com/Content.aspx?id=1186 .
4. ^ "OpenERP and AGPL", FP Tiny, Google, 2009-10, http://fptiny.blogspot.com/2009/10/openerp-and-agpl.html .

External links

• OpenERP, http://openerp.com/ .
• Collaborative development platform, Launchpad, https://launchpad.net/openobject .
• blog, OpenERP, http://openerp.com/blog .
• presentations and videos, OpenERP, http://openerp.tv .
• TERP, text-mode OpenERP client, Google Code, http://code.google.com/p/terp-client/ .
• Koo, a Qt based OpenERP client, Nan-tic, http://www.nan-tic.com/en/koo-platform .
• oerppy, a Python XML-RPC OpenERP client, Launchpad, https://launchpad.net/oerppy .
• Apps library, OpenERP, http://apps.openerp.com/ .
• Pinckaers, F; Gardiner, G (2009), OpenERP for Retail and Industrial Management (1st ed.), Open Object Press, http://www.openerp.com/services/books .
• Aeroo Reports, a WYSIWYG HTML/Openoffice reports, Alistek, http://www.alistek.com/ .

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