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7.2 GNUe - GNU Enterprise

GNUe is a free software project with the idea to implement a Enterprise Resource Planning system. With such a free system Small to Medium Enterprises can afford to go electronically without a specific vendor lock-in.

Below is the new draft of the official GNUe web site at http://www.gnuenterprise.org

OVERVIEW

GNU Enterprise (GNUe) is a suite of tools and applications for solving the
needs of the enterprise. From human resources, accounting, customer
relationship management and project management to supply chain or
e-commerce, GNUe can handle the needs of any business, large or small. If
you are looking for a full-function ERP, GNUe is the package for you.

Beyond applications, GNUe is a development framework that enables enterprise
information technology professionals to customize applications for their
businesses. The GNUe platform boasts an Open Architecture and easy
maintenance. It gives users a modular system and freedom from being stuck
with a single-source vendor. Plus, users get consistency and the ability to
tap into a network of best practices from other enterprises, saving valuable
development time.

GNUe is a Free Software project with a corps of volunteer developers around
the world working on GNUe projects. This provides the added benefits of easy
internationalization of applications. The project is working to provide a
worldwide GNUe community, allowing everyone who is involved in the project
access to other talented business information technology professionals.

GNUe supports multi-currency processing (including euro support) and
multi-language interfaces.

GNUe is a work in progress.

FREE SOFTWARE
GNU Enterprise is released under the GPL license. For an example, please see
the GPL license at http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html. The actual license
covering GNU Enterprise is included in all GNU Enterprise distributions. For
a description of why GPL and why free software see
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/why-free.html.


OPEN ARCHITECTURE
Open Architecture means you can choose which applications you wish to use;
you don't have to install the entire package. Or, you can develop your own
applications and integrate them. GNUe is built around open standards. It is
also designed from the ground up as a modular system and utilizes the latest
in object technology. Object technology means that parts of the overall
system may be improved and capabilities added without monolithic or system
wide changes. For example, you may chose to implement GNUe's Accounts
Receivable but keep your existing Order Entry/Invoicing.

ERP
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
A comprehensive, integrated set of business solutions which helps your
company gain a competitive edge by integrating all business processes and
optimizing the usage of the resources you have available.

The project is still in its beginning and needs development. The main application server is called GEAS and has already the possibility to use Business Objects. The other tool of GNUe are the GNUe-Forms which provide a user interface to an abstraction (GNUe-Common tool) of some supported databases.



author: Sacha Schlegel