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Hi all -Thanks for your grate work!

First time writing in KMyMoney forum, I have to say that, after more than 1 year of trying several open source projects for my Business book-keeping (from heavy java-based ERPs, until Gnucash, KMyMoney and Grisbi), I decided to choose KMyMoney to keep my Business accounting, despite my huge needs of tracking and automating several actions (note: I keep a restaurant with many complicated accounting forms).

The parameters/factors which I took in account to make my choice, were -in importance order- the followings:

1) The Budget-Forecast-Reports features/capabilities
Here is where (the 9.x+ versions of) KMymoney came first, comparing even with big ERP projects and GnuCash (which HAS NOT good forecast/budgeting system yet). Of course there are some improvements to do here, and I hope to help a little (reporting bugs and structuring proposals, -given that I miss a lot of coding skills and time!)

2) Simplicity & Usability
Having in mind that the program should be easily understandable by my partners (to use it even them) KMyMoney was also the best in this comparison (some php/web based with ajax simple-menu ERPs -such as FrontAccounting- were also good, but they lack at the #1 factor). Gnucash was finally abandoned because of its awful/unusable GUI (especially on its 'Business Features').

3) Data-Entry convenience & Automation capabilities
Having much data to entry every day (think that I want also to entry all my last year actions!) this factor was very important. I really miss GnuCash 'formulae & variable' system at scheduled transactions, but I noticed that this feature exists already at KMyMoney official road-map (even 'beyond version 1.0'). Unfortunately I did't find none program with good 'Transaction's Template' system (something like scheduled transactions with formulae but with no predefined values and date of entry) -You prepare it and you use it when you need it (even twice in a week or once in month or whenever -i.e when you receive some goods by invoice from your supplier)! I will post soon such a proposal for this at KMymoney Feature Request. (note: duplicating an already registered split transaction is quite similar but not the same in meaning of data-entry demands). Also, there are some minor improvements at the current KMyMoney version that would avoid some annoying situations. (I 'll send proposals soon, also!)

4) Consistency & Stability (of course!)
Although 9.x versions of KmyMoney are -by convention- 'beta' versions, the program it is really stable enough! (note: I managed to crash it two times, canceling 'new category declaration wizard' from inside a split transaction entry -if I remember good. I 'll try to reproduce it and send a bug report). Some minors consistency bugs exist (especially at report/forecast/schedule systems -but I know that Alvaro and other guys work on them. However, the most important is the vitality and the quality of the program (and of its developers!). I hope I 'll be able to help at this project too!

5) VAT support & Invoices
'Auto VAT assignment' in current KMyMoney works only for simple transactions and has no effect at more complex split transactions (which are my every day case ). Moreover, the need of existence also some Asset accounts assigned to VAT categories has also been referred. I prepare a complete proposal on how that could be fixed, including the situation where two (or more) VAT/Tax categories apply to part of the split components! Regarding Invoices, I show somewhere a proposal about joining with 'Kraft' project. This seems good prospect!

6) Other Business features (AP/AR, stock management, orders, Payroll, etc.)
I miss some features with KMyMoney (-and I think that I am not alone!) about business functionality. Although some of them I can bypass with some tricks (i.e. scheduled transactions for the AP staff and some excel -eh! sorry, calc I mean !- sheets for payroll) I think that the already existed (and more complex!) 'Stock/Shares' infrastructure would be not so difficult to be modificated to support a 'stock/warehouse' system also. Hmmm.... I know, there is a lot of work with dialogs/forms to be transformed...And also Payees system -which should be categorized to Customers and Supplier etc.- sucks (particularly at transfer transactions) . Anyway ...

7) Web/Database based & multi-user capabilities
Last, but not totally least, was the parameter of the platform Independence and long distance accessibility -such as a web based program can offer. I understand that it's difficult to reproduce similar GUI in a web implementation, but the fore-coming database (SQL) support of KMyMoney engine, gives some promises for a future capability of long distance data-entry -and, maybe, a multi-user support.

So, after the above analysis, I return to the Main Question:

Does/Should KMyMoney -development group and users- intent to 'expand' and cover more Business-oriented features??

The CONS of an affirmative answer is -of course- 'KISS'. ('Keep It Simple Stupid').
The PROS is that -as I argued before- KMyMoney is already semi-Business capable and incorporates some characteristics that many "Small-Business Accounting Programs" envy! It's a pity to exclude a huge part of potentially users (and developers, too!) from such a good product!

- Are there out there relevant speculations?
- Could there be a dual GUI (a)simple/home & b)professional/Business one) defined at 'Preferences' of the program to support both targets?
- Are there thoughts to join with other relative KDE projects like 'Kraft' or 'First4' ?
- Or, either, should be created a fork of KMyMoney (KMyBusiness?)?

-Your thoughts ?

Again a big thank to all the guys behind this project!
Christos Sioulis

There have been some talks about integrating with Kraft. Thomas (ipwizard) can give you more details since he knows the Kraft developer.

Thanks Hei Ku for the quick response.
But the main questions is of course about the future plans about KMyMoney direction/roadmap.
-Shall it remain stuck in the initial goal (the pest Personal Finance Manager), or there is the intention/demand to expand it to cover more Business features?
Chris

I am not the leader of the project, but if I had to guess, I would say that we will remain true to the original goal, while making it easy to integrate with business applications, that provide business features in a better way than it will ever be possible for us.