Development
]Project Open[ for Enterprise Project Management
]Project Open[, or ]po[ is a cross-platform project management tool that is integrated within an enterprise resource planning system. It can be used for project planning, tracking, controlling and invoicing. ]po[ is designed in a modular fashion, individual packages can be installed and removed at runtime. The ]Project Open[ Company is located in Spain and is under German management. From the in a Nutshell document:
]po[ is a Web-based "Enterprise Project Management" software for project-based organizations with 2-200 users. ]po[ integrates areas such as CRM, sales, project planning, project tracking, collaboration, timesheet, invoicing and payments.
]project-open[ is one of the largest open-source based web applications in the world with more than 1,000,000 lines of code.
More than 1000 companies in 25 countries use ]po[ to run their businesses.
The depth of functionality provided by
]Project Open[ is shown by the extensive
list of modules that can be used for performing the many operations.
Key module categories include Projects, Finance, Customers, Collaboration,
Human Resources, Providers, Knowledge Management, Reporting and Translation.
The ]po[
Architecture FAQ
explains the project's organization relative to the required
open-source project dependencies.
]po[ requires the
AOLServer
web server with the
OpenACS libraries.
It does not work with Apache and there are no plans for Apache
support in the future.
PostgreSQL
is used as the underlying DBMS. The
Architecture Intro
document explains the relationships of the various subcomponents
within ]po[.
]po[ is released under a mixed-source model of licensing including GPL, the ]project-open[ Free License (FL) and the ]project-open[ Commercial License (CL). The model is explained this way:
The basic idea behind ]project-open[ is to create an open-source
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system. So why don't we release all of
our code under an open-source license such as the GPL ?
It's a difficult one. We are believers in open-source who are convinced
that open-source economics will, on the long term change and finally
dominate the entire software industry. However, there is a certain misfit
between the open-source concept and ERP software, because ERPs are
considered by most open-source developers to be very boring; resulting that
few of them are willing to spend their free time developing them. We have
tried a lot of different options in the past in order to tackle this issue
and to make open-source ERPs work. However, due to the lackluster success
of the completely "open-source" method, some auxiliary parts of
]project-open[ are licensed commercially in order to generate revenue for
ourselves.
The "boring" nature of ERP software hasn't prevented the community from producing a variety of offerings, though.
The ]po[ Free License is unusual:
Software under the Free License is free for everybody to use and modify. It is "normal" commercial software, but the license fee is 0.00.
However, the redistribution of any software that has been
downloaded/modified is restricted in order to avoid the "free loader
problem" (companies taking advantage of the efforts of others). Basically,
you have to become a "[partner]" and share the development costs in order
to receive the rights of redistribution for any software
downloaded/modified with the Free License.
The license text is a bit more clear: redistribution of the software requires a separate license which may be had by contacting the project and, presumably, meeting whatever terms they may require. The "Free License" is a "free beer" license which happens to include source code.
Version 3.4 of ]po[ was released on November 5, 2009.
V3.4 is the first release after nearly 18 months of development work. New
non-functional features include a completely revamped GUI, localization into
10 languages, and an online context help system. New functionality includes
support for ITIL/ITSM processes including Helpdesk (Incident and Change
Management), Inventory (Configuration & License Management), Release
Management, and integration links with Nagios, CVS, OCS-Inventory, and many
more. New enterprise features include an Active Directory integration, the
increased use of approval workflows for business objects, generic auditing
for regulatory compliancy, performance improvement for companies with >1.000
users, and the support for multiple profit centers (corporate multi-company
structures) and profit center controlling.
If your small or medium sized business needs a Linux-compatible business management system and you don't mind working with a mixed-source product, ]Project Open[ appears to be capable of providing a wide range of capabilities.
System Applications
Database Software
MySQL Connector/ODBC 5.1.6 is available
Version 5.1.6 of MySQL Connector/ODBC has been announced. "MySQL Connector/ODBC 5.1.6, a new version of the ODBC driver for the MySQL database management system, has been released. This release is the latest release of the 5.1 series and is suitable for use with any MySQL version since 4.1 (It will not work with 4.0 or earlier releases.)"
PostgreSQL Weekly News
The November 8, 2009 edition of the PostgreSQL Weekly News is online with the latest PostgreSQL DBMS articles and resources.SQLite 3.6.20 released
Version 3.6.20 of SQLite has been announced. "Changes associated with this release include the following: * Optimizer enhancement: prepared statements are automatically re-compiled when a binding on the RHS of a LIKE operator changes or when any range constraint changes under SQLITE_ENABLE_STAT2. * Various minor bug fixes and documentation enhancements."
Mail Software
Exim 4.70 RC 3 released
Version 4.70 release candidate 3 of the Exim mail transfer agent has been announced. "Announcing the 3rd Release Candidate for the exim 4.70 release - we intend this to be the final release candidate unless any release blocking bugs are discovered. The release of Exim 4.70 is on the horizon. A lot of stuff has accumulated in CVS since January 2008. Since we want to give the current code some wider exposure, please accept this invitation to test a 4.70 pre-release." Late breaking news, Exim 4.70 RC 4 has been announced, it includes fixes for a few more bugs. (Thanks to Neil Youngman).
Printing
CUPS 1.4.2 released
Version 1.4.2 of CUPS, the Common Unix Printing System, has been announced. "CUPS 1.4.2 fixes a web interface security issue and several build issues."
Web Site Development
Pyjamas 0.7pre1 released
Version 0.7pre1 of Pyjamas, a port of Google Web Toolkit to Python, has been announced. "This is a 0.7 prerelease of Pyjamas, to invite users to help test the latest version. The latest svn is regularly but informally tested against the regression tests and the examples, and used in production, but not extensively tested against all known browsers on each commit. Community assistance by running against a wider range of browsers ensures that *you* get a stable release."
Desktop Applications
CAD
ForcePAD 2.4.0 released
Version 2.4.0 of ForcePAD has been announced. "ForcePAD is an intuitive tool for visualising the behavior of structures subjected to loading and boundary conditions. The design of the user interface aims to be as intuitive as a standard image processing software. Users should be able to design structures, apply loads and define boundary conditions without knowledge of the underlying finite element model. ForcePAD is also designed to give an intuitive image of stresses and deformations in the material. The release 2.4.0 of the application marks a new era in the ForcePAD history. The 2.4.0 release has a completely redesigned user interface and real-time force manipulation and a builtin structural optimisation module (beta)."
Desktop Environments
GNOME 3.0 in September 2010
The GNOME release team has announced that GNOME 3 will be released in September 2010, and that GNOME 2.30 will come in March 2010. "Thanks to the input from the community, we were able to draw a clear picture of where we stand today and where we will be next March. As mentioned in the GNOME 3.0 planning document, the release date for 3.0 was not set in stone: while we're using a strict schedule that allows us to release GNOME every six months, GNOME is above all using quality-based release engineering. That's why our community wants GNOME 3.0 to be fully working for users and why we believe September is more appropriate." Along those lines, the module decisions for 2.30 have been announced as well.
New module decisions for GNOME 2.30
The GNOME 2.30 module decisions have been announced. "In: gmime (external dependency) libdb (external dependency) vala (external dependency) gnome-packagekit (desktop) nautilus-sendto (desktop) In, but not as expected: tracker (external dependency instead of desktop) dconf (not for 2.30, but pre-approved for 3.0) Blocking on external issues: clutter-core (see details below) Out: couch-db, evolution-couchdb (desktop) globalmenu (desktop) nautilus-actions (desktop) Withdrawn by maintainer: emerillon (desktop) libvtemm (desktop)"
GNOME Software Announcements
The following new GNOME software has been announced this week:- f-spot 0.6.1.5 (bug fixes)
- gbrainy 1.1 (new features, bug fixes and translation work)
- gedit 2.28.1 (new features, bug fixes and translation work)
- GENIUS 1.0.8 (bug fixes and documentation work)
- gnoMint 1.1.0 (bug fixes and translation work)
- Nautilus-Actions 1.12.3 (bug fixes and code cleanup)
- OCRFeeder 0.4 (new features)
- Postr 0.12.4 (bug fixes)
- tracker 0.7.6 (bug fixes and code cleanup)
- Vala 0.7.8 (new features and bug fixes)
KDE Software Announcements
The following new KDE software has been announced this week:- digiKam 1.0.0-beta6 (new features and bug fixes)
- KTorrent 3.3 (new features and bug fixes)
Xorg Software Announcements
The following new Xorg software has been announced this week:- xgc 1.0.2 (bug fixes and code cleanup)
- xkbprint 1.0.2 (bug fixes, code cleanup and documentation work)
- xorg-server 1.7.1.901 (bug fixes)
Financial Applications
SQL-Ledger 2.8.27 released
Version 2.8.27 of SQL-Ledger, a web-based double entry accounting/ERP system, has been announced. Changes include: "fixed payment for recurring transactions, fixed lineitem discount when converting order to invoice".
Imaging Applications
pymos 0.6 introduction
Version 0.6 of pymos has been announced. "PyMos is a python module/command-line tool that helps you create mosaics of your photos using a collection of thumbnails specified by the user. PyMos-0.6 adds new improvements in the way thumbnails are placed/resized to form mosaic. A new fuzzfactor parameter has been added to add randomness to output at user's wish."
Office Suites
OpenOffice.org Newsletter
The October, 2009 edition of the OpenOffice.org Newsletter is out with the latest OO.o office suite articles and events.
Web Browsers
Firefox 3.5.5 now available for download
Version 3.5.5 of Firefox has been announced, it includes fixes for several stability issues. "As part of Mozilla's ongoing stability and security update process, Firefox 3.5.5 is now available for Windows, Mac, and Linux as a free download from http://firefox.com/. We strongly recommend that all Firefox users upgrade to this latest release. If you already have Firefox 3.5, you will receive an automated update notification within 24 to 48 hours."
Miscellaneous
CollectionSpace 0.2 released
Version 0.2 of CollectionSpace has been announced. "Rochelle Slovin, Director of Museum of the Moving Image, announced today that a preliminary release version is now online for CollectionSpace: an innovative, web-based software solution that enables museums of all kinds to record, manage and share information about the materials in their collections."
Languages and Tools
Caml
Caml Weekly News
The November 10, 2009 edition of the Caml Weekly News is out with new articles about the Caml language.
Java
IcedTea6 1.5.3 and 1.6.2 released
Versions 1.5.3 and 1.6.2 of IcedTea6 have been announced. "We are pleased to announce two new security releases, IcedTea6 1.5.3 and 1.6.2. The IcedTea project provides a harness to build the source code from OpenJDK6 using Free Software build tools. It also includes the only Free Java plugin and Web Start implementation, and support for additional architectures over and above x86, x86_64 and SPARC via the Zero assembler port."
Python
eGenix pyOpenSSL Distribution 0.9.0-0.9.8l released
Version 0.9.0-0.9.8l of eGenix pyOpenSSL Distribution, a Python interface for OpenSSL, has been announced. "This new release of the eGenix.com pyOpenSSL Distribution updates the included OpenSSL version to 0.9.8l. The new OpenSSL version includes an important work-around for a serious problem in TLS, the protocol implemented and used by OpenSSL. The Man-in-the-Middle TLS protocol attack was disclosed on 2009-11-05 and is being tracked as CVE-2009-3555".
ErrorHandler 1.1.0 released
Version 1.1.0 of ErrorHandler has been announced. "This is a handler for the python standard logging framework that can be used to tell whether messages have been logged at or above a certain level. The only change for this release is that there is now a full set of documentation available courtesy of Sphinx".
Fabric 0.9 released
Version 0.9 of Fabric has been announced. "Fabric is a Python library and command-line tool for streamlining the use of SSH for application deployment or systems administration tasks. It provides a basic suite of operations for executing local or remote shell commands (normally or via ``sudo``) and uploading/downloading files, as well as auxiliary functionality such as prompting the running user for input, or aborting execution."
Python-URL! - weekly Python news and links
The November 10, 2009 edition of the Python-URL! is online with a new collection of Python article links.
Tcl/Tk
Tcl-URL! - weekly Tcl news and links
The November 5, 2009 edition of the Tcl-URL! is online with new Tcl/Tk articles and resources.
Profilers
smem 0.9 released
Version 0.9 of smem, a tool that can give numerous reports on memory usage on Linux systems, has been announced. "I've pushed out a 0.9 release with all the fixes collected since the 0.1 release in April. The most notable new features are a manpage and the smemcap lightweight snapshotting tool for using smem with embedded system."
Miscellaneous
Google's new "Go" language
The folks at Google have decided that we need a new "systems language," so they have produced one called "Go." "Go promotes writing systems and servers as sets of lightweight communicating processes, called goroutines, with strong support from the language. Run thousands of goroutines if you wantand say good-bye to stack overflows." The code is BSD licensed. More information on GoLang.org, including a Go FAQ and tutorial.
Page editor: Forrest Cook
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