gnue/docbook/articles swiss_article_1.txt

[Neil Tiffin]

CVSROOT:        /home/cvs
Module name:    gnue
Changes by:     Neil Tiffin <address@hidden>    01/09/10 23:21:47

Modified files:
        docbook/articles: swiss_article_1.txt 

Log message:
        Another revision.

CVSWeb URLs:
http://savannah.gnu.org/cgi-bin/viewcvs/gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt.diff?cvsroot=OldCVS&tr1=1.10&tr2=1.11&r1=text&r2=text

Patches:
Index: gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt
diff -u gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt:1.10 
gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt:1.11
--- gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt:1.10      Mon Sep 10 13:32:06 2001
+++ gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt   Mon Sep 10 23:21:47 2001
@@ -172,11 +172,11 @@
 
 Intro (50-60 words)
 =====
+This article explains the GNU Enterprise 
 
-
 Keywords (3 to 6)
 ========
-
+Enterprise Application Software
 
 Authors Bio (50-70 words)
 =============
@@ -322,20 +322,25 @@
 cost issues and paying fees without receiving value.  What happens when you
 call customer service.  Do you get a knowledgeable quick answer to your
 questions?  Mr. Harvard shakes his head, only when we finally get the
-right person that has the right information.
+right person that has the right information and sometimes this never
+occurs.
 
-Right, so if you are in a real pinch, you have to wait.  With GNUe and
-open software in general the developers give you all of the information you 
need
-to fix the problem yourself.  All the source code. All the build
-instructions.  All the documentation. What if my staff does not have
-time to learn enough to fix the problem.  Then you can call a GNUe
-consultant.  But most likely, you will get a developer when you call and
-not some entry level student.
+So if you are in a real pinch, you usually have to wait and
+sometimes never get the answer.  With GNUe and free software in general
+the developers gives you all of the information you need to fix the
+problem yourself.  All the source code. All the build instructions. 
+All the documentation including code comments and internal design notes
+Propreiatary software vendors consider this information trade secrets.
+
+What if my staff does not have time to learn enough to fix the problem.
+Then you can call a GNUe consultant.  Most likely, you will have
+access to a developer if needed and not be limited to an entry level
+student manning the customer service desk.
 
 So free software does not rely on students?  GNUe makes good use of
 students, but unlike a proprietary software vendor you will know when
 you are dealing with a student because of the open nature of the
-development and support process.  Where student are used they are
+development and support process.  Where students are used they are
 usually involved in very focused areas and working under the guidance
 of a senior member of the GNUe team.
 
@@ -346,97 +351,138 @@
 team.  There is access to many people working with these standards plus
 many people working with GNUe.  For example all communications
 between client and server in multi-tier uses standard CORBA 2.3
-functionality provided by ORBit for the server.
+functionality provided by ORBit for the server.  This year we
+expect to support omniORB and provide other mechanisms (like
+????) for client connections.
 
 In addition GNUe has developers in Europe, Australia, and the United
 States. This means that someone is on-line on the GNUe IRC channel 24
 hours per day and usually 7 days per week.  Our response time to solve
-problems has traditionally been very quick.
+problems has traditionally been very quick. Development of GNUe started
+with project Obelisk in July 1999. Project Obelisk merged with project
+Sanity in March 2000 to become GNUe.  As far as we know, GNUe is the
+only active multi-national enterprise project with consistent monthly
+releases since October 2000.
+
+We are a formal project under the GNU organization.
+
+GNUe is developed by users and consultants that know the daily business
+needs of companies from the sole proprietor up to the multi-national
+corporation.  Users are much closer to the developement of GNUe than
+they are with most priprietary software vendors.  For example, Oracle
+just decided to not attend the Oracle users group convention.
+
+<TODO need reference>
 
 Very impressive, says Mr. Harvard.  But what about fit for my business
 and technical infrastructure.  GNU Enterprise is structured to support
 two types of infrastructure; two-tier and multi-tier client server.
 
-The two tier version consists of form designer, form client and report
-client connected to an SQL database.  Currently GNU Enterprise supports
-PostGreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, and DB2.
-Incidentally, DB2 support was contributed by IBM Europe. The two tier
-product is designed to support rapid prototyping and building of SQL
-based solutions for small and medium size businesses.  Many examples
-exist in the distribution including contact manager, purchasing, etc.
-The two tier version is the most mature part of GNU Enterprise.
+Both versions utilize our form designer, form client and report client.
+The form designer is the heart of our productivity tools.  It provides
+GUI based form developement and is instrumental in providing business
+developers a system building tool that does not require programming.
+
+Two tier GNUe connects directly to an SQL database server.  Currently
+it supports PostGreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, and DB2.  Incidentally, DB2
+support was contributed by IBM Europe. 
+
+Two tier GNUe is designed to support rapid prototyping and building
+of SQL based solutions for small and medium size businesses.  Many
+examples exist in the distribution including contact manager,
+purchasing, ??? etc. Two tier GNUe is the most mature part of
+GNU Enterprise.
 
 The main business applications in GNU Enterprise are developed around
-our multi-tier solution (GEAS).  This includes Supply Chain, Sales, and
-Accounting. The GNU Enterprise team is in the process of integrating
-Bayonne for telephony applications and double choco latte for web
-access into our server. This will allow access to all GNU Enterprise
-business objects from any telephone, fax, or web appliance.
-
-Multi-tier uses the same form client, report writer, and form designer.
-The only difference this that the client uses a different the GNU
-Enterprise GEAS driver (CORBA) instead of an SQL server driver.
+our multi tier solution which we call GEAS.  This currently includes
+Supply Chain, Sales, and Accounting packages. We expect to have Project
+Management, E-commerce, Manufacturing and Human Resources in process by
+the end of the year.
+
+The GNU Enterprise team is in the process of integrating Bayonne for
+telephony applications and double choco latte for web access into our
+server. This will allow access to all GNU Enterprise business objects
+from any telephone, fax, or web appliance.
+
+Multi tier uses the same form client, report writer, and form designer
+as two tier. The only difference this that the client uses a GEAS
+driver (and CORBA interface) instead of an SQL server driver.
 
-The main reason to use multi tier version is the scalability and
+The main reason to use the multi tier version is the scalability and
 object oriented nature of the business objects.  The business objects
-are designed to be easily mixed and matched with GNUe or 3rd party solutions.
-
-Eventually GEAS will support multiple databases with load balancing
-and other sophisticated mutli-tier functions.
-
-<TODO more expaination of GEAS>
-
-<TODO not bloated, configure and use only what you need>
-
-<TODO homogenous environments are to be expected and that
-part of a 'real' solution doesn't require changing everything to 'gnue'
-gnue's goal is to run with what you have be it windows, mac, linux,
-unix, etc.>
-
-<TODO explain currency and multi-lingual core business objects>
+are designed to be easily mixed and matched with GNUe or 3rd party
+solutions.  Business rules may be written in C or Python currently and
+we expect to add Java and other languages as time permits.
+
+<TODO explain business rules>
+
+Eventually, GEAS will support multiple databases with load balancing,
+object oriented databases distributed objects and other sophisticated
+scaleable mutli tier functions.
+
+GNUe is designed to integrate with many different systems and does not
+require changing other systems to GNUe.  It will run on most popular
+hardware including Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh, Sun Solarus,
+GNU/Linux, or other Unix.
+
+Unlike other large systems GNUe is not bloated with functions, fields,
+and data that is not required for a particular installation.  You can
+configure and use only what you need.
+
+The first modules developed were the item, currency and
+language modules.  These modules are part of a very small base package
+that accompanies all installations. For example all monetary amounts
+are represented as a money objects that include an amount which is
+represented by a 64 bit integer with a 16 bit implied decimal.  Every
+monetary object must have currency assigned to it.  In a very basic
+system with only one currency this will happen transparently.  So
+single currency system users are not forced to deal with currencies on
+forms and reports. However, any single currency system can be made
+multi-currency by adding new currency definitions. This is an example
+of the "use only what you need" design goal of GNUe.
 
-So GEAS really does fit by business, but I just don't understand why
+So GEAS really does fit my business, but I just don't understand why
 people would continue to support free software if they don't make any
 money from it?
 
 There are really three types of businesses using GNUe.  The first is
-the small business.  Small businesses used GNUe because they do not
-have the money to buy a proprietary solution and generally adapt the
-business to GNUe.  They reep the benefit of the work of larger
+the small business.  Small businesses use GNUe because they do not have
+enough money to buy a proprietary solution and or because they want the
+freedom that GNUe offers. Generally they adapt their business to GNUe. 
+In this way they are able to reep the benefit of the work of larger
 businesses and consultants.  This model helps small business by
-providing competitive software and rates they can afford.
+providing competitive software at rates they can afford.
 
-The second is a large business.  They use GNUe because they don't like
-being locked into proprietary software. Large businesses can make a
-small investment in GNUe by providing small amount of resources. They
-get in return a package that considers their needs and costs much less
-that if they wrote it themselves.
+The second type of GNUe user is large businesses.  They use GNUe
+because they don't like being locked into proprietary software. Large
+businesses can make a small investment in GNUe by providing small
+amount of resources. They get in return a package that addresses their
+needs and costs much less that if they wrote it themselves.
 
 <TODO explain the downside of proprietary software>
 
 The third type of business includes consultants.  Free software is an
 excellent product for consultants because they can provide paid support
-when the business needs it and the business does not pay any on-going
-fees if they can't afford the fees or do not need support.
-The business is also free to develop their own in-house support if they
-desire.
-
-<TODO In all
-honesty actual support costs should be very similar.>
-
-<TODO clarify this>
-
-<TODO 1211 words so far>
-
-Free software is really targeted at companies that are frugal with
-their money and want to retain the maximum amount of freedom with
-regard to control and support of their information systems investment.
-
-The real difference is the lack of license fees, the ability to have
-all source code, the ability to control support fees, 
-
-
-
-
+when the user needs it.  The user organization does not have to pay any
+on-going fees. The business is also free to develop their own in-house
+support if they desire.
+
+In all honesty actual support costs should be very similar between
+GNUe and other Enterprise systems.
+
+<TODO future of GNUe, what makes for success and what needs to be
+carefully watched.>
+
+GNUe is really beneficial for companies that are frugal with their
+money, want to retain the maximum amount of freedom with regard to
+control and support of their information systems investment, are fast
+growth companies and or large companies that require maximum flexibility.
+
+The real benefits fo GNUE are well proven functionality, open
+standards, freedom from a single vendor, scalability, documentation,
+lack of license fees, access to all source code, the ability to control
+support fees via competitive market mechanisms.  These benefits apply
+to all businesses large and small and foster an atmosphere of open
+trust and partnership between the developers and users.