gnue/docbook/articles swiss_article_1.txt

[Neil Tiffin]

CVSROOT:        /home/cvs
Module name:    gnue
Changes by:     Neil Tiffin <address@hidden>    01/09/15 11:48:56

Modified files:
        docbook/articles: swiss_article_1.txt 

Log message:
        Add reinhards comments.

CVSWeb URLs:
http://savannah.gnu.org/cgi-bin/viewcvs/gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt.diff?cvsroot=OldCVS&tr1=1.11&tr2=1.12&r1=text&r2=text

Patches:
Index: gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt
diff -u gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt:1.11 
gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt:1.12
--- gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt:1.11      Mon Sep 10 23:21:47 2001
+++ gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt   Sat Sep 15 11:48:56 2001
@@ -381,7 +381,9 @@
 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.
+developers a system building tool that does not require programming. The
+GNUe form and report tools are platform independent and run on
+Windows, GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, and good old text terminals.
 
 Two tier GNUe connects directly to an SQL database server.  Currently
 it supports PostGreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, and DB2.  Incidentally, DB2
@@ -391,13 +393,13 @@
 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.
+GNU Enterprise. 
 
 The main business applications in GNU Enterprise are developed around
-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.
+our multi tier solution which we call GEAS  (GNU Enterprise Application
+Server).  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
@@ -429,17 +431,35 @@
 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
+The GEAS system is structured into Templates, Packages, Modules and
+Business Objects. Templates are used to configure GNUe to specific
+industries and are a way to modify Modules.  This configuration process
+may add modify, or remove basic functionality. Packages are simply
+convienent collections of modules. Modules are logical groups of
+business objects that are designed (but not required) to be used
+together. Business objects, like Customer, Item, Order, and Invoice,
+are modeled based on the business requirements.  Business Objects
+contain data defintions and business rules. Modules can also add new
+and extend existing business objects. By extend we mean add additional
+fields and business rules.
+
+You can decide for every module whether you want to install it or not
+(of course regarding required dependencies that are minimized at every
+opportunity), your business objects can look different, depending on
+the modules you have installed. To put as much power in this system as
+possible, we make the modules very fine-grained.
+
+Some of 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
+are represented as a money objects that include an amount,
+represented by a 64 bit integer, along with a 16 bit implied decimal. 
+Therefore, financial calculations do not use floating point data. 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.
+multi-currency by adding new currency definitions.
 
 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