AaronFiore/plaintextaccounting
1
0
Fork 0
Code Activity

linkify intro text

Browse Source
This commit is contained in:
Simon Michael
2016-02-17 08:37:51 -08:00
parent d4f7fdba95
commit d7dbad7893
2 changed files with 56 additions and 35 deletions
Download Patch File Download Diff File Expand all files Collapse all files

26
index.html
View File

@@ -42,26 +42,28 @@ Plain Text Accounting
</h1>
<div class="four columns">
<h3 id="accounting">accounting</h3>
<p><strong>accounting</strong> is tracking the flow of valuable commodities, such as money or time. It clarifies activity, priorities, obligations, opportunities. It can reduce stress and even be enjoyable.</p>
<p><strong>double-entry bookkeeping</strong> is a process for doing this reliably. For every movement of value (a <strong>transaction</strong>), both the source and destination are recorded. Simple arithmetic invariants help prevent errors.</p>
<p>In traditional double-entry bookkeeping, value at any point in time is tracked in various <strong>accounts</strong>, classified as <strong>asset</strong> (owned), <strong>liability</strong> (owed) or <strong>equity</strong> (invested). Two more classifications track changes during some period: <strong>revenues</strong> (inflows) and <strong>expenses</strong> (outflows).</p>
<p>Transactions consist of <strong>debits</strong> (increases to asset or expense accounts, or decreases to liability or equity accounts) or <strong>credits</strong> (decreases to asset or expense accounts, or increases to liability or equity accounts).</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accounting">accounting</a></strong> is tracking the flow of valuable commodities, such as money or time. It clarifies activity, priorities, obligations, opportunities. It can <strong><a href="http://podcastle.org/2009/10/09/pc-miniature-38-accounting-for-dragons">reduce stress</a></strong> and even be enjoyable.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-entry_bookkeeping_system">double-entry bookkeeping</a></strong> is a process for doing this reliably. For every movement of value (a <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_transaction">transaction</a></strong>), both the source and destination are recorded. Simple arithmetic invariants help prevent errors.</p>
<p>In traditional double-entry bookkeeping, value at any point in time is tracked in various <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Account_(accountancy)">accounts</a></strong>, classified as <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset">asset</a></strong> (owned), <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liability_(financial_accounting)">liability</a></strong> (owed) or <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equity_(finance)">equity</a></strong> (invested). Two more classifications track changes during some period: <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenue">revenues</a></strong> (inflows) and <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expense">expenses</a></strong> (outflows).</p>
<p>Transactions consist of <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debits_and_credits">debits</a></strong> (increases to asset or expense accounts, or decreases to liability or equity accounts) or <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debits_and_credits">credits</a></strong> (decreases to asset or expense accounts, or increases to liability or equity accounts).</p>
</div>
<div class="four columns">
<h3 id="with-text">… with text</h3>
<p><strong>Ledger</strong> and the other <strong>Ledger-likes</strong> inspired by it are minimalist software tools for efficient double-entry accounting. This site introduces them and their way of doing things.</p>
<p>Accounting data is valuable; we want to know that it will be accessible for ever - even without software. We want to know when it changes, and revision-control it. We want to search and manipulate it efficiently. So, we store it as human-readable <strong>plain text</strong>.</p>
<p>We simplify debits and credits by using <strong>signed numbers</strong> instead - positive for inflows to an account, negative for outflows from an account.</p>
<p>We define arbitrary <strong>account hierarchy</strong> to suit our needs. This scales smoothly from simple to complex scenarios, and from high-level overview to fine detail.</p>
<p>Ledger-likes are, at least in part, <strong>command-line</strong> tools. This makes them efficient to use and very <strong>scriptable</strong> and flexible.</p>
<p>Ledger-likes also, at their core, tend towards <strong>functional operation</strong>: they read the input data without changing it, and output a report. This simplicity makes them easy to understand and rely on.</p>
<p><strong><a href="#ledger-likes">Ledger</a></strong> and the other <strong><a href="#ledger-likes">Ledger-likes</a></strong> inspired by it are minimalist software tools for efficient double-entry accounting. This site introduces them and their way of doing things.</p>
<p>Accounting data is valuable; we want to know that it will be accessible for ever - even without software. We want to know when it changes, and revision-control it. We want to search and manipulate it efficiently. So, we store it as human-readable <strong><a href="http://ledger-cli.org/3.0/doc/ledger3.html#The-Most-Basic-Entry">plain</a> <a href="http://hledger.org/manual.html#journal">text</a></strong>.</p>
<p>We simplify debits and credits by using <strong><a href="http://ledger-cli.org/3.0/doc/ledger3.html#Stating-where-money-goes">signed numbers</a></strong> instead - positive for inflows to an account, negative for outflows from an account.</p>
<p>We define arbitrary <strong><a href="http://ledger-cli.org/3.0/doc/ledger3.html#Structuring-your-Accounts">account</a> <a href="http://hledger.org/manual.html#account-names">hierarchy</a></strong> to suit our needs. This scales smoothly from simple to complex scenarios, and from high-level overview to fine detail.</p>
<p>Ledger-likes are, at least in part, <strong><a href="http://ledger-cli.org/3.0/doc/ledger3.html#Basic-Usage">command-line</a> <a href="http://hledger.org/manual.html#usage">tools</a></strong>. This makes them efficient to use and very <strong><a href="#related-tools">scriptable</a></strong> and flexible.</p>
<p>Ledger-likes also, at their core, tend towards <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Function_(mathematics)">functional operation</a></strong>: they read the input data without changing it, and output a report. This simple model makes them easy to understand and rely on.</p>
</div>
<div class="three columns">
<h3 id="questions">questions ?</h3>
<p><strong>do I really have to use only text ?</strong><br />
No! Not entirely. Just a bit. Decreasingly. <strong><a href="#ui-console">GUIs</a></strong> are appearing.</p>
<p><strong>who is this for ?</strong><br />
Techies, power users, and do-it-yourself-ers, at least for now. If you need a rich GUI and lots of structure, you may prefer a more traditional GUI tool.</p>
Techies, power users, and do-it-yourself-ers willing to use a <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Text_editor">text editor</a></strong>, for now. If you need a rich GUI and lots of structure, you may prefer a traditional GUI tool.</p>
<p><strong>what are the alternatives ?</strong><br />
GNUCash, Grisbi, KMyMoney or other FOSS tools, proprietary tools like Quicken/Quickbooks, online tools like Xero, spreadsheets, paper accounting.</p>
FOSS tools like GNUCash, Grisbi, KMyMoney, proprietary tools like Quicken/Quickbooks, You Need A Budget, online tools like Xero, FreeAgent, spreadsheets, paper accounting. (There are <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_accounting_software">many</a></strong>).</p>
<p><strong>why is this better than QuickBooks ?</strong><br />
Your data remains accessible. No yearly fees. Free software you can fix and port. Cross platform. Scriptable. Efficient.</p>
<p><strong>how do I communicate with my accountant ?</strong><br />

65
index.md
View File

@@ -9,62 +9,81 @@
### accounting
**accounting** is tracking the flow of valuable commodities, such as money or time.
**[accounting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accounting)** is tracking the flow of valuable commodities, such as money or time.
It clarifies activity, priorities, obligations, opportunities.
It can reduce stress and even be enjoyable.
It can **[reduce stress](http://podcastle.org/2009/10/09/pc-miniature-38-accounting-for-dragons)** and even be enjoyable.
**double-entry bookkeeping** is a process for doing this reliably.
For every movement of value (a **transaction**), both the source and destination are recorded.
**[double-entry bookkeeping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-entry_bookkeeping_system)** is a process for doing this reliably.
For every movement of value (a **[transaction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_transaction)**), both the source and destination are recorded.
Simple arithmetic invariants help prevent errors.
In traditional double-entry bookkeeping, value at any point in time is tracked in various **accounts**, classified as
**asset** (owned), **liability** (owed) or **equity** (invested).
Two more classifications track changes during some period: **revenues** (inflows) and **expenses** (outflows).
In traditional double-entry bookkeeping, value at any point in time is tracked in various **[accounts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Account_(accountancy))**, classified as
**[asset](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset)** (owned),
**[liability](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liability_(financial_accounting))** (owed)
or **[equity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equity_(finance))** (invested).
Two more classifications track changes during some period:
**[revenues](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenue)** (inflows)
and **[expenses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expense)** (outflows).
Transactions consist of **debits** (increases to asset or expense
accounts, or decreases to liability or equity accounts) or **credits**
(decreases to asset or expense accounts, or increases to liability or
equity accounts).
Transactions consist of
**[debits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debits_and_credits)** (increases to asset or expense accounts, or decreases to liability or equity accounts) or
**[credits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debits_and_credits)** (decreases to asset or expense accounts, or increases to liability or equity accounts).
</div>
<div class="four columns">
### … with text
**Ledger** and the other **Ledger-likes** inspired by it are minimalist software tools for efficient double-entry accounting.
**[Ledger](#ledger-likes)** and the other **[Ledger-likes](#ledger-likes)** inspired by it
are minimalist software tools for efficient double-entry accounting.
This site introduces them and their way of doing things.
Accounting data is valuable;
we want to know that it will be accessible for ever - even without software.
We want to know when it changes, and revision-control it.
We want to search and manipulate it efficiently.
So, we store it as human-readable **plain text**.
So, we store it as human-readable **[plain](http://ledger-cli.org/3.0/doc/ledger3.html#The-Most-Basic-Entry) [text](http://hledger.org/manual.html#journal)**.
We simplify debits and credits by using **signed numbers** instead -
We simplify debits and credits by using
**[signed numbers](http://ledger-cli.org/3.0/doc/ledger3.html#Stating-where-money-goes)** instead -
positive for inflows to an account, negative for outflows from an account.
We define arbitrary **account hierarchy** to suit our needs.
We define arbitrary
**[account](http://ledger-cli.org/3.0/doc/ledger3.html#Structuring-your-Accounts)
[hierarchy](http://hledger.org/manual.html#account-names)**
to suit our needs.
This scales smoothly from simple to complex scenarios, and from high-level overview to fine detail.
Ledger-likes are, at least in part, **command-line** tools.
This makes them efficient to use and very **scriptable** and flexible.
Ledger-likes are, at least in part,
**[command-line](http://ledger-cli.org/3.0/doc/ledger3.html#Basic-Usage) [tools](http://hledger.org/manual.html#usage)**.
This makes them efficient to use and very
**[scriptable](#related-tools)** and flexible.
Ledger-likes also, at their core, tend towards **functional operation**:
Ledger-likes also, at their core, tend towards
**[functional operation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Function_(mathematics))**:
they read the input data without changing it, and output a report.
This simplicity makes them easy to understand and rely on.
This simple model makes them easy to understand and rely on.
</div>
<div class="three columns">
### questions ?
**do I really have to use only text ?**\
No! Not entirely. Just a bit. Decreasingly. **[GUIs](#ui-console)** are appearing.
**who is this for&nbsp;?**\
Techies, power users, and do-it-yourself-ers,
at least for now.
If you need a rich GUI and lots of structure, you may prefer a more traditional GUI tool.
Techies, power users, and do-it-yourself-ers willing to use a
**[text editor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Text_editor)**, for now.
If you need a rich GUI and lots of structure, you may prefer a traditional GUI tool.
**what are the alternatives&nbsp;?**\
GNUCash, Grisbi, KMyMoney or other FOSS tools, proprietary tools like Quicken/Quickbooks, online tools like Xero, spreadsheets, paper accounting.
FOSS tools like GNUCash, Grisbi, KMyMoney,
proprietary tools like Quicken/Quickbooks, You Need A Budget,
online tools like Xero, FreeAgent,
spreadsheets,
paper accounting.
(There are **[many](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_accounting_software)**).
**why is this better than QuickBooks&nbsp;?**\
Your data remains accessible.