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Looking for an inventory software which is free software and not IT-centric

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  Looking for an inventory software which is free software and not          IT-centric Linux-Fan <Ma_Sys.ma@web.de> - 2020-02-19 03:10 +0100
    Re: Looking for an inventory software which is free software and not  IT-centric Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> - 2020-02-19 03:40 +0100
      Re: Looking for an inventory software which is free software and not  IT-centric elvis <elvis@dogonfire.com> - 2020-02-19 07:50 +0100
        Re: Looking for an inventory software which is free software and not  IT-centric Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> - 2020-02-19 11:30 +0100
          Re: Looking for an inventory software which is free software and not  IT-centric elvis <elvis@dogonfire.com> - 2020-02-19 12:20 +0100
    Re: Looking for an inventory software which is free software and  not         IT-centric Joe <joe@jretrading.com> - 2020-02-19 11:10 +0100
    Re: Looking for an inventory software which is free software and          not IT-centric Linux-Fan <Ma_Sys.ma@web.de> - 2020-02-19 12:40 +0100

#219251 — Looking for an inventory software which is free software and not IT-centric

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Hello fellow list members,

I am looking for a software of which I am sure it exists, but I fail to find
online, thus asking if anybody might know such a thing? Of course, it is
best if it is included on Debian, even better if in stable :) . If not, it
should at least compile+run on it. I am looking for free software (as per
DFSG) that does not depend on registration or proprietary servers.

## The problem

I am trying to keep track of a local inventory (say 1000 items) for which I
would like to keep track of the location and descriptive details ("What it
is and where it is").

## Tried so far and features sought

My first attempt was to write the software myself, but as it depends on
JavaFX, it seems not to be so future-proof (I did not get it to run on
Debian Buster yet -- currently using a stretch VM with X11 redirection to
run it). Anyways, it is not an "optimal" piece of software, so it is time to
check for alternatives again.

Typical functions I am using:

 * Table with all inventory items
 * Search for an item by typing part of its description
 * Search for an item by scanning its barcode (with a real barcode
   scanner connected to a real computer, no smartphones involved)
 * Add new items to the inventory. For this, the workflow is
   (1) print some barcodes (I currently have e.g. 50 codes printed out
       ready to stick on something),
   (2) open an "inventory add" dialog,
   (3) scan the code,
   (4) add the description + other metadata,
   (5) save item...
       onwards from step 3 for the next item.
 * If it is available, I think I would also keep track of the modifications
   of locations throughout history and/or periodically check if everything is
   in place properly. If the software facilitates this, all the better

Searching online, I find a lot of software for keeping track of network
components (switches, servers, etc.) My use case is more broad and includes
books and other items as well. On the other hand, I do not need IT-specific
functions like checking if a component is online or such.

So far, I found that there is a software called `partkeeper` which despite
having a seemingly very complex user interface, goes in the direction of
what I am searching. In my own implementation, I had the buttons coded with
barcodes such that I could alternate my hands between the barcode scanner
and the keyboard, invoking the application's controls by scanning a code on
the screen rather than with the mouse. I have never seen this in other
software, although knowing that it is an "ancient" user interface pattern --
if a software can be made to work in this style, it would also be very
interesting.

## Alternatives

Current alternatives if I do not find anything better:

 * Try to design some forms with Libreoffice Base.
   I know that I tried that once already and it did not go so well.
 * Re-Write my program. Would a database make more sense or
   might it be better to have a single CSV-style table?

Suggestions welcome, thanks in advance
Linux-Fan

--
I am subscribed to the list, no need for additional personal copies :)
I hope this is not off-topic...

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#219252 — Re: Looking for an inventory software which is free software and not IT-centric

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On Feb 19, 2020, Linux-Fan wrote:
> Hello fellow list members,
> 
> I am looking for a software of which I am sure it exists, but I fail
> to find online, thus asking if anybody might know such a thing? Of
> course, it is best if it is included on Debian, even better if in
> stable :) . If not, it should at least compile+run on it. I am looking
> for free software (as per DFSG) that does not depend on registration
> or proprietary servers.

I'm not entirely sure it'll tick all the boxes you need (in terms of
functionality); but what about "partkeepr"?  Details can be found at
their site https://partkeepr.org & the (GPL'd) source is at github
(https://github.com/partkeepr/PartKeepr).

It's a "standard(tm)" LAMP-server web-application.  PHP runs the
frontend, talks to mysql/mariadb on the backend.  As I recall, the one I
have here is still running on oldstable's PHP 7.0.x / mysql server.

HTH :)

-- 
|_|O|_| 
|_|_|O| Github: https://github.com/dpurgert
|O|O|O| PGP: 05CA 9A50 3F2E 1335 4DC5  4AEE 8E11 DDF3 1279 A281

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#219256 — Re: Looking for an inventory software which is free software and not IT-centric

On 19/2/20 12:31 pm, Dan Purgert wrote:
> On Feb 19, 2020, Linux-Fan wrote:
>> Hello fellow list members,
>>
>> I am looking for a software of which I am sure it exists, but I fail
>> to find online, thus asking if anybody might know such a thing? Of
>> course, it is best if it is included on Debian, even better if in
>> stable :) . If not, it should at least compile+run on it. I am looking
>> for free software (as per DFSG) that does not depend on registration
>> or proprietary servers.
> I'm not entirely sure it'll tick all the boxes you need (in terms of
> functionality); but what about "partkeepr"?  Details can be found at
> their site https://partkeepr.org & the (GPL'd) source is at github
> (https://github.com/partkeepr/PartKeepr).

Partkeeper looks awesome, almost makes me wish I had some inventory to 
manage.






>
> It's a "standard(tm)" LAMP-server web-application.  PHP runs the
> frontend, talks to mysql/mariadb on the backend.  As I recall, the one I
> have here is still running on oldstable's PHP 7.0.x / mysql server.
>
> HTH :)
>
-- 
Enter any 12-digit prime number to continue.

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#219262 — Re: Looking for an inventory software which is free software and not IT-centric

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On Feb 19, 2020, elvis wrote:
> 
> On 19/2/20 12:31 pm, Dan Purgert wrote:
>> On Feb 19, 2020, Linux-Fan wrote:
>>> Hello fellow list members,
>>> 
>>> I am looking for a software of which I am sure it exists, but I fail
>>> to find online, thus asking if anybody might know such a thing? Of
>>> course, it is best if it is included on Debian, even better if in
>>> stable :) . If not, it should at least compile+run on it. I am looking
>>> for free software (as per DFSG) that does not depend on registration
>>> or proprietary servers.
>> I'm not entirely sure it'll tick all the boxes you need (in terms of
>> functionality); but what about "partkeepr"?  Details can be found at
>> their site https://partkeepr.org & the (GPL'd) source is at github
>> (https://github.com/partkeepr/PartKeepr).
> 
> Partkeeper looks awesome, almost makes me wish I had some inventory to
> manage.

Come on down the rabbit hole of "Arduino" -- you'll quickly have
"inventory" to manage. :)

I was in Linux-fan's shoes about 6 months back; the tool made things so
much easier to keep track of (now if only I would remember to use it
before going on a shopping spree at Mouser / Digikey!)

-- 
|_|O|_| 
|_|_|O| Github: https://github.com/dpurgert
|O|O|O| PGP: 05CA 9A50 3F2E 1335 4DC5  4AEE 8E11 DDF3 1279 A281

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#219264 — Re: Looking for an inventory software which is free software and not IT-centric

On 19/2/20 8:24 pm, Dan Purgert wrote:
> On Feb 19, 2020, elvis wrote:
>> On 19/2/20 12:31 pm, Dan Purgert wrote:
>>> On Feb 19, 2020, Linux-Fan wrote:
>>>> Hello fellow list members,
>>>>
>>>> I am looking for a software of which I am sure it exists, but I fail
>>>> to find online, thus asking if anybody might know such a thing? Of
>>>> course, it is best if it is included on Debian, even better if in
>>>> stable :) . If not, it should at least compile+run on it. I am looking
>>>> for free software (as per DFSG) that does not depend on registration
>>>> or proprietary servers.
>>> I'm not entirely sure it'll tick all the boxes you need (in terms of
>>> functionality); but what about "partkeepr"?  Details can be found at
>>> their site https://partkeepr.org & the (GPL'd) source is at github
>>> (https://github.com/partkeepr/PartKeepr).
>> Partkeeper looks awesome, almost makes me wish I had some inventory to
>> manage.
> Come on down the rabbit hole of "Arduino" -- you'll quickly have
> "inventory" to manage. :)
>
> I was in Linux-fan's shoes about 6 months back; the tool made things so
> much easier to keep track of (now if only I would remember to use it
> before going on a shopping spree at Mouser / Digikey!)

I have started with the pi, picked up a pi zero for 10 bucks! I still 
have trouble believing how powerful it is.



>
-- 
Nuclear weapons can wipe out life on Earth, if used properly

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#219261 — Re: Looking for an inventory software which is free software and not IT-centric

On Wed, 19 Feb 2020 02:59:45 +0100
Linux-Fan <Ma_Sys.ma@web.de> wrote:


> Current alternatives if I do not find anything better:
> 
>  * Try to design some forms with Libreoffice Base.
>    I know that I tried that once already and it did not go so well.

Even today, Base is extremely buggy, though at least it connects
reliably and natively to SQL servers now. I broke with it when one day
(in sid) the Report Writer no longer worked at all, and I needed to get
an invoice out urgently. A bit of frantic work with PHP and FPDF solved
that, and I've tidied it up a bit since, and still use it for invoice
printing. I still reluctantly use Base for very simple jobs.

>  * Re-Write my program. Would a database make more sense or
>    might it be better to have a single CSV-style table?
> 

Single-table (flat file) databases are very simple, but very limited.
For this application, you will add bells and whistles as time goes by,
and a relational database is pretty much vital. I was once given a job
to do, and MS Works to do it with. I gave up after an hour and started
to learn Access, there was so much that couldn't be done with the
single-table 'database' in Works. MySQL/MariaDB are pretty easy to get
going, after which it is trivial to create and modify databases. There
are things like SQLite, to avoid using a real SQL server, but I've
never seen the need. My little netbook runs MariaDB and Apache2 with
PHP7 quite happily, though I wasn't able to achieve it on my Android
tablet. Not enough memory.

*The* frontend application for this kind of job is still MS Access, but
that will never exist in Linux, and it's generally a bit too complex to
run properly on Wine, uses too many unusual MS libraries. I've done some
database work in the past in Delphi (Delphi 3, it was that long ago),
for which Lazarus is a reasonable substitute, but it's much more work
than Access, especially if you've never used Pascal. Good for form
building, though.

These days I do most database work in PHP and Apache, and though there
are simpler web servers that will run with PHP, there is much more web
documentation for Apache. I still mostly do hand coding. I have had a go
at Laravel (and Cake-PHP in the distant past) and while I can see the
attraction of frameworks for professional web developers, it doesn't
really cut down the work for small single projects.

-- 
Joe

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#219267 — Re: Looking for an inventory software which is free software and not IT-centric

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Linux-Fan writes:

> Hello fellow list members,
>
> I am looking for a software of which I am sure it exists, but I fail to find
> online, thus asking if anybody might know such a thing? Of course, it is
> best if it is included on Debian, even better if in stable :) . If not, it
> should at least compile+run on it. I am looking for free software (as per
> DFSG) that does not depend on registration or proprietary servers.

[...]

> So far, I found that there is a software called `partkeeper` which despite
> having a seemingly very complex user interface, goes in the direction of
> what I am searching. In my own implementation, I had the buttons coded with
> barcodes such that I could alternate my hands between the barcode scanner
> and the keyboard, invoking the application's controls by scanning a code on
> the screen rather than with the mouse. I have never seen this in other
> software, although knowing that it is an "ancient" user interface pattern --
> if a software can be made to work in this style, it would also be very
> interesting.
>
> ## Alternatives
>
> Current alternatives if I do not find anything better:
>
> * Try to design some forms with Libreoffice Base.
>   I know that I tried that once already and it did not go so well.
> * Re-Write my program. Would a database make more sense or
>   might it be better to have a single CSV-style table?

[...]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

So it seems that I should really investigate partkeeper.

In case of a rewrite, a database makes sense and instead of interfacing with
it by Libreoffice Base, it might make sense to use Lazarus/Object Pascal as
a means of having the form-building available in a programming context? I
have used Delphi in the past, but although it was only in 2013, it feels
like ages ago and I was never an "expert" with it :)

Thanks again
Linux-Fan

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