A response from the trenches (was Re: giving up on gnucash)

[Derek Atkins]

John Sowden <jsowden at americansentry.net> writes:

> This has been going on for a while.
>
> I agree that gnu-cash does not provide basic accounting features that a 
> business might expect.  The problem is that gnu-cash is a personal accounting 

Um, I'd like to know what "basic accounting features" gnucash does not
provide "that a business might expect".  I've been running my business
finances on gnucash for three years.

Perhaps it's valid to say that it doesn't have the features that YOUR
business needs, but what you said above just isn't true.  We have
plenty of business users of gnucash to prove that what you say isn't
true.

So, no, gnucash is not just a personal accounting package.

And now for something completely different....

Previously in this thread someone talked about tone of comments and
how the tone of the request affects those of us close to the project.
What harm can a harsh comment make?  

Well, it's certainly no way to motivate me.  I'm actually more
motivated by a cry for help than a "you suck and here's why!" or even
a "I'm leaving you and here's why."  I'd rather someone say "hey,
thanks for the hard work, but, how can I get gnucash to do ___."  The
former two makes me feel unappreciated.  Think about it from my side
-- what do I get out of my work on Gnucash?  The only thing I get out
of it is appreciation.  When you take that away (like you did starting
this thread) it's an EXTREME demotivator.

In fact, this whole thread has turned me off.  Honestly I've barely
read it because it's been too painful.  And frankly I feel little
incentive to try to work to fix the original poster's "issues",
regardless of how real they are.  Seriously..  Why should I help you?
You don't care how I feel or what I've put in, so why should I care
what YOU have to say (even if you do have some valid points).

For the record, I've seriously considered charging for GnuCash Tech
Support.  "You want Derek to respond?  Send him $50 by Paypal for each
question you have."  It's threads like this that make me seriously
consider it.  Why?  It makes me feel unappreciated.  And yes, a few
bad apples can definitely spoil the bunch.  :(

To whomever started this thread, assuming you're still reading: I'm
sorry you're unhappy, and I wish you luck in whatever you do.  I also
hope you're happy with the results of your "goodbye wishes".

Siyonara.

-derek

-- 
       Derek Atkins, SB '93 MIT EE, SM '95 MIT Media Laboratory
       Member, MIT Student Information Processing Board  (SIPB)
       URL: http://web.mit.edu/warlord/    PP-ASEL-IA     N1NWH
       warlord at MIT.EDU                        PGP key available