[GNC] GnuCash getting worse?

[Ken Pyzik]

Well, I will add my 2 cents worth (for that is probably all it is really worth anyway).  With no disrespect to R Losey (I can appreciate what you are saying).... I will say this: 

I have been using the product since at least version 2.3.  I have had few, if any, complaints with the software.  It does what I need it to do.  I was just so glad that when Quicken went to their subscription model, that there was a product that could do what GnuCash does.  And as a bonus, the software happen to be free! 

My view is this:  We are very fortunate that this free app is supported and even has continued improvements and upgrades.   I have seen some free license software that are years old -- and have never been upgraded/improved and have no support.   Since the software is free -- it is there for you to take and use -- as is -- with no implied warranties, guarantees, or assurances that it will be improved, upgraded, or even supported.  Those are the terms  - take it or leave it.  

Now, if someone does not like those terms -- they can always get a commercial package or subscription and pay ongoing fees to have it improved, upgraded and supported.   (To that end, even when I did have Quicken - and paid for yearly upgrades -- the software still had bugs and people still complained about it -- even with paid support and upgrades!)

I am a happy GnuCash user -- and I wish the project nothing but continued success in the future.  And even if all the developers hit the lottery tomorrow and left the project forever and never touched the code ever again -- I would still be very grateful that it exists and does what it does.  Thank you! 

Ken


-----Original Message-----
From: gnucash-user <gnucash-user-bounces+pyz01=outlook.com at gnucash.org> On Behalf Of R Losey
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2023 8:33 PM
To: Gnucash Users <gnucash-user at gnucash.org>
Subject: [GNC] GnuCash getting worse?

Let me start off by trying to avoid hateful responses...

I worked in the software industry, and the programs I supported have had their share of issues. I remember (with hung head) when we went through a patch in which we would claim to have fixed a problem, only to have it recur, and then fixed that and then had another problem occur. It was a really bad time, and we took a lot of heat for it.

I also know that GnuCash is free, thanks to the intense dedication of a relatively small number of people... for whom and to whom, I am very grateful.

However.

I started using GnuCash about 8 years ago, and I generally upgraded each quarter as the new versions came out. My own experience in software led me to delay doing the update for 7-10 days -- just in case there was a bug that necessitated a re-release (and it happened just enough to make me glad I waited from time to time).

I am still running 5.3 because (as has been documented here), the 5.4 windows release had a bug that left a process running.  "No problem", I thought -- I'll just skip 5.4 and install 5.5 when it comes out.

Well, 5.5 is out, and it looks like the Scheduled Transactions no longer function properly, especially in regard to variable placeholders. This is a feature I used and cannot use GnuCash if this is broken. This makes 5.5 also unusable for me. This is the first time I can remember when I could not download a new release - let alone two of them.

I don't know what the problem is or what the best solution is -- perhaps everyone on this list could contribute a few dollars to give the hardworking developers a chance to "re-charge", as it were? Perhaps a quarter needs to be spent only fixing bugs and ignoring adding new features? Perhaps the developers just need to take a break for a quarter?

I don't mean this at all in a harsh or critical way; I am just concerned that a program I really like seems to be slipping somehow.

--
_________________________________
Richard Losey
rlosey at gmail.com
Micah 6:8
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