Skip to content
This repository has been archived by the owner on Jan 11, 2018. It is now read-only.

Latest commit

 

History

History
47 lines (37 loc) · 2.32 KB

MANIFESTO.rst

File metadata and controls

47 lines (37 loc) · 2.32 KB
Raw

OSPFM manifesto

(written before any line of code and before any technical decision)

I, as Omoma’s and OSPFM’s creator, first wanted a tool making life easier for me and my wife. The main feature we needed was the ability to mark an operation as “made for someone else”, in order to stop caring about loans in our family. It appeared that the best way to do that is with a webapp. I have tried to make something usable on multiple computers and servers, but rapidly realized that was too complicated, both for developers and users.

That’s why, after months of thinking, I have decided to make a SaaS offer, with two simple plans:

  • a free plan, offering basic features (a few accounts, categories...)
  • a paying plan (not too expensive though), with advanced features (reports, recurring operations, previsions...)

Despite being a SaaS application, the software running this service, OSPFM, would still be Open Source, because I believe in Open Source principles. I want OSPFM to be distributed under the GNU AGPL. Nothing would forbid you to install your own instance of the software, and all improvements you make would be published under the AGPL license.

However, I think installing OSPFM on multiple servers would block one of its main advantages: sharing expenses with people all over the world. People on different servers would not be able to share their operations. It is why I am willing to give free "paying plan" accounts to people who help on OSPFM (developers, translators, etc).

Oh, and I don’t want to make it easy for other companies to take my (hopefully our) work and sell it as-is. That is why:

  • I’m not planning to make extensive documentation, especially on OSPFM’s installation (but it would not be really different from some other great Open Source apps)
  • The subscription and billing app would not be Open Source
  • Graphic creations (icons etc) would not be Open Source in order to give this service a unique look&feel

I hope you will understand the choices I have made, I hope you will use this service and maybe contribute to OSPFM, I hope this service would allow me to live a simple life with my family, I hope this will make the world better by allowing people to spend less and save more.

-- Sébastien Maccagnoni-Munch, March 26, 2012