Open Source POS Project
October 23rd, 2000 by Phil Hughes in
This project is to create an open-source Point of Sale (POS) system. While we are just starting this effort, I envision that it will build a set of tools that can be assembled and customized to address a variety of POS requirements. If we do our job right, VARs will select these tools as the basis of their solutions, and some of us may even go on to be VARs ourselves. In any case, getting VARs to select a Linux-based solution is the goal.
What are the tools I am talking about? There is an amazing array here. On the geek end are drivers for barcode readers, touch screens, IR devices and such. On the business end there will need to be accounting software and reports. In each case we need to identify what is needed, design and build the tool and get it accepted by vendors outside the Linux community--be they hardware manufacturers or service providers such as credit card processors.
Many of these pieces already exist--our effort will be to get them working together and documented. Others will have to be written. Ultimately, we will have a complete tool kit with documentation that can be used to build precisely what the customer wants. This customization ability can be a big win over solutions based on closed-source software.
We have just started a mailing list to discuss the effort. If you want to join, send e-mail to majordomo@ssc.com and put the line subscribe opos-list in the body of the message.
This project was inspired by some questions on the Free Software Business mailing list run by Russ Nelson. I have many years of experience in embedded systems with a few years developing POS systems for the fueling and convenience store market. Dan Wilder, also on the SSC team has over 15 years of experience in POS systems. We want to bring our expertise to this Linux-based effort.
Phil Hughes
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We need a PHP/MySQL based POS system
On September 22nd, 2009 Surendra (not verified) says:
We are looking for someone who can write or giv us a PHP/MySQL based POS System that we can use in one of our customer stores.
The idea is that we are developing an mini-erp system on php/mysql for this company that has about 3 retail stores, and it will beasy for us to integrate your source to us.
- Surendra
We've been doing this for over 20 years
On August 31st, 2009 Munchkin (not verified) says:
We have been doing Linux based POS systems for big retailers all over Southern Africa for 20 years now. Starting off with a 4th GL called CERES, created and developed in South Africa, so not only was the solution completely open source, but was proudly South African. A lot of our Furniture retailer still use the CERES based linux POS system. We have since started doing Java POS systems to keep updated with the GUI interfaces required by our clients. All our back office and frotnend servers run on Linux, and one client still running on Unix.
point of sales
On March 12th, 2009 kamlesh vyas (not verified) says:
hello,
i want to develope the point of sale softwares online in java
please help me how to start the project
kamlesh vyas
On sourceforge, you guys
On February 6th, 2008 Anonymous (not verified) says:
On sourceforge, you guys will see that an ERP called Openbravo bought TinaPOS (i think it was LibrePOS) but now OpenbravoPOS.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/openbravopos/
Cheers,
Sanj
THE BEST RIGTH NOW USING PHP
On January 19th, 2008 Anonymous (not verified) says:
THE BEST RIGTH NOW USING PHP AND MYSQL IS MERCHANTOS.COM
I have a POS, made with GTK+. I plan to GPL it.
On April 13th, 2006 Anna (not verified) says:
Hi.
I made a POS system for my sister's coffee cart business. The primary goals were speed, ease of use, stability, and basic POS functionality. It also needed to be about cash register sized or smaller. It's designed for use with a touch screen. I coded it in C using the GTK+ toolkit (2.0) and do some complicated stuff in perl. The software is designed with modularity and flexibility in mind. It uses mysql as a database. It processes credit cards using perl to interact with yourpay.com. CC processing specifically is designed with modularity in mind, so yourpay.com could be replaced with something else fairly easily. Credit card numbers are captured using a swiper that plugs into a serial port. The cash drawer is also controlled via a serial interface. I'm using Star parallel printers which are great little machines and well supported under Linux. The touch screens work well. I developed it using Debian Sarge and run it under Gnome, but any window manager could work. I think it should be fairly easily portable to a variety of devices. It's been used in a production environment for 6+ months. The reporting needs some help, but I just haven't had the time needed.
I'm currently working on increasing modularity (with a goal of separating the POS logic from the GTK+ front-end) and improving the credit card processing module, including making cc transactions run asynchronously so the GUI remains responsive. I plan to soon start working on making the menu more easily editable. (right now you need some xml editing skillz to change an item/option price.) Other future plans include adding customer tracking and affinity-card (gift card) support.
so far: it's very stable, the baristas like it, the reporting (via apache/cgi/mysql/perl) gives enough information for day to day simple things and to make doing taxes possible... It's possible to run several transactions at once... can accept multiple forms of payment for each transaction... .... it does all kinds of cool stuff. I'm proud of it. I think it should already be possible to run more than one POS off the same database... and without much more work (adding some record/database locking) it will be possible to work on the same transaction at any connected terminal without having to worry about losing or corrupting data.
I made it because I had the time, thought it was an interesting project and had a customer. Now, it would be nice to make some money from it. Maybe you'd like to hire me to do something? I'm a very good programmer, with plenty of C/C++/perl experience. :)
The coffee business is located in Reno. It's called Hi Point Coffee. I'll most likely be publishing the POS software on sourceforge under the name HiPointPOS, or something like that.
POS system
On August 13th, 2009 lincoln (not verified) says:
anna-
trolling about the internet re: POS systems, came across your post.
we're a 9 store group of cafes in milwaukee that runs micros. as we have been seeking some higher-level functionality, micros delivered a proposal for their web-based reporting, gift/loyalty program and unified employee database. with this many stores and that many micros products, the annual costs begin to support a development effort.
a high-level list of desirables:
•23 registers across 9 stores
•thin client touchscreens as "register unit"
•all touchscreens connected to central office server (via fast internet conencitons)where transactions take place
•basic POS function
•multiple printers, printing subsets of orders (drinks go to espresso machine, food goes to pantry)
•PCI compliant credit card processing
•open source
•central employee files
•time/attendance at all terminals
•card-swipe identifiers for staff
•gift cards
•loyalty on same card as gift
•cached CC transactions when disconnected from internet (continue to ring sales)
•cache all other data as well, resync when connected
•centralized management of touch screens, menus, pricing, etc.
•scheduled (example: 5 am next saturday) pricing changes, menu additions/deletions
•data exporting, reporting, etc.
•bonus feature: connect to macintosh running itunes music- control track selection and volume
•bonus feature #2: we have a scheduling program written in excel. translate into version accessible over terminals
what's your perspective?
OS Compatibility
On December 15th, 2007 ms4christ2 (not verified) says:
Does this only work on the Linux platform or does it run in Windows as well?
POS software
On December 11th, 2007 Iyyasamy Murugesan (not verified) says:
We are developing a pos software in java for retail business. we are interested to in your restaurant project. hope we can have mutually benefecial business relationship.
FreePOS Moving To Linux Client Soon
On June 28th, 2007 FreePOS (not verified) says:
FreePOS, the internet's leading freeware restaurant POS system, is taking a major step by implementing a Linux based client. The goal is to eliminate licensing fees associated with Windows and to reduce the hardware requirements of workstations.
If you would like to learn more about the development status, please check our website at www.Positive-Feedback.net - You can even register as a Beta tester there and receive trial versions of the prototype(s).
Development Help Needed for Revolutionary POS concept
On January 6th, 2007 Spy (not verified) says:
Please contact me if you are interested in helping develop a prototype of a revolutionary restaurant POS system. We are located in the NYC area. Serious inquiries only. This is being posted on Jan 6, 2007. This invitation is open to anyone interested who is reading this.
spyknot@gmail.com
pos development
On December 16th, 2007 scott smith (not verified) says:
I would love to get involved with the development of a pos for restaurants. Please get with me asap.
Scott Smith
225-288-8100
Restaurant POS Project
On February 17th, 2006 Earl (not verified) says:
This is an interesting topic; is there any progress? We are restaurant developers with a serious need for a quick serve solution, benchmarked by Aloha quick service product and delivery/carry out module. We have developed such a solutions years ago; SCO Unix, Cbase, C programming, and various unix scripts. This fully documented system is installed and working in 300+ QSR operations today. However, as all you reading this know, this system; utilizing today tools and platforms can truly be something. We are in the restaurant business, not the development business; a deal can be made here for us to contribute our working knowlege, source code, documentation with an eye towards building a fully functioning, Open souce POS sytem for the QSR market. Any thoughts, shoot me a note. Best, Earl
web and station combination
On January 8th, 2007 pizzaman (not verified) says:
i am trying to male an online solution but i have to use of service to convert to fax it would be nice to have an nternal solution for that
Re: Restaurant POS Project
On March 6th, 2006 Eric Steinberg (not verified) says:
We are a start-up company currently developing restaurant systems utilizing a mix of proprietary and open technologies. We have a unique business model that we believe provides a compelling proposition to the market. I would be very interested to discuss requirements and experience with you, including potential deals.
Development help available
On November 5th, 2005 chrisj (not verified) says:
I work for a company that provides POS solutions to the resteraunt industry. I am looking to input my experience in this field and help to develop a open source system that can provide a variety of POS solutions to many industries. Reguardless of what language it is written in, i will learn it. Open source softeware will allow POS providers to offer a much better product with release from the licensing overhead currently associated with it. Reguardless of the launguate the frontend i written in I believe MySQL to be the obvious choice in the database server choice. I wish to see the open source POS solution become a tight nit group with secure trusted software that is able to provide the features and capabilities that the large companies provide before they do with support for more hardware and options than is currently available. Sorry for any typos but its late saturday night and i'm at a party (of course on the computer available) I assure you my intent in genuine and my effort endless. Please contact me with any further details available.
Sincerely,
Chris Janzow
Development Help Needed
On January 6th, 2007 Spy (not verified) says:
Chris,
How do we contact you?
POS and osCommerce
On December 2nd, 2004 R&T Computers (not verified) says:
Does anyone out there, use osCommerce for your webstore? Do you want it connected to your live store? We at R&T Computers are in the process of disigning a POS to do just that. Stop by our webstore at http://rtcomp.no-ip.com email the web master at rtcomp_wm@sbcglobal.net or best of all stop into our live store at 4385 Dixie Hwy Saginaw, MI 48601
SynPOS
On March 24th, 2006 Anonymous (not verified) says:
Checkout SynPOS at http://www.postosc.com. It synchronizes with web stores including osCommerce in real time.
Re: Open Source POS Project
On July 6th, 2004 Anonymous says:
A few years ago I started work on one such project using the Mozilla Framework. I still believe this is the way to go, though Java might be decent as well. The reason I think Mozilla is a better fit is because of Internalization.. it's built in, plus you get a rich framework that's cross platform for free. I built a proof of concept interface a looong loooong time ago, but no one seemed to give a damn, so I stopped. IF anyone is interested, signup for the mailing list and drop me a line/post on the bulleting board. The project is MozPos at:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/mozpos
It installs under Mozilla 1.7 and seems to run fine (though it was developed under 1.1).
Mozilla POS
On October 9th, 2005 Alexander Zaretsky (not verified) says:
Greetings. Please tell us how you developed the project. I am very intersting in using it.
In fact, I need it urgently for a project. However I didn't find any documentation. Also i'd like to know about the framework you used as well as the source code. Thanks.
Re: Open Source POS Project
On July 6th, 2004 Anonymous says:
I meant to say Internationalization... I'm too sleepy..
Re: Open Source POS Project
On January 21st, 2003 Anonymous says:
I have owned 2 restaurants and am also a Software Engineer and am constantly surprised at the crop of software that is made available that calls it self POS software. Most of it is awful.
I am well versed in Java, J2EE, web design (html, javascript, dhtml, etc...), Relational and non-relational database systems (Oracle, DB2, Lotus), and would be very interested in working with a group trying to create an open source POS system or discussing a good open source project that is already in the works.
I also have most of the standard POS hardware needed for testing (cash drawers, receipt printer, label printer, credit card printer, credit card readers, touch screen monitors)
Please add me to your mailing list, or, if this is an inactive thread, those interested, please contact me and possibly we can discuss other POS systems and potentially start a real open source POS framework on sourceforge (I know there are many, but most don't have much support, 2-4 developers, and I haven't been able to try most, as their code is still locked up in alpha).
email me at: scprotz@hotmail.com
(Please put POS in your subject line so i can quickly weed it out from all the junkmail i get at hotmail)
Re: Open Source POS Project
On June 2nd, 2003 Anonymous says:
Hey guys
I am on the functional side and know quite a bit about what the functionalities are for a POS system.
I would also like to know if there is any generic framework available for POS?
Re: Open Source POS Project
On February 19th, 2003 Anonymous says:
Any news on this project ?
Tim
Re: Open Source POS Project
On January 13th, 2003 Anonymous says:
Hello All,
I am current build a Java based pos system for a dine-in/carryout/delivery resturant franchise. Have been developing system for a year now. I am interested in additional involvement in you open source project..my project is currently not open source...but future development my move in that direction.... please contact me at maddera@peakpeak.com....looking forward to hearing from you...
Re: Open Source POS Project
On November 18th, 2002 Anonymous says:
I am taking this opportunity to offer my services for an open source development of Java point of sale system.
Although I am good at Java and well versed in J2EE, however
I am new to Point of Sale systems and am trying to make one as a hobby. May I ask you
if there is some example code / tutorial available which uses java pos API. Similarly are you aware if some organization has made some standardized dtd or schema for this purpose.
Is there some opportunity to collaborate with some one on this type of project please. I have been to http://www.javapos.com but could not find any thing. May I also subscribe to the mailing list for opos please.
Your's Sincerely.
Ahmad
E Mail: knowledg_power@hotmail.com
Tel: 816 - 668 - 8386
Re: Open Source POS Project in Java
On November 18th, 2002 Anonymous says:
Looks like, it did not add my contact information in the a/m post.
Here it is:
Ahmad
E Mail: knowledg_power@hotmail.com
Phone: 816 - 668 - 8386
Re: Open Source POS Project
On July 12th, 2002 Anonymous says:
I have a whole system ready with linux backend running php/mysql/apache and any client with web browser as front end. Works great BUT the hard part now is to find a POS printer that will work with linux, have been doing a lot of research, with no luck. So far, the project cost me 600 + printer cost. If this is successful, definitely would be cheaper than those windows pos systems.
-Frank N.
open source pos
On September 10th, 2007 charlie b. (not verified) says:
I work/manage a ski shop and i am looking for a retail POS to replace what I am running now. I would like more info on your project.
Charlie
Re: Open Source POS Project
On August 24th, 2004 Anonymous says:
Star Micronics POS Printer
Re: Open Source POS Project
On May 25th, 2004 Anonymous says:
i can give you a easy solution;
take a windows machine, install apache, php and mysql
upload your files and there you've got a system wich can print easily.
Like to participate, mail me ritz at skynet.be
Re: Open Source POS Project
On December 17th, 2002 Anonymous says:
I have been a system engineer for various POS VAR's since 1986. I'm very interested in your work, please email me at dsouthard@cowansretail.com. Hopefully, you still monitor this thread. Thanks for any responses,
Dale Southard
Re: Open Source POS Project
On October 1st, 2002 Anonymous says:
I am very much interested in building a POS using PHP/MySql.
So Frank or anybody who would like to share information regarding this, could you contact me at latestkraze@yahoo.co.uk
I would like to know how far your project have gone to and how much work is involved. and alot of tip to help me get started! :)
i would appreciate this very much.
cheers,
Kenneth
Re: Open Source POS Project
On September 2nd, 2002 Anonymous says:
Hello Frank,
Its great to know that YOU VE POS sytem runnin on php/mysql/apche.Infact I ve tried to do the same.R u interested in Sharing the source code.
please let me know.I need it.
with regards
maruti srinivs
smaruthi@yahoo.com
Re: Open Source POS Project
On August 18th, 2002 Anonymous says:
I have a DOS POS system that I have been running in a small hardware store for 9 years. I just recently went to a regular receipt printer (Star 8340). For 9 years I used a Panasonic KPX 1080i. The Dos program have very few drivers available. But if you stick with 9pin dot matrix printers they all seem to use about the same control codes. Since they don't do graphics and have limited fonts, the data is just ascii caracters and the contols are groups of three or four ascii caracters. The Star printer didn't seem to care if I used drivers for the Panasonic. I would like to corespond with you on your project. I don't have any programming experience and don't know alot about Linux, but I do know what a good POS system needs. If you would like to contact me: mothershatespam@bellsouth.net You know what to do with hatespam.
BoB
Re: Open Source POS Project
On May 1st, 2004 Anonymous says:
45555
Re: Open Source POS - Using Printers + other POS h/w
On August 15th, 2002 Anonymous says:
Take a look at http://www.javapos.com/ and you can perhaps see a solution to this. This is an industry page that deals with connecting with POS printers, scanners, and other hardware.
Re: Open Source POS Project
On July 29th, 2002 Anonymous says:
If youve got a system running let me know, i've got a couple of customers interested in one.
I would gladly help out in finding a compatable printer (Ive look at this already my self.)
Please reply to me personly as I dont come here very often at all (just remove -spam- from address)
pos-spam-@mlsis.co.uk
Matt
Re: Open Source POS Project
On June 22nd, 2002 Anonymous says:
I am Planning this software already, if any you java developers would like to contribute to my project please email me at moorjani@svenson.gp and I will send you the project plan, so maybe we get things started.
Uday
Re: Open Source POS Project
On May 12th, 2002 Anonymous says:
I absolutely agree. These is another project on sourceforge that has yet to release any files. before the open source community spends countless hours improving information dissemination systems (like nuke and other cms') I think we should be trying to make an open source business management suite. We have web-based ones already, the exchange project (www.oscommerce.com) and interchange (if you like pseudo-opensource redhat items). Why can't we build a Point Of Sale system that is full features, perhaps webbased of java based, that can control a business and doesn't look like a command line hassle. I have seen many of these POS systems (closed source) in my day, and the best deal i've found is the POSitive system (http://www.gopositive.com/). They currently have a free version, free as in cost, but it is not full featured. Their full project costs just under $2k when you're done buying necessary plugins, and that includes a network license for as many machines as you want. I've seen the tools, and I've digested the database structure at least in my head; folks, it doesn't look to complicated.
Countless hours of energy are spent on projects that are for pure novelty... This sort of project will empower PEOPLE to open businesses and stores, as opposed to Cor-pirate entities that seek to control and remove real business practices from existence. This will happen in the same way that we made it possible for anyone to open an online store... I have customers set up that maintain their online store for under $100 a month, including hosting, software, and credit card processing. Allowing small businesses to not have to spend $2000.00 to get some software (which i might remind you is over twice the cost of a decent POS computer) is preventative.
-eric gould
eric@savageweb.net
Re: Open Source POS Project
On July 20th, 2003 Anonymous says:
Hi there. I'm not a programmer (sorry), but I am a small business owner. I'm currently searching for a POS system for my retail store, and they are ridiculously expensive.
The most important thing for me is that the POS/Inventory Control DB also be able to run an e-commerce site. I think this is crucial for a lot of retailers this day, so I thought I'd just add my comment in on that.
If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to email me at my junk mail account with POS in the headline: edit4you@hotmail.com
Thank you!
Abigail
Re: Open Source POS Project
On February 26th, 2003 Anonymous says:
What about making a point of sale system that connected to OSCOMMERCE's mysql database and used a common inventory to avoid double-entry? That is what I am currently investigating. I am thinking that a Micro$oft Access or VB front-end would be good, or a Java-based front-end that connects to the mysql database using either myodbc or jdbc-mysql. Since I've already been forced to spend a lot of time in school developing Access clients (I didn't have a choice) I am thinking of sticking with it because I don't feel confident enough in my Java skills (I have some servlet/jsp skills, but as far as creating reports and doing data-validation with a strictly AWT/Swing front-end would take initiative and time that I don't have on my part at this time. I want to move over to the Java end completely, but not right now. The liscense fee for Access strictly as a client isn't that prohibitive at this time. The modules for Access could be published as open-source, but the actual MDB couldn't. But importing the modules to Access is very easy. So distributing the modules with the mysql-dump and os-commerce would be a viable option. Access has the drivers for the touch screens and the barcode scanners and printers (I imagine Java would too).
-
Joe@k9k.net
I am making a OSC POS
On November 2nd, 2004 R&T Computers (not verified) says:
I am in the process of making a POS for my OSC web store. Im just not a PHP coder. Anyone that wants to help is more then welcome to email us at R&T Computers: rtcomp_wm@sbcglobal.net
Re: Open Source POS Project
On February 26th, 2003 Anonymous says:
What about making a point of sale system that connected to OSCOMMERCE's mysql database and used a common inventory to avoid double-entry? That is what I am currently investigating. I am thinking that a Micro$oft Access or VB front-end would be good, or a Java-based front-end that connects to the mysql database using either myodbc or jdbc-mysql. Since I've already been forced to spend a lot of time in school developing Access clients (I didn't have a choice) I am thinking of sticking with it because I don't feel confident enough in my Java skills (I have some servlet/jsp skills, but as far as creating reports and doing data-validation with a strictly AWT/Swing front-end would take initiative and time that I don't have on my part at this time. I want to move over to the Java end completely, but not right now. The liscense fee for Access strictly as a client isn't that prohibitive at this time. The modules for Access could be published as open-source, but the actual MDB couldn't. But importing the modules to Access is very easy. So distributing the modules with the mysql-dump and os-commerce would be a viable option. Access has the drivers for the touch screens and the barcode scanners and printers (I imagine Java would too).
Re: Open Source POS Project
On April 5th, 2002 Anonymous says:
Why has this thread gone nowhere? Is this a dead idea? I have a friend that doesn't know computers that well that own his own business. He says that a proprietary/Windows based POS system costs more than his car! I immediately thought of looking for a Linux-based POS system, perhaps a web-based front-end to an SQL datbase like Postgres or MySQL. Seems like this would be really inexpensive for small business owners.
Re: Open Source POS Project - Vaporware
On August 14th, 2003 Anonymous says:
It's been about three years since the Open Source POS Project was started. About three months ago I started looking around for a very basic single workstation POS. I have found two reasonably good Windows based products that sell for $840.00 or less. While I would like to add a Linux based POS system, none appear to be available. Apparently, there is little motivation for Open Source developers to produce a Linux based POS system.
While Siemens toys with the notion of purchasing thousands of Linux based desktops, they have little regard for the cost of developing other, very uninteresting, applications to add to their desktops. Imagine, no simple Linux POS software for their employee store or company snack bar.
Four years later, still no re
On November 10th, 2004 Ed (not verified) says:
Four years later, still no real movement or developments on a real open source POS system.
I need something with the flexibility and power of Aloha POS, but without the monthly fees for the add-on modules, the unresponsive and arrogant "support" from dealers.
Anyone wanting to discuss this issue can contact me at eddyk @ teamlard dot net
Ed
Open Source POS
On April 11th, 2007 Tom Shanahan (not verified) says:
If you want to find something open with the power and functionality of Aloha, I am building it.
get in touch through toms@krestondts.com.au
Cheers
Tom
POS system, written in Open Source,
On January 24th, 2005 Anonymous (not verified) says:
being sold commmercially in the United Kingdom
see www.myrebel.net
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