====== Philosopohy ======


Our work on Simple Invoices is driven by the philosophy to create the best invoicing software available by using free and open source software and have alot of fun on the way!

===== Development/Design philosophy =====


Refer [[wiki:simple_invoices_mantra_design_philosophy|this wiki page]] for more info but it can be summarised as:

  * Have fun
  * Take your time
  * Do what you want

===== Free software =====

==== What is free software? ====

Free software is software that gives you the user the freedom to share, study and modify it. We call this free software because the user is free.

To use free software is to make a political and ethical choice asserting the right to learn, and share what we learn with others.  Free software has become the foundation of a learning society where we share our knowledge in a way that others can build upon and enjoy.

For more info have a read up on the Free Software Foundations website [[http://www.fsf.org/about/what-is-free-software]]


==== How does this relate to Simple Invoices? ====

For Simple Invoices, the "free" in "free software" is used primarily in reference to freedom and not to price - although we are committed to not charging for Simple Invoices. The most important thing about Simple Invoices is not that it is available free of charge, but that it confers rights of software freedom on the people who install and use it. It is those freedoms that enable the Simple Invoices community to grow, sharing its collective experience and expertise to improve Simple Invoices and make it suitable for use in new countries and new industries.

Quoting the [[http://www.fsf.org/|Free Software Foundation's]] [[http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html|"What is Free Software"]], the freedoms at the core of free software are defined as:

  * The freedom to run the program, for any purpose.
  * The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs.
  * The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help others.
  * The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that everyone benefits.

Free software has been a coherent social movement for more than two decades. This movement has produced millions of lines of code, documentation, and a vibrant community of which Simple Invoices is proud to be a part.

===== Open source =====

Open source is a term coined in 1998 to remove the ambiguity in the English word "free". The [[http://www.opensource.org/|Open Source Initiative]] described open source software in the [[http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php|Open Source Definition]].

===== Community =====


Simple Invoices is primarily developed by its users and for its [[community|users]], in an open process. The goal of the project is to make an invoicing package which is easy to use, easy to adopt and which can reach a [[community]] of users that would go far beyond its [[credits|developers]].

(Adapted from http://www.egroupware.org/philosophy and http://blueerp.com/portal/content/view/15/77/)


===== Community Developed =====

As an extension to our focus on [[community]], !!Simple Invoices is developed for and by the [[community]]!!, anyone is free to help out developing Simple Invoices - writing code, sql, design, graphics, marketing, translating or whatever..

If you can use a PC that you can help out in developing Simple Invoices, refer the [[Get Involved]]  and [[Community]] pages for more info on how become an active part of Simple Invoices

===== More propaganda =====
  * the most important aspect of Simple Invoices is that it's free and open source software, meaning that there will never be charges for the software, it'll always be free in cost and free/open in development. What really powers Simple Invoices is not some amazing code its the license that its released under that enables the openness of development and the community that are dedicated to creating the best invoicing system possible.
  * Most commercial invoicing systems are designed and built in grey corporate offices being coded by subjugated developers, run by bosses with their eyes only on the bottom line. Simple Invoices and free software turns this non-sense on its head - here an invoicing system is made by and for people who want the best invoicing system possible, who are really into invoicing and work because we want to not because we have to.

~~DISCUSSION~~