Blue GNU caught up with GNUe' Reinhard Mueller to learn more about the ERP project. Mueller points out the project's shift in focus, thus highlighting the need for project developers to remain flexible.

When and why was GNUe started?
In July 1999, GNU G/L and Obelisk, both projects to create a Free Software ERP solution (and both without any line of code at that time) merged together under the name GNU Enterprise.

The reason to start this project was simple: to build a real Free Software ERP solution. However, the focus of the project has later shifted from creating a turnkey ERP solution to building a toolset that should allow the flexible and fast building of database applications. Platform and database backend independence has always been a major goal in the project.

Where does the project stand at this point?
The toolset is stable and is used in production on a number of sites. All of these sites use GNUe to develop their own individual database software. One of the next steps will probably be to create some small and basic ERP system people can use as a base for their individual projects.

Who are your primary users?
As GNUe stands now, it is a software development platform, and is obviously used directly by software developers that want to create database applications, especially if they want their applications to run on different platforms without much porting effort. In second instance, of course all the users of these database applications are also GNUe users.

How many active developers currently work on GNUe?
There are currently 2 developers working on GNUe in paid time, and about 10 are contributing on a more or less regular basis.

How does GNUe compare (in your view) to other projects?
GNUe can not be compared to other ERP projects (at least not yet), because it's not (yet) an ERP. It's a toolset, and as such it's quite unique.

Can you give me any idea of how big and/or active the GNUe user community is?
We would like it to be bigger and more active.

What needs to be accomplished before the next release of GNUe?
GNUe is in constant development, and new releases are made from time to time depending on the progress.

What are the biggest obstacles the GNUe team faces in development?
Lack of resources.

Is there anything else about GNUe you think our audience should know?
Yes: GNUe rocks! ;-)