* Quasar includes tools for accounting, inventory control, invoice creation
Several readers commented that I was remiss for not mentioning Quasar among the open source and Linux-based business software packages that were featured over the last two weeks. So I did some digging.
Quasar is a Linux-based business management software package developed by Linux Canada. The system includes an accounting software package, inventory control applications, software for creating invoices, bills, reports and purchase orders (with company logos), as well as a feature that allows for the creation of barcodes for inventory tracking. A scanning application for Linux-based handheld devices was also recently added.
Quasar can be run on a single PC free of charge. But unlike some of the open source packages discussed in the last few weeks, Quasar does charge for multiple clients – $29 for each additional PC. Other modules, such as the point-of-sale (POS) terminal package, also cost extra. The package’s source code is not free either, but sources say the code will be made public by year-end.
The system runs on Windows and Linux and is certified on Red Hat Linux Version 7.0 and up, Mandrake 7.2 and up, and SuSE 7.1 and up. The POS terminal and handheld clients run on Linux-based PCs and PDAs only.
Readers who alerted me to Quasar said the thick-client software is nicer to work with on a daily basis than the Web-based GUI’s offered by some of the other open source packages – such as SQL Ledger. Readers also lauded the Firebird open source database, which Quasar runs on.
