Using Openbravo Forge to develop an Openbravo ERP localization

Hello there,

One of the earliest adopters of the Openbravo Forge since it was launched two months ago have been the localizers. They appreciate the freedom of been able to setup their project, forums and been able to publish news, files and modules in the Central Repository (before it was necessary our assistance).

In the last weeks of experience working with localization projects on the Forge we have crafted some best practices and polices to apply in Openbravo Forge to develop and organize a localization project.

Let me share them with you.

Introduction

Many countries and regions have similar requirements, like sharing the same language or functional requirement. To be able to reuse localization components, we provide the following types of projects to enable functionality delivery:

• Module: provides an atomic functionality. Examples of modules are chart of accounts, translations, banking interfaces, etc.
  
• Pack: group all the modules necessary to enable Openbravo ERP for a country or region. For example, the Spain Localization Pack that contains a full localization package for Spain.
  

We recommend that:

• Each country or region should create one and only one pack that contains all the relevant modules. A pack should be created for consistency sake even if it contains only one module.
• Each country or region could create zero or more modules (zero if it only reuses modules and does not create any geography specific modules)
  

Packs

When registering your localization pack project for your region, we recommend to enable the following services in Openbravo Forge:

• Module: to publish the pack in the central repository
• Forums: to discuss localization issues for the region that the pack targets

For localization packs, we suggest to discard the usage of the rest of the services that the Forge provides.

Additionally, we recommend:

• Since a pack groups modules, they should not contain code, and as result, they should not require a source control system.
• We recommend to report issues, using the bug tracking system, to each particular module instead of reporting to a pack.
• We only recommend to publish files in the download area during the development cycle, you post your obx file in progress in the download area for early adopters to download and evaluate. We do not recommend to publish the files in the download service once they are released since you can already download files published in the central repository.
• When registering the project, assign it to the 'Openbravo ERP -> Localization Packs category.

Modules

When registering your localization modules, we recommend to enable the following services:

• Module: to publish the module in the central repository
• Code: to develop the code of the module and be able to work in a collaborative manner with other developers
• Bug Tracking: to allow users to report issues or functionality enhancements
• Wiki:to publish documentation for the project and to coordinate work
  

For localization modules, we suggest to discard the usage of the rest of the services that the Forge provides.

Additionally, we recommend:

• We only recommend to publish files in the download area during the development cycle, you post your obx file in progress in the download area for early adopters to download and evaluate. We do not recommend to publish the files in the download service once they are released since you can already download files published in the central repository.
• When registering the project, assign it to the 'Openbravo ERP -> Localization Modules category.
  

Project naming conventions

For naming localization projects we recommend the format Name of the country + Description, except for language modules that we recommend Language name + for + country.

For example, for Spain we use the following names:

Pack

• Spain Localization Pack. Contains all the modules necessary to apply the localization for Spain.
  

Modules

• Spain Chart of accounts - General. Contains the Spanish translation for Spain
• Spain Taxes. Contains the definition of taxes for Spain.
• Spanish for Spain. Contains the Spanish translations customized for Spain.
  

Package name conventions

The following table contains a description of the best practices when naming packages.


Additional links

• Localization process. Recommendations on how to structure packs and develop modules.
• Openbravo ERP localization forum for discussing and getting help on Openbravo ERP related localization issues.
  

Openbravo Wiki Archive namespace

Openbravo Wiki has currently more than 2.000 articles. Many of these articles are legacy documents that belong to older versions of our projects: user manuals, design documents, old coordination documents, etc. A search in Openbravo Wiki returns as results many legacy documents that are no longer useful making more challenging for users to find the information that they are looking for. With the new categorization system, that was introduced some weeks back, the situation has improved since categories are more usable but there is still room for improvement.

To address this situation, we have created the Openbravo Wiki archive namespace. We have started to move all the articles that we consider legacy to this new namespace. The idea is to keep in the main namespace only documentation that is valid for the current stable version, Openbravo ERP R2.50 nowadays. Additionally, we have modified the search UI for Openbravo Wiki enhance the search user experience.

I think that these changes will improve greatly the experience of all users looking for information.

I want also mention that creation of new categories has been blocked. This has been done to prevent the proliferation of categories that ignored our current category system. Please, contact the Wiki administrators if you need a new category.

Openbravo Forge chat meeting on Monday 11st of May 2009

Since the launch of Openbravo Forge a little more than a month ago, we have received lots of questions and ideas. During the Openbravo World Conference lots of people had questions on how the Forge can help them to be more productive and get more exposure on what they do, something that I briefly explained a few days back.

I would like to organize a chat with all of you to discuss about the Forge. Mainly to:

• To solve doubts regarding the usage of the Openbravo Forge that you may have
• Questions on how to develop verticals and extensions through the Forge
  
• To answer questions regarding future plans of the Openbravo Forge
• To get Feedback and ideas for future versions
  

The details are of the chat are:

Date: Monday 11st of May at 14.00 GMT + 1 (16.00 local time in Spain due to daylight savings). Check the World Clock if you want to check the time in your area.
Where: IRC Network FreeNode at the #openbravo channel
Language: English

I will appreciate if you can participate in the meeting if you have ideas or questions about the Forge.