Announcement 2.0.0

DRAFT: This page collects drafts for the potential announcement of the 2.0.0 release. What kind of message should that be? Simply something similar to Announcement 1.9.6, or rather some "news-text" similar to https://lists.gnucash.org/pipermail/gnucash-devel/2003-February/008357.html ?

Screenshots of the 2.0 are online in the updated Guide & Tutorial:

• http://cvs.gnucash.org/docs/guide/oview-intro1.html
• http://cvs.gnucash.org/docs/guide/basics-entry1.html
• http://cvs.gnucash.org/docs/guide/basics-interface1.html

List of new features in 2.0.0

The press release below obviously needs some details about our actual new features in 2.0.0. So here's what's new:

Major new features

See also http://lwn.net/Articles/184630/ which is a quite accurate review of the new (beta) versions.

• GnuCash 2.0 is based on state-of-the-art gtk2 GUI technology (it used to be based on gtk1)

From the lwn-Article: So what 2.0 brings is not a whole lot of new features, but a new platform which is ready for the creation of tomorrow's new features.

• GnuCash 2.0 follows the Gnome Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) for a consistent behaviour and look-and-feel for the whole Desktop
• Tabbed window
• New importing feature: OFX DirectConnect can directly retrieve and import account statements over the Internet -- however this is offered only with the latest (2.x) versions of the aqbanking libary, but nevertheless it is now possible with the new gnucash. (Before, this was already possible for the German HBCI online banking, which was able to do the same since 1.8.0)

Minor new features

• Implemented a "Hide account" feature to keep a better overview of your current accounts
• New importing feature: MT940 files can be imported (in addition to QIF files and OFX files)
• The data file format has been improved with respect to international characters. Data files with international characters can be transferred to other countries flawlessly (previously the character encoding was messed up). There is a druid to upgrade the data file when starting gnucash-2.0.0 the first time.
• ... what else?

Draft press release by Matt Townsend

Joe Nobody

(555) 555-5555

joe.nobody@gnucash.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May ##, 2006

Accounting in Linux Leaps Forward

GnuCash 2.0.0 milestone released to public

GNUCASH.org—Personal and small business accounting in Linux will be easier and better after today's release of GnuCash 2.0.0, program developers said.

This milestone release of the free, open source accounting program includes generational advances over the last version. Developers said they worked hard to integrate FEATURE, FEATURE and FEATURE to meet standards set by PC software.

The programers also said they added features now unique to GnuCash, like FEATURE and FEATURE.

Major changes in the milestone release include CHANGE and CHANGE. Program developer DEVGUY1 said these changes were made BECAUSE.

“Some quote about the changes,” he said.

The software's lead developer, LEADDEV, said these new features and changes will make GnuCash easier than ever for newcomers.

“Quote about why to use GnuCash 2.0.0,” LEADDEV said.

Playing With Others

Like other leading Linux software, GnuCash is designed as a functional replacement for expensive accounting programs. But, like OpenOffice.org and The Gimp, GnuCash is also programmed to communicate and interact with as many existing programs, institutions and people as possible.

LEADDEV said the team continued to improve file import filters, which allow users to import work from old programs like Microsoft Money and Quicken. GnuCash can load QIF and QFX files, which are used by both of those programs.

“Why it's important to import,” he said.

Developers also continued to incorporate support for online banking into the program. GnuCash 2.0.0 supports banking with THESE INSTITUTIONS, the developer said.

“Quote about online banking with the new version,” LEADDEV said.

The milestone release is available in 28 languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Norwegian, so people from around the world will have no difficulty operating the program, developer DEVGUY1 said.

“GnuCash plays well with others,” DEVGUY1 said. “It doesn't matter what country you're from.”

Off on the Right Foot

Users of the GnuCash 2.0.0 will notice a few changes when they start the program. Improvements have been made on THIS and THIS, features of the account “druid,” or wizard, that helps newcomers set up and import their accounting data.

“Quote about experience of starting GnuCash and why 2.0.0 is easier,” said DEVGUY1.

After they enter the program, users will find a double-ledger account system, exhaustive report options and account hierarchy tools. Also at their disposal is a full system of tutorials and documentation.

“Quote about what the developers were really aiming to do, in this milestone release,” LEADDEV said.

In this system, power is combined with simplicity to ensure accurate bookkeeping without stress from other programs, like BAD FEATURES FROM OTHER PROGRAMS, he said.

Getting GnuCash

GnuCash 2.0.0 can be downloaded from gnucash.org. It is available as source code, PACKAGES FOR DISTROS, SVN(?).

To install GnuCash, users will need Gnome 2, guile, slib and g-wrap. Detailed installation help is available at gnucash.org.

About the Program

GnuCash is a free, open source accounting program released under the GNU General Public License (GPL) and available for GNU/Linux, *BSD, Solaris and Mac OSX. It is collaboratively developed by 10 people from over 5 countries.

Programming on GnuCash began in 1997, and its first stable release was in 1998. GnuCash is made for the Linux operating system, a free, open source collection of community-based projects that has become a major force in the computing world.