List of external software interfaces

This article lists past and present external software interfaces of GnuCash, and suggests possible additional interfaces. In-process extensibility features are not listed (e.g. custom Scheme reports).

• RPC (bitrotted [1])
• Perl bindings (bitrotted [2])
• QIF/OFX import
  • from files
    • CSV/TSV/XLS/ODS → QIF conversion (see FAQ#Q: How do I convert from CSV, TSV, XLS (Excel), or SXC (!OpenOffice.org Calc) to a QIF?)
    • OFX
      • libofx
  • OFX Direct Connect
• direct data manipulation
  • XML, "risky and not recommended" (see FAQ)
  • PostgreSQL

Wish list

• CORBA, to communicate with a running GnuCash instance. E.g., a running GnuCash incarnates a CORBA object of type:

interface GnuCash // simplified
{
  exception GnuCashException

  typedef string Guid;

  struct Split
  {
    Guid id;
    boolean reconciledState;
    string value;
    string quantity;
    Guid account;
  };

  typedef sequence<Split> SplitSeq;

  struct Transaction
  {
    Guid id;
    string datePosted;
    string dateEntered;
    string description;
    SplitSeq splits;
  };

  void submitTransaction(in Transaction t)
    raises (GnuCashException);
};

• linkable library
  • for communicating with a running GnuCash instance
  • for manipulation of GnuCash database or XML file directly