View source for GnuCash

{{Short description|Personal and small-business financial-accounting software}}
{{Infobox software
| name = GnuCash
| logo = GnuCash logo.svg
| screenshot = Gnucash 2 screenshot.png
| caption = 
| author = Robin Clark - X-Accountant,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gnucash.org/mirrors/www.cs.hmc.edu/~rclark/xacc/#Status |title=X-Accountant |last=Clark |first=Rob D. |date=12 Apr 1998 |website=www.gnucash.org |access-date=2018-07-30 |quote=12 Apr 98 - The xacc project has changed names and become the GnuCash project. |archive-date=2015-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924022701/http://www.gnucash.org/mirrors/www.cs.hmc.edu/~rclark/xacc/#Status |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://linux.slashdot.org/story/01/07/05/1456248/gnucash-developer-robert-merkel-responds |title=GnuCash Developer Robert Merkel Responds |author=Roblimo |date=July 5, 2001 |website=linux.slashdot.org |quote=GnuCash is based on the X-Accountant codebase, which was GPL'd when Robin Clark released it based way back in 1997}}</ref><br />Gnumatic (Linas Veptas)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://primates.ximian.com/~miguel/gnome-history.html |title=gnome story |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010224061347/http://primates.ximian.com/~miguel/gnome-history.html |archive-date=February 24, 2001 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 11, 2013 |quote=Gnumatic was incorporated in the year 2000 to work on financial software. Led by Linas Veptas, Gnumatic produces GnuCash, the personal finance software for Unix.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://linas.org/|first= Linas |last=Vepstas |title=Home Page|quote=The GnuCash Personal Finance Manager[:] This is the biggest project I've ever worked on, and you can say I started it. I started by fixing a few bugs in a small piece of software called "X-Accountant", back in '96 or '97. Since then, I've put in thousands of hours of work into this software (yes, that's full time, overtime, evenings and weekends, for many years). Along the way, the name changed to "GnuCash", and it has had hundreds of volunteers adding features functions, documentation and translations, turning GnuCash into the leading personal finance management software on Linux today. It is now included in all major Linux distributions, and sees downloads in the tens-of-thousands whenever a new version is released.}}</ref>
| developer = GnuCash development team
| released = 1998<ref name=history>{{cite web
 | url        = http://www.gnucash.org/oldnews.phtml
 | publisher        = GnuCash
 | title        = Free Accounting Software - GnuCash
 | access-date        = 2011-03-13
 | archive-date        = 2011-05-14
 | archive-url        = https://web.archive.org/web/20110514100704/http://www.gnucash.org/oldnews.phtml
 | url-status        = dead
 }}</ref>
| discontinued = 
| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q123326|P348|P548=Q2804309}}
| latest release date = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q123326|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}
| latest preview version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q123326|P348|P548=Q51930650}}
| latest preview date = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q123326|P348|P548=Q51930650|P577}}
| programming language = [[C (programming language)|C]], [[Scheme (programming language)|Scheme]], [[C++]]<ref name="GnuCash FAQ Lang" />
| genre = [[Accounting software|Accounting]] and [[personal finance]]
| license = [[GNU General Public License|GPL-2.0-only]] or [[GNU General Public License|GPL-3.0-only]]<ref>{{cite web|title=LICENSE|website=[[GitHub]] |url=https://github.com/Gnucash/gnucash/blob/maint/LICENSE|access-date=2021-06-30}}</ref> 
| website = {{URL|https://www.gnucash.org}}
}}

'''GnuCash''' is an [[accounting software|accounting program]] that implements a [[double-entry bookkeeping system]]. It was initially aimed at developing capabilities similar to [[Intuit, Inc.]]'s [[Quicken]] application,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gnucash.org/mirrors/www.cs.hmc.edu/~rclark/xacc/ |publisher=gnucash.org |title=X-Accountant |access-date=2011-03-13 |archive-date=2015-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924022701/http://www.gnucash.org/mirrors/www.cs.hmc.edu/~rclark/xacc/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> but also has features for [[small business]] accounting.<ref name="What is GnuCash?">{{cite web |url=http://www.gnucash.org/docs/v2.0/C/gnucash-help/what-is-gnucash.html |title=1.1. What is GnuCash? |work=GnuCash Documentation |publisher=GnuCash |access-date=2010-05-14 |archive-date=2010-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612195247/http://gnucash.org/docs/v2.0/C/gnucash-help/what-is-gnucash.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Recent development has been focused on adapting to modern desktop support-library requirements.

GnuCash is part of the [[GNU Project]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/ |title=Index of /gnu |work=GNU Project FTP Server |publisher=GNU Project |access-date=2010-05-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/=README |title=GNU Readme |work=GNU Project FTP Server |publisher=GNU Project |access-date=2010-05-14 |quote=Programs that are directly in this directory are actually GNU programs, developed under the auspices of GNU.}}</ref> and runs on [[Linux]], [[GNU]], [[OpenBSD]], [[FreeBSD]], [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]], [[macOS]], and other [[Unix-like]] platforms.<ref name="GnuCash Download">{{cite web |url=http://www.gnucash.org/download.phtml |title=Download GnuCash |work=GnuCash |access-date=2010-05-14 |archive-date=2010-05-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100520034142/http://www.gnucash.org/download.phtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> A [[Microsoft Windows]] ([[Windows 2000|2000]] or newer) port was made available starting with the 2.2.0 series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/FAQ#Q:_Is_there_a_version.2Fport_for_Windows.3F |title=FAQ GnuCash |access-date=2010-10-11}}</ref>

GnuCash includes scripting support via [[Scheme (programming language)|Scheme]], mostly used for creating custom reports.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Documentation {{!}} GnuCash |url=https://www.gnucash.org/docs.phtml |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=www.gnucash.org |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
Programming on GnuCash began in 1997, and its first stable release was in 1998. Small Business Accounting was added in 2001. A Mac installer became available in 2004. A Windows port was released in 2007.<ref name=history />

==GnuCash for Android and GnuCash Mobile==
GnuCash for Android was initially developed as part of a [[Google_Summer_Of_Code|Google Summer of Code]] Project.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.codinguser.com/2012/05/gnucash-mobile/ |title=Gnucash Mobile |date=2012-05-10 |website=Coding User |language=en-US |access-date=2018-07-30 |archive-date=2013-01-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106021052/http://www.codinguser.com/2012/05/gnucash-mobile/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> This was an expense-tracking companion app for GnuCash, as opposed to a stand-alone accounting package, and is now discontinued. Currently, there are more than 100,000 downloads on the Play Store.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GnuCash - Apps on Google Play |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.gnucash.android&hl=en&gl=US |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=play.google.com |language=en}}</ref> 

In 2022 a companion version dubbed GnuCash Mobile is also available on the App Store and Play Store and unlike previous iterations was released under the MIT License.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GnuCash Mobile |url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gnucash-mobile/id1556325950 |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=App Store |date=24 February 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> GnuCash Mobile is developed using Flutter. Beyond mentoring the original GnuCash for Android developer and providing some publicity there was no connection between Gnucash for Android and the GnuCash project, nor is there any for the current so-called GnuCash Mobile app.

==Backwards compatibility issues==

GnuCash maintains the ability to read older data files between major releases, as long as major releases are not skipped.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gnucahs FAQ|access-date=2020-04-25|date=2020-04-25|archive-date=2020-04-01|url=https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/FAQ#Q:_Can_a_new_GnuCash_release_still_read_my_old_data_file.3F|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401093911/https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/FAQ}}</ref> If a user wishes to access historical data saved in old GnuCash files, they must install intermediate versions of GnuCash. For example, upgrading from 2.2 to 4.1 may not be possible; the user should upgrade from 2.2.9 to 2.4.15, then to 2.6.21, then 3.11, then 4.1.

The other alternative is for users to export transactions files to a CSV format<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gnucash Manual:Transaction Exports|url=https://www.gnucash.org/docs/v3/C/gnucash-help/trans-export.html}}</ref> prior to upgrading GnuCash. Exporting of the account tree must be done as a separate step.

==Features==
* [[Double-entry bookkeeping system|Double-entry bookkeeping]]<ref name="Linux.com Review">{{Cite web |last= Canterford |first= Conrad |title= Review: GnuCash 2.0 |work= Linux.com |access-date= 2008-04-14 |date= 2006-11-06 |url= http://www.linux.com/articles/114189 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080419105417/http://www.linux.com/articles/114189 |archive-date= 2008-04-19 |url-status= dead }}</ref>
* Scheduled Transactions<ref name="Linux.com Review" />
* Mortgage and Loan Repayment Assistant
* Small Business Accounting Features<ref name="What is GnuCash?" />
* [[Open Financial Exchange|OFX]], [[Quicken Interchange Format|QIF]] Import,<ref name="Linux.com Review" /> CSV Import
* [[FinTS|HBCI]] Support<ref name="Linux.com Review" />
* Transaction-Import Matching Support
* [[SQL]] Support
* [[Value-added tax|VAT]]/GST tracking and reporting
* Multi-Currency Transaction Handling<ref name="Linux.com Review" />
* Stock/Mutual Fund Portfolios
* Online Stock and Mutual Fund Quotes
* Built-in and custom reports and charts
* Budget
* Bank and Credit Card reconciliation
* Check printing

===Small business accounting features===
* Invoicing and Credit Notes (Credit note functionality was added with version 2.6)<ref>{{cite web|title=GnuCash 2.6 release tour|url=http://gnucash.org/2.6-release-tour.phtml|publisher=GnuCash|access-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref>
* Accounts Receivable (A/R)
* Accounts Payable (A/P) including bills due reminders
* Employee expense voucher
* Limited Payroll Management through the use of A/Receivable and A/Payable accounts.<ref>{{cite web|title=Features/Advance Features|url=http://gnucash.org/features.phtml|publisher=GnuCash|access-date=May 2, 2015|quote=Using A/Receivable and A/Payable accounts you can even manage payrolls for your employees.}}</ref>
* Depreciation
* Mapping to income tax schedules and TXF export for import into tax prep software (US)
* Setting up tax tables and applying sales tax on invoices

==Technical design==
GnuCash is written primarily in [[C (programming language)|C]], with a small fraction in [[Scheme (programming language)|Scheme]].<ref name="GnuCash FAQ Lang">{{cite web|title= Why don't you rewrite GnuCash in programming language xyz so that I can contribute easily? |url= http://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/FAQ#Q:_Why_don.27t_you_rewrite_GnuCash_in_programming_language_xyz_so_that_I_can_contribute_easily.3F |quote= GnuCash is a large body of code maintained by a small group of developers who are comfortable in C and Scheme (Guile). Actually, 80% of it is in C and approx. 13% is in Scheme/Lisp. |work= Frequently asked questions |publisher= GnuCash website|access-date=2010-05-14}}</ref> One of the available features is pure [[fixed-point arithmetic]] to avoid rounding errors which would arise with [[floating-point arithmetic]]. This feature was introduced with version 1.6.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gnucash.org/docs/v1.6/C/t7204.html |publisher=gnucash.org |title=What's new in GnuCash 1.6? |access-date=2010-09-03 |archive-date=2010-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924155801/http://gnucash.org/docs/v1.6/C/t7204.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Users==
Users on the GnuCash mailing list have reported using it for the United States [[501(c)(3)]] non-profit organizations successfully. However, the reports need to be exported and edited.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lists.gnucash.org/pipermail/gnucash-devel/2010-January/027141.html |publisher=gnucash.org mail archive |title=GnuCash for non profits |date=13 January 2010 |access-date=2011-03-11}}</ref>

In April 2011, the [[Minnesota State Bar Association]] made their GnuCash trust accounting guide freely available in PDF format.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mnbar.org/docs/default-source/practicelaw/pm-200-keeping-client-trust-accounts-with-gnucash-2-2-4.pdf|publisher=Minnesota State Bar Association|title=Keeping Client Trust Accounts with GnuCash|access-date=2017-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410213650/http://www.mnbar.org/docs/default-source/practicelaw/pm-200-keeping-client-trust-accounts-with-gnucash-2-2-4.pdf|archive-date=2017-04-10|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Download statistics==
As of July 2018, [[SourceForge]] shows a count of over 6.3 million downloads of the stable releases starting from November 1999<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sourceforge.net/projects/gnucash/files/stats/timeline?dates=1999-11-08+to+2018-06-30 |publisher=Sourceforge.net |title=Download Gnucash software for free at SourceForge.net |access-date=2018-07-04}}</ref> Also, SourceForge shows that current downloads are running at ~7,000 per week.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sourceforge.net/projects/gnucash/files/stats/timeline?period=weekly |publisher=Sourceforge.net |title=Download Statistics: All Files |access-date=2018-07-04}}</ref> This does not include other software download sites as well as [[Linux distribution]]s that provide download from their own repositories.

==Project status==
[[Open Hub]]'s analysis based on commits up to May 2018 (noninclusive) concluded that the project has a mature, well-established code base{{efn|Defined as having at least 5 years of commit activity.}} with increasing year-over-year development activity.{{efn|Defined as having had a 25% increase in commits in the past 12 months compared to the previous 12 months.}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openhub.net/p/gnucash |publisher=openhub.net |title=The GnuCash Open Source Project on Open Hub |access-date=2018-07-04}}</ref> Moreover, "Over the past twelve months, 51 developers contributed new code to GnuCash. This is one of the largest open-source teams in the world, and is in the top 2% of all project teams on Open Hub."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.openhub.net/p/gnucash/factoids#FactoidTeamSizeVeryLarge |publisher=openhub.net |title=Project Summary: Factoids - Open Hub |access-date=2018-07-04}}</ref>

{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite web
 | last       = Garrels
 | first      = Machtelt
 | title      = Keep Track of Your Money
 | work       = [[Linux Journal]]
 | access-date = 2008-04-14
 | date       = 2002-06-08
 | url        = http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/5669}}
* {{cite web
 | title      = If You Knew Cash Like GnuCash Knows Cash
 | work       = [[linux-mag.com]]
 | access-date = 2008-09-03
 | date       = 2008-09-03
 | url        = http://www.linux-mag.com/id/6779
 | archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20190430084530/http://www.linux-mag.com/id/6779
 | archive-date = 2019-04-30
 | url-status   = usurped}}
* {{cite web
 | last         = Barr
 | first        = Joe
 | title        = Using GnuCash 2.0 to balance your checkbook
 | work         = [[Linux.com]]
 | access-date   = 2008-04-14
 | date         = 2006-11-08
 | url          = http://www.linux.com/articles/58300
 | archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090311044231/http://www.linux.com/articles/58300
 | archive-date = 2009-03-11
 | url-status   = dead}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Accounting software}}
{{FLOSS}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Accounting software for Linux]]
[[Category:Cross-platform software]]
[[Category:Free accounting software]]
[[Category:Free software programmed in C]]
[[Category:GNU Project software]]
[[Category:Office software that uses GTK]]