Software vs Paper II
Due to the success of Software vs Paper during B!B!E!2021, I am repeating the same format for 2022! This workshop occurred in two 45 minute sessions, but due to the popularity, presenters and discussion leaders had limited time, so please contact me ASAP at Jonathan Rosenbaum <bike@bikelover.org> so I can add you to a time slot in the schedule.
In past Bike!Bike! conferences, I have presented the current state of Free Software designed specifically for the operation of Community Bike Shops, here and here . However, in this wonderful conference, the floor will be opened up to everyone who wants to discuss and/or show (screen share) their software operations and/or development, and/or ask questions and/or try to prove that paper is better and/or discuss what software has meant to the success of their organization during the pandemic, or more normal times. Software discussions are not limited only to Free Software. One of the results of this workshop last year was the formation of the B!B!E! tech team. The development the team has performed on our conference software, the proposed development under way on our next generation conference software, and how to become involved shall close out our discussion.
Facilitator Background: I have been managing Positive Spin as a volunteer in Morgantown, WV, since 2013, after taking on the challenge in 2012 to save the 501(c)(3) organization from liquidation. Initially, everything was run with the original messy, ineffective, and highly error-prone paper based record system, which was re-entered into the open source accounting system, GnuCash, which replaced the previous spreadsheet method. By 2014, it was obvious we needed a Point of Sale tailored to the needs of a volunteer-run bike collective. Hence, began my adventure in finding that software. As a result, I developed the Reuse Bikes and Reuse Code website to provide demonstrations of existing software, as well as the Wiki Software page. Keeping this story short, I ended up developing a fork of the Yellow Bike Database (YBDB), which I strongly attribute to the viability of our organization since early 2015. As of early 2022, the shop now has a new "next generation" software system (currently an inventory component) I am actively developing called BikeShopi that I briefly demonstrated at B!B!E!2021, which has made operations even more positively, pleasant!
Bike!Bike! with a Positive Spin!
Languages
English, Spanish
Theme
Organizational Concerns