frappe/erpnext - Detailed Review#

1. Overview & GitHub Stats#

URL: https://github.com/frappe/erpnext
Stars: 24,801 (as of November 2023)
License: GNU General Public License v3.0

Frappe/ERPNext is one of the most popular open-source Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems available today. Built on the Frappe framework, it provides a modern, modular, and highly customizable solution for businesses of all sizes.

2. Project Description#

ERPNext is a free and open-source ERP designed to streamline business operations by integrating modules like:

Accounting & Finance
Inventory & Manufacturing
Human Resources (HR)
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Project Management
E-commerce & Point of Sale (POS)

It is built using Python (Backend) and JavaScript (Frontend) and follows a Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture. The Frappe framework allows developers to extend and customize ERPNext easily.

3. What Software Does It Replace?#

ERPNext serves as a cost-effective alternative to proprietary ERP solutions such as:

SAP Business One
Oracle NetSuite
Microsoft Dynamics 365
Odoo (Open Source Alternative)

For small and medium businesses (SMBs), ERPNext eliminates vendor lock-in and licensing costs while providing similar functionality.

4. Core Functionality#

Key features of ERPNext include:

Accounting & Invoicing – Manage ledgers, taxes, and financial reports.
Inventory Management – Track stock levels, warehouses, and procurement.
HR & Payroll – Employee records, attendance, and salary processing.
CRM & Sales – Lead tracking, sales pipelines, and customer support.
Manufacturing – Bill of Materials (BOM), work orders, and production planning.
Website & E-commerce – Built-in storefront with payment gateway integration.

5. Pros and Cons#

Pros#

✅ 100% Free & Open Source – No licensing fees.
✅ Highly Customizable – Extendable via Frappe apps.
✅ Modern UI & Mobile-Friendly – Clean, responsive interface.
✅ Self-Hosted or Cloud – Deploy on-premise or use ERPNext.com.

Cons#

❌ Steep Learning Curve – Requires some technical expertise.
❌ Limited Third-Party Integrations – Compared to commercial ERPs.
❌ Performance Scaling – Large deployments may need optimization.

6. Detailed Installation Guide (Self-Host)#

Prerequisites#

Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 LTS (Recommended)
Python 3.10+
MariaDB 10.6+
Redis (For caching)
Node.js 16+

Step-by-Step Installation#

Update System Packages
Terminal window
```
1
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
```

Install Dependencies

1
sudo apt install -y python3-dev python3-pip python3-setuptools python3-venv \
2
mariadb-server redis-server git curl

Install Node.js & Yarn

1
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_16.x | sudo -E bash -
2
sudo apt install -y nodejs
3
sudo npm install -g yarn

Set Up MariaDB

1
sudo mysql_secure_installation

Create a database for ERPNext:

1
CREATE DATABASE erpnext;
2
CREATE USER 'erpnextuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'yourpassword';
3
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON erpnext.* TO 'erpnextuser'@'localhost';
4
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Install Bench (Frappe CLI Tool)
Terminal window
```
1
sudo pip3 install frappe-bench
```

Initialize ERPNext

1
bench init erpnext --frappe-branch version-14
2
cd erpnext
3
bench new-site erpnext.local

Install ERPNext App

1
bench get-app erpnext https://github.com/frappe/erpnext
2
bench --site erpnext.local install-app erpnext

Start Development Server
Terminal window
```
1
bench start
```
Access ERPNext at http://localhost:8000.

Production Deployment#

For a production setup, use Nginx + Supervisor or deploy via Docker (see ERPNext Docker).

Conclusion
ERPNext is a powerful, open-source ERP that can replace expensive commercial solutions. While it requires some technical setup, its flexibility and zero-cost licensing make it ideal for SMBs and enterprises alike.

Ready to try? Visit the GitHub repo for more details!