WebVella/WebVella-ERP - Detailed Review#

1. Overview & GitHub Stats#

• URL: https://github.com/WebVella/WebVella-ERP
• Stars: 1318
• License: MIT License
• Primary Language: C#
• Last Updated: Recent active development

2. Project Description#

WebVella ERP is a comprehensive, free, and open-source enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) platform built on modern Microsoft technologies. The software is designed with a pluggable architecture, allowing businesses to customize and extend functionality according to their specific needs. Built on ASP.NET Core 9 and RazorPages, it offers excellent performance and cross-platform compatibility, supporting both Linux and Windows hosting environments.

The platform leverages PostgreSQL as its primary database, ensuring robust data management and scalability for businesses of all sizes. Its modular design enables organizations to start with core functionality and gradually add specialized modules as their requirements evolve.

3. What Software Does It Replace?#

WebVella ERP serves as a viable alternative to several popular commercial and open-source business management solutions:

Commercial ERP/CRM Replacements:

• SAP Business One
• Microsoft Dynamics 365
• Oracle NetSuite
• Salesforce CRM
• Odoo Enterprise Edition

Open Source Alternatives:

• ERPNext
• Dolibarr
• SuiteCRM
• Apache OFBiz
• Tryton

4. Core Functionality#

WebVella ERP offers a comprehensive suite of business management features:

Core ERP Modules:

• Financial management and accounting
• Inventory and supply chain management
• Human resources and payroll
• Project management and tracking
• Sales and purchase order processing

CRM Capabilities:

• Contact and lead management
• Sales pipeline tracking
• Customer service and support ticketing
• Marketing automation
• Reporting and analytics dashboard

Technical Features:

• Pluggable architecture for custom module development
• RESTful API for integration with third-party systems
• Role-based access control and security
• Multi-tenant support
• Real-time reporting and business intelligence

5. Pros and Cons#

Pros:

• Cost-Effective: Completely free and open-source with MIT license
• Modern Technology Stack: Built on ASP.NET Core 9 for optimal performance
• Cross-Platform: Supports both Linux and Windows deployment
• Extensible Architecture: Pluggable system allows custom module development
• PostgreSQL Backend: Enterprise-grade database support
• Active Community: Regular updates and community support
• Self-Hosted: Complete data control and privacy

Cons:

• Steeper Learning Curve: Requires .NET development knowledge for customization
• Smaller Ecosystem: Fewer pre-built modules compared to established solutions
• Documentation Gaps: Some advanced features may lack comprehensive documentation
• Limited Third-Party Integrations: Smaller marketplace compared to commercial alternatives

6. Detailed Installation Guide (Self-host)#

1
# Update system packages
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sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
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4
# Install essential packages
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sudo apt install -y curl wget gnupg software-properties-common

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# Add Microsoft package repository
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wget https://packages.microsoft.com/config/ubuntu/20.04/packages-microsoft-prod.deb -O packages-microsoft-prod.deb
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sudo dpkg -i packages-microsoft-prod.deb
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rm packages-microsoft-prod.deb
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# Install .NET runtime
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sudo apt update
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sudo apt install -y aspnetcore-runtime-9.0

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# Install PostgreSQL
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sudo apt install -y postgresql postgresql-contrib
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# Start and enable PostgreSQL
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sudo systemctl start postgresql
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sudo systemctl enable postgresql
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# Create database and user
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sudo -u postgres psql -c "CREATE DATABASE webvella_erp;"
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sudo -u postgres psql -c "CREATE USER webvella_user WITH PASSWORD 'your_secure_password';"
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sudo -u postgres psql -c "GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON DATABASE webvella_erp TO webvella_user;"

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sudo apt install -y nginx
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sudo systemctl start nginx
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sudo systemctl enable nginx

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# Create application directory
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sudo mkdir -p /var/www/webvella-erp
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cd /var/www/webvella-erp
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# Download latest release (check GitHub for latest version)
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sudo wget https://github.com/WebVella/WebVella-ERP/releases/download/vX.X.X/WebVella-ERP.zip
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sudo unzip WebVella-ERP.zip
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# Set proper permissions
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sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/webvella-erp
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sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/webvella-erp

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# Edit appsettings.json with your database configuration
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sudo nano /var/www/webvella-erp/appsettings.json

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{
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  "ConnectionStrings": {
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    "DefaultConnection": "Host=localhost;Database=webvella_erp;Username=webvella_user;Password=your_secure_password"
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  }
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}

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sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/webvella-erp.service

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[Unit]
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Description=WebVella ERP Application
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After=network.target
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[Service]
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WorkingDirectory=/var/www/webvella-erp
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ExecStart=/usr/bin/dotnet /var/www/webvella-erp/WebVella.Erp.Web.dll
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Restart=always
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RestartSec=10
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KillSignal=SIGINT
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SyslogIdentifier=webvella-erp
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User=www-data
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Environment=ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT=Production
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[Install]
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WantedBy=multi-user.target

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sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/webvella-erp

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server {
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    listen 80;
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    server_name your-domain.com;
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    location / {
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        proxy_pass http://localhost:5000;
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        proxy_http_version 1.1;
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        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
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        proxy_set_header Connection keep-alive;
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        proxy_set_header Host $host;
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        proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;
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        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
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        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
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    }
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}

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# Enable Nginx site
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sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/webvella-erp /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
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4
# Test Nginx configuration
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sudo nginx -t
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# Reload Nginx
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sudo systemctl reload nginx
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# Start WebVella ERP service
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sudo systemctl enable webvella-erp
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sudo systemctl start webvella-erp
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# Check service status
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sudo systemctl status webvella-erp