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ccsp demonstration site


The most recent developent software is now open for demonstration at

http://omclient.heroku.com

This installation is ONLY for initial demonstration and testing of the cc kernel engine. It enables a user to

  • establish "cc" accounts on this server
  • establish and name virtual currencies
  • use those currencies for imaginary trading with other accounts registered on the server.

Please take notice - this site is NOT appropriate for the administration of a "real" virtual money system .

    A proper ccsp (community currency service provider) demands high levels of stability, service and data security before it can be considered appropriate for the recording of actual transactions. This installation is provided merely as a demonstration of the concept, and test of the interface. It is liable to change without notice at any time, and the administration may occasionally delete particular record sets or purge the entire database.

An email address is required only for account registration and password confirmation - these are NOT circulated or divulged to anyone. For further information contact Michael.

For more information on the context for this software development, please see http://openmoney.editme.com



How to try it.

A trial is best done with several friends, more or less simultaneously - real friends if available, virtual if not. You can run several accounts simultaneously in different browser windows.

    One user establishes an account, and creates - "establishes" - a currency, just like opening an email group - pick an short but distinctive name for your currency.

    Let the other users know the currency name so they can similarly establish an account and register to use that currency.

    All users who register to use the new currency can trade around on line in a virtual way.

    Notice how the administrator - the user who established the currency - can

    • add transactions of behalf of users without internet access
    • reverse out transactions

The current version of the program offers only a few reports- there are no overviews, sorts, period end reconciliations. Just engine and wheels - no brakes and no steering. Such refinements will come soon, when the source code is published (contact Michael).



What it's for.

This program is a very basic, on-line, debit-credit account recording system. The software counts numbers (usually money of some sort) moving between things (accounts). An accounting program as general as this can be used to many ways. In this application, the software is designed to support community currency systems, to operate as a virtual bank for virtual currencies - for real people and real organizations trading in the real world.

Accounts have unique alphabetic names assigned by the users. Any group of such accounts can declare a currency system for their mutual use, and then use the program to record transfers in that currency between accounts. An account can use many currencies, each currency particular to a self defining set (network) of accounts.

These are the necessary and sufficient procedures for community currency systems.

Varieties of cc applications will most likely include

    Registry services for general public access. Accounts will first be practical for persons, businesses and organizations operating in the same general locality. This is a consequence of the initial need for confidence in the other traders, and the importance of real things to trade, both of which will be stronger in a locality or region, where identities can be verified and credibility confirmed.

      Limited Registry

        The registry is "limited" as trading is only possible within the list of accounts on that particular server. There is no interaction possible with accounts in other registries, so the range and scale of possible systems is severely restricted. While there are definite benefits, this is clearly only an interim stage in development, analogous to having internal email in your organization, but no communication outside that group.

      Open Registry

        A registry is "open" when it supports trading in cc systems distributed across many registries. The full deployment of this facility is currently in development - see the Multi Registry System. In the meantime, transaction traffic between registries will be managed by less automated systems.

        Continuing the email analogy, a community currency service provider (ccsp) network of open registries is for virtual money what the internet service provider (isp) network is for email and the world wide web.

      Independent Associations

        Servers will support private networks of named accounts and currencies dedicated to particular organizations. While most systems on cc service providers will be intended for general public use, some will be created to support the internal affairs of specific groups - churches, schools, non-profits and non-profit networks, and, of course, corporations.



Other uses will include -

    LETShare - submissions for acknowledgement.

      LETShare is a method of keeping account of collaborative efforts. This program is ideal for the process.


    General accounts for small businesses.

      Minding your own business means keeping track of what's coming and what's going - that's the basic accounting needed. Instead of keeping a box of receipts and a book of notes and numbers to sort out each year, a small business may find the accounting services of a ccsp a convenient means to keep records. At this stage in program development, there is no advantage in using this route in preference to the wide variety of accounting packages already available, but as the use of cc increases it will become progressively more sensible to work with integrated systems of record keeping, payments and tax reporting.


    Inventory tracking - libraries, equipment, personnel movements.

      The software keeps track of things moving around, so it can record the movement of books, videos, lawnmowers or whatever from person to person, shipments from site to site, or people from department to department. This version of the program is not designed to support such uses well, but later editions will make this more practical.




community currency development issues

    Within the community of those active in community currency development, the implications of this software release should be immediately apparent. A singular system is both the most difficult and the least productive form of community money. This software supports all forms of virtual account money, so existing currency systems can use it to support not just their present operation, but also to let their users participate in whatever systems they choose.

    It is now possible for developers and activists everywhere to collaborate (virtually immediately) in supporting a full range of community currency services. We look forward to hearing from those interested in contributing to this process.



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