Using Mercurial with Open Source ERP: Create, Edit and Close a Branch

Hi Everyone,

The purpose of this post is to teach you how to create a Mercurial (hg) branch, edit it, merge it back with the default branch, then permanently close the branch.

Much of the iDempiere, ADempiere, and scripting code that I publish is expected to work all the time. The best way to accomplish this goal is to create a branch for major edits and testing. When I know the new code works, I merge it back into the default branch for everyone to use. Here is an example list of commands to accomplish this task.

# Start a new branch name
hg branch myBranch		

# Modify something in the repository and commit
hg commit -m "myBranch first commit"

# Push the new branch to the repository
hg push --new-branch

# Do lots of mods and testing
hg commit -m "last myBranch commit before merge"

# Make sure you have the most recent files
hg update myBranch

# Close the branch
hg commit -m 'Closed branch myBranch' --close-branch

# Go back to your default branch
hg update default

# Merge in your myBranch changes
hg merge myBranch

# Commit the merge
hg commit -m merge

# confirm there is only one head (tip)
hg heads 

# confirm there is only one branch (default)
hg branches

# make it live for everyone
hg push

I hope this helps!!!

Why consider Open Source ERP

Open source ERP gives you every opportunity to prove or disprove its ability to support your company’s ERP needs on a timeline that satisfies your organizational needs. With open source ERP, you do not face the same financial constraints nor do you face the same conflicts of interest as with commercial ERP. Instead, you invest in the appropriate skills and knowledge for your people and processes. Best of all – if open source ERP cannot solve your company’s needs, you can safely justify spending the additional $2K to $5K per person per year for life of your commercial ERP to help drive your organization’s success.

ADempiere vs iDempiere vs Openbravo vs Compiere

The ADempiere, iDempiere, Openbravo and Compiere environments are amazingly similar. iDempiere came from ADempiere. ADempiere and Openbravo came from Compiere. Compiere came from Jorg Janke. Jorg came from Oracle. As a result, iDempiere and ADempiere have much in common with Oracle’s ERP in terms of the financial feature set.

This is both good and bad. Good because iDempiere and ADempiere are quite capable to help a company grow beyond $500M USD. Bad because they tend to be more complex in that they account for multiple languages, accounting schemas, currencies, calendars, costing types, costing methods, etc…. If you are a growing organization, and you need a system that will grow with you, and you have the right internal talent/resources, iDempiere or ADempiere will be a big asset for you.

The biggest difference between these products is that ADempiere and iDempiere are pure open source. ADempiere and iDempiere make all feature available for free. Compiere and Openbravo hold back features behind a commercial or paid license.

iDempiere and ADempiere vs OpenERP:

iDempiere/ADempiere (iD/AD) and OpenERP approach ERP from two very different directions. OpenERP comes out of the box with very simple options. If you are coming from QuickBooks, and you need a simple ERP system help you manage your business, OpenERP will look and feel comfortable.

iD/AD comes out of the box with every feature installed and configured to run a $200M+ USD business. If your business is growing rapidly, and you are willing to invest the time to learn an enterprise accounting system, then iD/AD will give you confidence.

Which one is best for you depends on your internal talent, growth and business complexity. Here is a post to help you learn more.