You are here

Open Workbench

10 posts / 0 new
Last post
horusofoz
horusofoz's picture
Offline
Last seen: 6 months 3 weeks ago
Joined: 2008-04-03 22:45
Open Workbench

http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php

What is Open Workbench?

Open Workbench is an open source desktop scheduling application. Released in 2004, it’s a free and powerful alternative to Microsoft Project. Open Workbench contains all the functionality that project managers expect in a world-class scheduling application, including creation of complex work breakdown structures, resource assignments and leveling, etc.

What is the difference in functionality between Microsoft Project and Open Workbench?

Open Workbench and Microsoft Project have similar functionality, but Open Workbench has superior functionality in several areas that are critical for project management. For complete details on the functional similarities and differences, visit the comparison page.

http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7...

What does it do?

Open Workbench is the only open source Windows-based desktop application that provides robust project management functionality – and is free to distribute throughout your entire enterprise. Here are just some of Open Workbench’s key features:

Project Planning

* Define projects and create associated work breakdown structures with activities, phases, tasks and milestones
* Create dependencies as finish-start, start-start, finish-finish or start-finish
* Create subprojects and link them to master projects
* Create and manage inter-project dependencies
* Associate guidelines with tasks
* Manage advanced task properties such as fixed duration, dependency lag, imposed start/end dates and charge codes
* Create, edit and delete calendars

Project Scheduling

* Schedule tasks manually or automatically using Auto Schedule
* Automatically schedule tasks forwards or backwards (the latter allowing tasks to be started as late as possible) and with or without resource constraints
* Schedule across linked master and subprojects
* Schedule to general or individualized calendars

Resource Management

* Define resources as people, equipment, materials or expense
* Assign resources to tasks
* Configure resources on tasks with uniform, fixed, contour, front or back loading

Project Review

* Track status, percent complete and estimates to complete
* View Gantt charts (both detail and roll-up), PERT charts and the critical path
* Conduct earned value analysis
* Define, compare and reset project baseline settings
* Customise project views including column layouts, filters, sorts and rule-based formatting

And More!

* Open Source - download the source code to customize or rely on the user, developer, and partner community for support
* Seamlessly integrate with the Clarity system from Computer Associates
* Free!

Why is it an essential application?

Open Workbench is essential as it is an app everyone all can use for their work, whether a a student, CEO or PA developer Smile on a daily basis. Instead of maintaining a barrage of papers or files to keep track of your projects, have it all together in one small app, and with the help of developers, on one small USB.

Comment:

I know this program has been requested before but it seems it was overlooked due to some license complications . Not being a lawyer I want to renew the app request as I think it is an essential application which when ported would be a strong candidate to be included in the PAM. The functions required are needed for people in all walks of life from students to CEOs and probably even our esteemed developers:-)

Hopefully as time has passed and the members of the PA community have encountered more software licenses, incresing experience, we have developed the skills and knowledge which prevented this app from being ported in the past. If anyone has any law background could they please go to the website (Link at top of page) and check the license to see what the complication was that has prevented the app from being ported in the past.

To all those who voiced their interest in the past for this app please do so again to illustrate that the porting of this app should be a priority.

Many, many thanks

Horusofoz

Jimbo
Offline
Last seen: 4 years 2 months ago
Joined: 2007-12-17 05:43
NOT Fully Open Source

Sadly, a 2 minute visit to their website confirmed that it is not in fact fully opensource.

From the FAQ
Are there any parts of Open Workbench that are not provided to the open source community?
Open Workbench’s scheduling algorithms are currently not open sourced and will be maintained by CA Inc. (Computer Associates). Open Workbench developers will be able to use all other parts of Open Workbench without charge or restriction.

Which I would guess is why it was passed over last time, and which hasn't changed.

Horus, this isn't about experience, or ability, or practice, or familiarity with difference licences, it is quite simply about legality, site policy, and the cash cost of paying to host non-opensource apps, I'm afraid, so, unless you want it without the scheduling function, or until there is somewhere other than sourceforge to host it, PortableApps.com simply cannot do this app.

alanbcohen
Offline
Last seen: 4 years 7 months ago
Joined: 2006-01-04 10:47
Curious?

While it is clear that John is the final arbiter of what is 'Open Source' enough to be supported here, I've noted that the OWB project is hosted on SourceForge, which is usually a good indicator of 'Open Source-ness'. Why is the use of algorithms that have been placed out for public use and used in an open-licensed product cause an issue? Algorithms are not code, just the mathematical techniques used in the code implementation.

And, could a launcher be created to support the application without causing a problem here?

Travis Carrico
Offline
Last seen: 15 years 3 months ago
Developer
Joined: 2006-10-22 00:30
well the last version on

well the last version on Sourceforge was from 2005. the current versions aren't on there and you even have to register on the owb website to download

horusofoz
horusofoz's picture
Offline
Last seen: 6 months 3 weeks ago
Joined: 2008-04-03 22:45
May I ask

After missing that comment that Jimbo highlighted (And thank you for doing so) I think it is obvious I don't know how licensing works, but what if one were to approach the original company and request limited permission to use algorithm only for the sole purpose of porting the app. Is it then ok for our developers (if they were so inclined) to work on it?

PortableApps.com Advocate

Jimbo
Offline
Last seen: 4 years 2 months ago
Joined: 2007-12-17 05:43
It isn't just about permission for us to do it

It is also about the fact that we could not host it anywhere.

If the PortableApps.com downloads were hosted privately, instead of being on SourceForge, then the bill for the website would be literally tens of thousands of dollars per month.

This means that currently we have to stick to apps that are completely open source, so that they can be hosted on SF.

horusofoz
horusofoz's picture
Offline
Last seen: 6 months 3 weeks ago
Joined: 2008-04-03 22:45
Ok I understand that. What

Ok I understand that. What about the portableapps.download site that is said to be in the making. Do you think it would be able to be hosted there if the site does become a reality?

PortableApps.com Advocate

Jimbo
Offline
Last seen: 4 years 2 months ago
Joined: 2007-12-17 05:43
In the sagacious words of the Magic 8-Ball

"Ask again later"

Sorry, but there are just too many unknowns for the answer to that one to be anything other than "maybe". It depends on the exact detail of what is set up, what restrictions may have to apply to apps hosted there, what the licence details for Open Workbench actually are, how amenable they are to the idea, wheter there are any show stoppers in how the app works, and probably a whole host of other unknowns.

Once the free and commercial apps section is up and running, and some of the above blanks are filled in, it will be worth revisiting this, if you're still interested in it. But until then, any discussion will be little more than pure speculation.

alanbcohen
Offline
Last seen: 4 years 7 months ago
Joined: 2006-01-04 10:47
I didn't realize the

I didn't realize the sourceforge version was old and newer versions are under other licenses. Thank you.

horusofoz
horusofoz's picture
Offline
Last seen: 6 months 3 weeks ago
Joined: 2008-04-03 22:45
K thanks for info. I hope

K thanks for info.

I hope this one does become a reality eventually. I know that its use would be extremely helpful for myself and countless others.

Again, thanks for the straight up answer.

JWS2

PortableApps.com Advocate

Log in or register to post comments