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A minimal yet valid double-entry accounting system in Python or command line.

[!NOTE] Need a break: will resume working on this after the repo gets 50 stars. Estimated: June 2024 given one star per month ;)

abacus

pytest PyPI

A minimal yet valid double-entry accounting system in Python.

[!TIP] Check out a brand new Streamlit demo for double-entry accounting at https://abacus.streamlit.app/

Documentation

See project documentation at https://epogrebnyak.github.io/abacus/.

Installation

pip install abacus-py

For latest version install from github:

pip install git+https://github.com/epogrebnyak/abacus.git

abacus-py requires Python 3.10 or higher.

Quick example

Let's do Sample Transaction #1 from accountingcoach.com[^1].

[^1]: It is a great learning resource for accounting, highly recommended.

On December 1, 2022 Joe starts his business Direct Delivery, Inc. The first transaction that Joe will record for his company is his personal investment of $20,000 in exchange for 5,000 shares of Direct Delivery's common stock. Direct Delivery's accounting system will show an increase in its account Cash from zero to $20,000, and an increase in its stockholders' equity account Common Stock by $20,000.

Solution

Both Python code and command line script below will produce balance sheet after Sample Transaction #1 is completed.

Python code:

from abacus import Chart, Report

chart = Chart(assets=["cash"], capital=["common_stock"])
ledger = chart.ledger()
ledger.post(debit="cash", credit="common_stock", amount=20000, title="Owner's investment")
report = Report(chart, ledger)
print(report.balance_sheet)

Command line script:

bx init
bx post --entry asset:cash capital:common_stock 20000 --title "Initial investment"
bx report --balance-sheet

Result

Balance sheet
ASSETS  20000  CAPITAL              20000
  Cash  20000    Common stock       20000
                 Retained earnings      0
               LIABILITIES              0
TOTAL   20000  TOTAL                20000

See further transactions for this example at documentation website.