One of the final frontiers for users, and open source programmers, is the dark realm of the financial application. Plenty of office suites, customer relationship managers, IDEs, and various groupware packages abound, but a dearth of solid and usable financial programs are available. GnuCash fills the void of a financial package for Linux users but GnuCash, contrary to what some believe, will not replace Quickbooks although it does have some very advanced features.

Q. How do I run Quicken personal finance management software or propitiatory Windows tax software under GNU/Linux?

I meant to post this a few days ago, but Ubuntu has released Alpha 6 of Ubuntu 8.04 “Hardy Heron.” Plus if you’re looking for some good financial management software for Linux I may have a program you are looking for.

GnuCash is a personal finance and accounting application created to keep you crazy organized. It can do simple things like recording expenses and take care of register transactions, but it can also handle tracking bank accounts, income, and a slew of financial instruments and derivatives.

Although the idea of using an application to manage your personal finances makes a lot of sense, not all of us have the time and patience to learn all the intricacies of tools like GnuCash or Money Manager Ex. If that sounds like you, try Buddi, probably the easiest to use personal finance manager out there.