Complementary Currencies
Complementary Currencies is an all-embracing and flexible package which includes a mutual credit engine and super-malleable transaction form, allowing you to assemble or build a trading feature just as you imagine it. The module also provides several useful views and blocks to get you started.
Features
- offers/wants directory (a simpler module than classified ads)
- balance limits
- mass payments
- visualisation & stats
- email notification
- transaction api
- multiple currencies (experimental)
- leakage (tax!)(contact author)
- trading between Drupal instances (contact author)
Usage
This module was designed for use by community groups such as classic LETS schemes and Timebanks, but is being used more by a 'younger' generation of monetary reformists. This is not a shop, a cart, or an ecommerce system, but a mutual credit system which tracks credit flowing between user accounts.
Contrast with userpoints in which points are awarded to users for their online activity.
Hours module is much simpler than mutual_credit, As the project expands it will meet more business-like objectives. It works almost out of the box, but if you have no resources to commit to customising such a web site, you should think carefully about whether you have the resources to support a new economy.
Community Forge
There is a non-profit organisation offering hosted community barter software, using this module.
This is the only open source social networking tool of it's kind. Cyclos is much more powerful as an accounting package but requires java, and is not so modular. GETS is a business to business network with a high barrier for entry for local communities. CES is a membership based scheme which means communities sacrifice a certain level of autonomy for use of the software. One to watch is http://opensourcecurrency.org.
Roadmap
We know there is demand for the following, but demands far exceed resources at present!
Version 1.1
- improved stats and visualisation
- standardised theming
Version 2.0
This project will be refactored as complementary_currencies, and the transactions module split into mutual_credit_engine, cc_webform, cc_reports, and others. This will pave the way for:
- Drupal 7 upgrade
- Serious APi for integration with outside world
- Compatibility with CES
- SMS integration
- non-member accounts
- trading between different Drupal instances
- More metadata for offers and wants
- Integration with other content types
- Better tax & demurrage mechanisms
- Ajaxy goodness
Tricky upgrade from Beta
Best not done on a live site
Disable all marketplace modules and replace with mutual_credit
Enable mutual_credit modules, ignoring errors.
Run update.php
Check user permissions
Delete the views without the 'cc' prefix and rebuild from the new ones provided
Some blocks will need re-placing.
(Contact me if you want a hand)
