posts: plaintext-accounting: add how-to-use

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Bruno BELANYI 2021-01-18 15:01:06 +01:00
parent a4b3b7caef
commit 2e5b5cc44b

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@ -146,10 +146,40 @@ decision:
### So how do I use it?
* backlog of transactions
* fava
* simple makefile and git hooks
* mobile phone app
I have only recently started using `beancount`, after having it been on my TODO
list for 6 months. As a New Year's resolution, I finally decided to bite the
bullet and start seriously using it.
The first step was importing a backlog of transactions: I opened accounts to
represent my checking account, my cash on hand, my scrooge account (a special
service used by the TAs to trade money between each other and buy snacks), and
typed up how much money I had in each one. Importing the backlog allows me to
both give some context to the amount of money I am currently holding, and have
a representative set of transactions to open expense accounts and start
categorising my spending.
The second step was setting up [`fava`][fava], which is a web-UI for
`beancount`. This allows me to check on my accounts from any point on Earth.
This meant that I had to setup syncing for my ledger file between devices, for
which I am using [`syncthing`][syncthing]. I have also had to make sure nobody
could access the `fava` interface, I have accomplished the task with the help of
[`Authelia`][authelia], which I had already deployed on my server to access the
`syncthing` interface securely.
Finally I setup a `git` repository, added a [`git hook`][git-hook] to make sure
my ledger was [balanced][bean-check-hook], as well as a custom hook to make sure
that it was formatted.
I am now able to input my transactions on the go using the [`beancount` android
app][beancount-android], and regularly using my computer to tidy them up and
commit them to the repository.
[fava]: https://github.com/beancount/fava/
[syncthing]: https://syncthing.net/
[authelia]: https://www.authelia.com/
[git-hook]: https://git-scm.com/docs/githooks
[bean-check-hook]: https://github.com/d6e/beancount-check/
[beancount-android]: https://github.com/xuhcc/beancount-mobile
## What's next?