matslats.net

Complementary currencies in Drupal is here to stay. It is still the only open source 'module' which manages mutual credit transactions. It now does all a community really needs, but it can never do all a community wants!

Alone I can no longer develop the software, set up a business, maintain existing users and support one intern. This post explains how much needs to be done, and how quickly it can be done, and with how little resources.

Must have features

Cleave the module in two

Separate out the transaction api from drupal and the form handling. Handle user ids, database access and other things drupal was doing (5 days)

Document and package the new api and release for developers (3days) THEN

SMS integration. (2 weeks)

Many people want to transact through their mobile phones. It would also need to reply with the adjusted balance and notify the recipient. Careful work would be done on the syntax of the message and the parsing of it.

Transactions between sites (1 week)

Participating systems should be able to make payments between mutual credit systems. The tricky bit is that web servers must have a conversation.

When CES system, a network of 150 exchanges based in South Africa, has implemented this API, they will be able to spread their 150 sites between web servers and trade interchangably with Drupal sites CES system, based in South Africa (2 weeks)

A directory of schemes

We have been asked by SEL groups accross Europe to make an online directory/map of SEL. no money has been offered.

More features for offers and wants (1 week)

Some communities want to put prices on their offers and wants. Some want stock control. Some want a button which converts the offer into a transaction.

Demurrage & dependent transactions

Make the necessary architectural and user interface enhancements for more complex transactions, which would also allow for tax/tithe mechanisms (1 week)

We already have one contributed module to take a proportion of every member's balance every month. This needs to be made much more flexible. (1 week)

Stats module with more blocks and a full stats page (1 week)

Stats and visualisation make the system more fun and appealing. I have set the ball rolling with a single chart, but lots more could be done here.

Gift Vouchers (2 days)

A new type of transaction

Developing a salable product (and hence an income)

Make a sustainable business plan and market it to the right sorts of people

Paypal integration (2 days)

Removes a huge burden from system administrators by taking people through the credit card process in order to keep their membership extant

Google Maps (1 day)

Show the users on the map, or better still, the offers and wants.

Proximity filters

It is increasingly possible to filter searche results according to proximity to the searcher

Printable listings (1 day)

Many elderly and other people are not comfortable with the internet or still have dialup access and prefer photocopied printouts directories for ease of use. We need to make more attractive print-outs (1 day)

Local-level sysadmin, documentation & screencast (2 days)

Move everything to a more reliable web server (2 days)

Infrastructure to handle real money, like a real organisation selling a real service.

What I think we should be doing

Apart from the above, if there weren't so many demands, then I would be getting on with these items:

PR

The case for monetary alternatives needs to be made on the web, in print and in person, to push complementary currencies out of the margins and into the main stream.

So far the software has only been found by people who know where to look. There needs to be at least two professional launches targeted to community groups in the developed world, to local governments open to new tools for social development, and to businesses as a CSR and knowledge management tool.

We need to be attending conferences several conferences a year and networking with activists, non-profits and academics; finding our voice on grass roots economic reform, localisation and resilience to systemic shocks. We need printed literature and a web site of our own.

Training

We need to be investing in young people, giving them the practical skills to implement the new economy with the latest technology. Otherwise the old economy could prevail through sheer inertia.

Governance Support

When systems fail, and they often do, we can't take the blame for making them too easy to set up. But we can provide governance support in the software for those systems who are serious about doing things properly. We need to work with the appropriate people and organisations on voluntary accreditation and standards.

Continuous code improvements

The Drupal community is prioritising the early release of version 7 compatible modules.

Everything I did so far produces static web pages. Using AJAX technology, web pages can become more responsive and hence more usable and convenient.

Code review by Drupal champions

Split 'transactions' module into 'mutual credit api' and 'cc_form' (3 days)

New templates for small screen web browsing

Improve transaction object to contain many payments

Transfer transaction_type from system properties to currency properties

Improved APi for integration with outside world

I want to make a 'fun' viral application for facebook, to soften the market. Also, a ning application would go a long way. With a full API, other people's ideas will be much more implementable.

Voting with money?

When money is evenly distributed around the system, it is not unfair to buy votes. It should be possible to influence community decisions by putting your money where your mouth is. A good way to raise funds as well

I have identified three more capable people under 30 who would have a lot to contribute if their living expenses could be covered. We are moving to the developing world to make my money go further. They would be proud to participate and would cost less than 2000 Euros each for six months.

Do you know any possible sponsors for some of the above functionality?