groupware
About
The term groupware refers to software intended to help a group work together more productively. Such software is known more generically as "collaborative software".
Groupware is increasingly web-based, rather than being a desktop application; this is probably due to the following factors:
- web software is much easier to deploy and maintain (one installation; users just create accounts, access from anywhere)
- web software is cheaper to develop, especially when it makes use of open-source development resources (project hosting, free developer hours, open source platforms)
All software listed on this page is web-based as well as free and open source, though paid "premium" versions may also be available.
Types
Groupware comes in several broad categories, with some overlap:
- web office
- project management
- content production
web office
Web office suites are intended to provide support for business office activities, and usually include some combination of email, internal messaging, contact management (address book), document management, calendar, task lists, and billing. Web office systems are geared towards internal consumption (i.e. you have to log in to access most content, and creation of a new account requires review by an administrator), though some provide outward-facing features.
Web office suites are essentially web-based office suites.
Prominent examples:
- eGroupware (http://www.egroupware.org/): calendar, address book, email, file manager, problem tracker, project manager, timesheet, wiki, resources management (inventory), knowledge base, and several other features
- Feng Office: calendar, address book, email, document manager
- Group-Office (http://www.group-office.com/)
project management
Project management suites are similar to web office, but provide more project management functionality and fewer or no other features.
Prominent examples:
content production
Content production is focused on the generation of original content for public consumption. It includes (but is not limited to) wiki software. See content management system.
other
- Tine 2.0 (http://www.tine20.org) seems focused on CRM: VoIP phone management, address book, form-based data collection (but no email?)
- appears to be a 2007 fork of eGroupware; "2.0" is not a version number but a reference to "web 2.0" technology.