OFBiz release (GA) - functional testing

Apache OFBiz is a popular and fast evolving enterprise solutions framework. While the framework can be extended in many ways, the project provides some very useful functionality out of the box for application areas such as ERP, CRM, eCommerce, etc. Over the last several years it has earned the reputation of a robust framework that can scale from small organizations to very large enterprises. It is also a top level Apache Foundation project providing greater visibility and an ever increasing number of developers in the eco-system.

Perhaps the most interesting part from a developers point of view is the breadth and depth of technology one can experience working with OFBiz. Being a enterprise class framework, it has many best practices included while keeping the structure very simple for rapid customization or extensions. The initial learning curve may be considered a little steep, but that more than compensates for 4GL level productivity one can achieve with the framework.

More details on OFBiz can be found at http://ofbiz.apache.org/
Currently OFBiz has two distinct branches a) trunk – this is the latest and the greatest of OFBiz, b) A release branch which is likely to take shape as a Generally Available (GA) version down the line. This project is about the release branch and contributions required to help reach the stable GA state. Why is a stable release important? A moving release version is some times challenging for non – developers or developers not familiar with OFBiz in detail to use in production setups. In contrast a stable release makes it lot easier and therefore drives adoption. The OFBiz community is already swelling; let’s make it bursting, eh! and in the process become an expert on OFBiz – a strong candidate for the next generation open source ERP much like the SAPs and Oracles of the world.

Update
Additional details available now at Apache OFBiz Release Plan The move is now towards a 9.x release following the Ubuntu naming convention.

How to get started?
Best way is to go through the getting started section of the OFBiz-release-4-framework-introduction document

Technologies you should be familiar with
Java, Ant, XML, HTML, SQL, junit, Selenium