So I like the idea of using YAML versus ledger's format (very slightly, I'm used to ledger's format so it's not a pain point, but YAML offers some ways to make things a bit easier especially for newer folks). However, I could see a fairly trivial mapping between YAML and Ledger being developed by quicker programmers than I in less than a weekend (there's already a way to spit out s-expressions from ledger).<p>hledger makes some strong assumptions (IIRC) about your accounts being in assets, liabilities, income, equity, expenses. But I may be thinking of beancount for that. If I'm remembering correctly, hledger will let you do whatever you want, but some of their built in reports (like balance sheet) assume liabilities and assets as top-level accounts.<p>However, ledger allows you to do things like:<p><pre><code> personal:expenses:...
personal:assets:...
club:expenses:...
wife:expenses:...
</code></pre>
And you can specify what the prefix should be for all transactions in a region like:<p><pre><code> apply account personal
2018/06/05 Gym
Expenses:Gym 54.00 USD
Assets:Checking
end apply account
</code></pre>
So everything in there is now in my personal set of accounts, eliding the prefix (which can become cumbersome). If you use this† as an example, putting things into separate code blocks via org-mode makes it trivial to conduct accounting for multiple entities.<p>Query: Does Transity allow for money to come from or go to multiple places? Suppose I'm traveling for work and need a more detailed accounting of my spending (they don't reimburse alcohol, perhaps):<p><pre><code> 2018/06/05 Place with good cocktails ; 50 USD is on me
Work:Expenses:Travel:Food 20.00 USD
Work:Expenses:Travel:Drinks 50.00 USD
Liabilities:Work:CC
</code></pre>
(with a note that I have to cover that 50 USD when paying off the card next month). I do this sort of thing just on regular shopping. I may spend a bunch of money at the store that's gifts for my girlfriend along with clothes for me. I like to know how much I've spent so I'll split it (this is more a personal curiosity thing, along with trying to stick to a budget).<p>I don't want to have to enter a <i>from</i>/<i>to</i> pair that's redundant (repeating the same <i>from</i>) for things I split like this.<p>Additionally, there's no need for this "perspective" aspect. If I move money to an account, its balance goes up. If I move money from it it goes down. If I am managing my girlfriend's accounts in ledger (or she is, but it's pushed into a common household file):<p><pre><code> 2018/06/05 GF ; lunch last week
Jared:Assets:Cash 10.00 USD
GF:Assets:Cash
</code></pre>
In the report hers looks like it went down, mine like it went up. There's no need for me (if I'm managing <i>multiple</i> entities) to bother treating that 10 USD like it came from my income account. It <i>is</i> income, but it <i>came</i> from the GF's cash account. The income account is really only needed when you <i>don't</i> control or track the accounts money comes from. Your job, a gift from an uncle, lottery winnings, etc.<p>Same thing with a business. If I own my own LLC and "pay" myself a salary out of it (I'm assuming I also pay out my health insurance or something in this, I don't know, I don't do payroll), let's say:<p><pre><code> 2018/06/05 Paycheck
Jared:Assets:Checking 2000.00 USD
Jared:Expenses:HealthInsurance 100.00 USD
JSLCC:Expenses:PayrollStuffs 200.00 USD
JSLLC:Assets:Checking
</code></pre>
In all the reports, everything <i>looks</i> right. It's done, no need to worry about perspectives.<p>† <a href="https://orgmode.org/worg/org-tutorials/weaving-a-budget.html" rel="nofollow">https://orgmode.org/worg/org-tutorials/weaving-a-budget.html</a>