On Thu, Jan 7, 2016 at 1:26 PM, Simon Michael <[email protected]> wrote:

> Re virtual postings (I think of them as (non-balanced) and
> [separately-balanced] postings): I think it's good to allow them - the
> non-balanced kind, at least - as an escape valve, since most users are
> not expert in double entry bookkeeping starting out.
>

I don't understand this logic. Providing an "escape" valve is exactly the
wrong thing to do. We can write off this discussion to a difference in
attitudes; I prefer not to allow the creation of invalid data and barf
instead. It's really not that hard to learn to do things right. Maybe you
think of that as "advanced"; I think of that as the starting point.

Separately balanced postings are equivalent to another set of transactions
that you can turn on and off, e.g. all associated with a special tag across
the entire file. Wholly unnecessary: users can use two transactions
instead. If really desired, recreatable in Beancount by using a plugin that
filters out postings with a particular per-posting flag.



I also think there are times when they are a valid choice for an
> experienced user. For example I use them to note invoices I've sent,
> which otherwise would have no place in my cash-basis journal.
>
> These postings can easily be found and replaced with balanced postings
> later as you get more sophisticated.
>
> Sometimes strict correctness checking is a higher priority than
> short-term productivity.


I'll misquote Orwell:

Productivity is correctness.
Freedom is slavery.
Balance is strength.

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