# Project pack: Bigcapital @ 04a3a9f

Facts about **Bigcapital** for an AI following the [BespokeAI handover guide](https://handoff.bespokeai.software/guide/v4.md). Pinned to one version; never changes after publication.

> Bigcapital is open-source accounting and inventory software, a QuickBooks alternative. You can create invoices and bills, record payments, manage stock, and produce balance sheets, profit and loss and other reports based on a proper double-entry ledger. You host it on your own server with Docker.

## Setup path (checked 2026-11-03)
- **Needs Docker.** Tell the person before any setup work; no light non-Docker route is documented upstream. Docker Desktop on Windows may need a computer restart and an admin-only Windows feature (virtualisation); say so and let the person decide.
- Verdict source: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bigcapitalhq/bigcapital/HEAD/README.md
- You may be unable to download source archives or run commands in this session. The person downloads and runs things; if you cannot fetch something, give any changed file in full in chat with its path.

## Version and source
- Repository: https://github.com/bigcapitalhq/bigcapital
- Pinned commit: `04a3a9f72da8f67359c3af39cddd2d8a33228211`. Use exactly this version.
- Zip the person can download in a browser: https://github.com/bigcapitalhq/bigcapital/archive/04a3a9f72da8f67359c3af39cddd2d8a33228211.zip
- Fresh checkout (only if you have a shell and git): use the commands below in an empty folder. If this exact source is already checked out, keep your branch and use the development command; do not clone again or reset local changes.
- Official docs: https://docs.bigcapital.app
- Licence: **AGPL-3.0-only**. Free to use and change. If other people use your changed version, including over a network (for example a website you host for them), you must offer them your source code under the same licence. Using it privately for yourself or your household has no extra obligations.

## Commands from the pinned source
- Developer commands (they may use Docker):

  ```sh
  git clone https://github.com/bigcapitalhq/bigcapital bespoke-bigcapital
  cd bespoke-bigcapital
  git checkout --detach 04a3a9f72da8f67359c3af39cddd2d8a33228211
  # Prepare development requirements and local configuration first.
  corepack enable
  pnpm install
  cp .env.example .env
  docker compose up -d
  ```

- Separate trial of the current upstream release (not your changes; sample data and a separate data directory only):

  ```sh
  Follow the Docker guide at https://docs.bigcapital.app/deployment/docker, which provides the docker-compose file and environment template.
  ```
- Tools these commands use: Docker with several GB of memory; Node 22 and pnpm for development
- Develop: `docker compose up -d`
- Test: `pnpm test`
- Stack: typescript (NestJS, React, Vite, Knex, pnpm). Difficulty for a non-developer with an AI: **advanced**. A TypeScript monorepo with a server, a web app and several supporting services. Accounting rules are subtle, so changes to ledger code need real care and tests.
- The project's own AI instructions, in the repository: `AGENTS.md`.
Personal data: **yes**. Stored in: A MySQL database plus an attachments store (Docker volumes). Secrets are entered by the person, never in chat.

---
Later, only when a step needs it: [reference.md](https://handoff.bespokeai.software/p/bigcapital/04a3a9f/r3/reference.md) (customisation points, must-keep-working, data and costs, coding conventions) · [hosting.md](https://handoff.bespokeai.software/p/bigcapital/04a3a9f/r3/hosting.md) (long-term hosting; hosts are paid third parties) · [bespoke.yaml](https://handoff.bespokeai.software/p/bigcapital/04a3a9f/r3/bespoke.yaml) · [SKILL.md](https://handoff.bespokeai.software/p/bigcapital/04a3a9f/r3/SKILL.md)