GCstar
| Developer(s) | Christian Jodar (Tian) et al. |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 1.7.1 / March 6, 2016 |
| Operating system | Cross-platform |
| Type | Database management system |
| License | GPL |
| Website |
www |
GCstar is an open source application for managing personal collections. Detailed information on each item can be automatically retrieved from the Internet and the user can store additional data, such as the location or whom he/she has lent them to. The user may also search and filter the collection by criteria.
GCstar is written in Perl and uses GTK+ for its GUI widgets.
Current version manages these kinds of collections:
- Board games
- Books
- Comic books
- Mini vehicles
- Movies
- Music
- Numismatic
- Periodicals
- Smart cards
- Stamps
- TV show episodes
- User defined collections
- Video games
- Wines
GCstar is the successor to GCfilms, which only managed collections of movies.
Features
Automatic retrieval
Information concerning an item (from one of the default collection types) can be automatically retrieved from various Internet websites. Only a few pieces of information, such as movie title or ISBN, are required to perform the search.
Import and export
GCstar supports importing collections created by other programs, such as Alexandria, Ant Movie Catalog, or Tellico. It can also import lists made in more standard formats, such as CSV or a simple list of items' names.
The collections may aso be exported to various formats, including HTML, SQL, or XML.
Lending managements
For each item in a collection, it is possible to set it as loaned to someone. GCstar manages an history of all the borrowers. It can also send an email to the borrower.
The mascot
The GCstar mascot is the same as GCfilms': a blue periscope named Péri. He was created by LE SPEKTRE.
Platforms
GCstar may be used on any system for which Gtk2-Perl is available. It is included in many Linux distributions (Debian, Fedora Extras, Ubuntu Linux Universe, Mandriva Linux contribs) and FreeBSD. A version for Microsoft Windows also exists.
License
GCstar is released under the GNU General Public License. Images associated with the project, for example Péri, are released under a dual license: GNU General Public License (to be used in GCstar) and Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike License v. 2.5 (to let other designers use it).
Reviews
GCstar has received generally favorable ratings across its lifespan.
On April 16, 2007, Mihai Marinof's review of GCstar 1.1.1 at Softpedia gave the software a "Very Good" rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Her wrap-up read:[1]
- The Good
- GCstar is a free application for managing personal collections. By default, it can manage movies, video games, books, music or numismatic collections but also allows the user to create a custom collection type. Detailed information on each item can be fetched from Internet websites but also additional information can be manually added by the user. It's quite easy to use and provides a clean interface. It's written in Gtk2-Perl so it's able to run on basically any GNU/Linux system, as well as on MS Windows.
- The Bad
- Unfortunately, each collection type is saved under a different file, creating a new collection type is very difficult and the items list can't display both the image and text at the same time.
- The Truth
- GCstar can organize different types of items, for instance movies collections, games, books, music, numismatic or even user defined collections. Unfortunately, creating a new collection is quite difficult. However, it's a pretty good application and you should first give it a try and then decide if you want or don't want to make it a part of your software collection.
In a December 20, 2010 review of GCstar version 1.6.1, CNET Editors rated the application 5 out of 5 stars and "Spectacular" (the highest possible ratings), noting: "There are many collection managers to choose from; some free, some easy. GCstar is both. It's one of the best of the type we've seen."[2]
In ratings accessed on June 7, 2012 at Google Play, the Android-based GCstar Viewer received 4 out of 5 stars from Google Play and 3.9 out of 5 stars from viewers;[3] similarly the GCstar Scanner received 4 out of 5 stars from Google Play and 3.8 out of 5 stars from viewers,[4]
References
- ↑ Mihai Marinof (2007, April 16, 2007, 12:29 GMT). "GCstar Review". Softpedia. Retrieved June 7, 2012. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ CNET Staff (December 20, 2010). "GCstar: CNET Editors' Review". CNET.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
- ↑ "GCstar Viewer". Google Play. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
- ↑ "GCstar Scanner". Google Play. Retrieved June 7, 2012.