KMyMoney is a personal finance managing software for Linux targeting private end users who are seeking to quit usage of Microsoft-Windows and are looking for a personal finance manager like Quicken or MS Money.

Aiming to improve the usability of their software, the KMyMoney developers filled in the OpenUsability project application form. Knowing that their main user community has a non-technical background, they noted that usability plays an important role for decisions in UI design. From OpenUsability, they requested support on identifying the areas of the UI which are not easy to use, and to come up with ideas on how to improve the design.

When browsing the OpenUsability job openings, Pallavi Damera, a Software and User Interface Designer from India, came across the KMyMoney opening and contacted OpenUsability to get in involved. Since March 2008, she has been analysing the application and documented the progress in a dedicated design blog. So far, topics include

• the KMyMoney installation process,
• a quick analysis of competitor applications,
• a checklist for KMyMoney user profiles
• a design review of KMyMoney,
• identification of design patterns,
• and some thoughts abou the layout

You can follow the further progress in Pallavi’s KMyMoney blog: usabilitykmymoney.blogspot.com

Thanks for the good work!