Basic knowledge to develop ERPNext correctly

[vazdan]

There are some things in ERPNext that I still do not understand.

When we talk about modify ERPNext, it is recommended to create a separated app for maintain those changes, but what does that app refer to? I do not know if it is referring to make changes in default Doctypes or create custom Doctypes with their own functions, I am not sure about that.
Also, I do not know the difference between the custom Scripts and the Javascript files that Doctypes have, what is the purpose of each one?

It would be a great help to understand this things because I want to create several Doctypes that have a function similar to Production Order, Sales Invoice, etc.

[root13F]

@vazdan

but what does that app refer to?

the Custom app being referred to in such cases is a basic skeleton app provided which is to help you get started. ERPNext is also an app, but it has various doctypes and reports and pages made by the community. Now if you wish to add some new doctype or report, you add those to your app’s modules.

https://frappe.io/docs/user/en/tutorial/app

https://frappe.io/docs/user/en/tutorial/new-app

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@vazdan

I do not know if it is referring to make changes in default Doctypes or create custom Doctypes with their own functions, I am not sure about that.

Actually it is BOTH.

Any custom changes you make to the default doctypes such as creating custom fields, adding custom scripts, creating new doctypes are supposed to saved in your custom app. This helps preserve your customizations. You can do so via Fixtures for the customizations. Custom Doctypes should be created with is_custom unchecked and Module should be the one you defined for your custom app.

Schema modification export (custom fields)

ERPNext provides Fixtures just for that. You can directly export fixtures in ERPnext app, but those will be lost when you update or will show up as conflicts. Hence you create a new app and export those changes to that app which will remain untouched by ERPNext update routines. https://frappe.io/docs/user/en/tutorial/new-app Step One : Create new app (say new-app) and initialize a new git repo for this app. Step Two : Find hooks.py file in your new-app folder Step Three : Mention which DocT…

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@vazdan

I do not know the difference between the custom Scripts and the Javascript files that Doctypes have, what is the purpose of each one?

Both add to the doctype behavior via the front-end. However, one thing to note. People who use ERPNext as a SaaS and do not have control on the machine, Custom Script is their best bet. For people running ERPNext on their own servers, and have admin access, can add more JS functionality by writing JS in their custom app and calling them for specified doctypes on specified doc_events as mentioned in their app’s hooks.py.

It is not recommended to change any of the default files that come from Github. Why ? Because those changes create conflicts on updates.

[vazdan]

Thank you very much @root13F, now I understand better how the process of developing custom apps works and how ERPNext and Frappe works. I am going to start a sample project before going to my main project, to make sure that I have understood all these concepts well.
Thanks