With Nearly 50,000 Apps On The Odoo App Store, It Has Become Harder to Justify The Quality For Users, So Where Can The ERP Vendor Improve Upon?
The Odoo App Store has been a staple in recent years of the platform allowing developers and contributors to provide back with solutions on various matters across integration solutions, apps and themes.
For the last several months, across LinkedIn, Reddit, YouTube and various other formats of Odoo channels, there has been some interesting debate sparked regarding the Odoo App Store, 'how it could be improved' and the serious concerns that the wider community has not only for us as experienced techies and Odooers but for the end users/customers who are spending hard-earned income on products that they suspect they need.
Personally, I take this as quite a serious topic; it's one I discuss a lot with Odoo customers, users and community members.
I have even seen posts, articles, and insights from well-respected people in the community writing blogs such as 'Why We Stopped Using Apps From The Odoo App Store,' which is of slight concern and I am sure many Odooers can appreciate, which also inspired me to write this article to address this exact problem.
So, after some further research and digging, and respect for the brilliant community we have built here at The Purple Juice Co, I wanted to add my own thoughts to the pot here and hope that Odoo can take this board for the future to build a solution which benefits all.
I truly believe that the Odoo App Store DOES provide value. I have purchased from it myself and I am sure the majority of you have as well, but here are my thoughts on it and some of the various comments which have been shared by the Odoo Community in the last months.
This Edition's Ingredients
Let's take a look at this article's ripe ingredients to see what's coming up.
- What Is The Odoo App Store?
- 📱 App Quality Control
- ✅ Coding Standards
- 🔒 Security/Performance Issues
- 😊 Not All Apps Are Bad
- 🎨 Customisations + Upgrading
- 💠Should You Publish On The App Store?
- 🤔 How Can This Be Improved?
What Is The Odoo App Store?
As previously suggested, the Odoo App Store is a place for developers and community contributors to provide value across solutions, modules, apps, themes and more. At an even closer look once there, the store provides apps that are both paid for and free.
This depends, of course, with some apps going between the €25 - €50 range and other high-quality apps can then fetch upwards of €200 - €300 + in regular cases.
The original aim was for the apps on the store to integrate 'seamlessly' across various domains, sectors, industries and more, building on core concepts like:
- Continuous Innovation
- Increasing Flexibility
- Pushing Community Support
But really, it is far from it at this current point that is.
For this example, I will be using the company VentorTech, which I am sure they won't mind. I've picked them out because I think they are a fantastic example of how documentation should be disclosed on the app store. Before I start breaking down how the store could be improved, I also wanted to share the great work being done there, so in this context, feel free to give Oleg Kuryan and the rest of VentorTech including Vitaly Eremeev a follow. :)
I'll be using their 'Odoo Direct Print PRO' app on the store as example here, which is currently listed for €299.00.
So, what does an app listing look like for those who have not seen it before? What should you be looking out for when assessing an app?
One tip I always recommend is not to jump into a purchase. Take the time to assess if it is going to match your needs and requirements. From here, I can check the reviews on the app in addition to looking into and further searching for the supplier of the app.
It's a super important point that I just want to highlight. Do your research, especially when it comes to paid apps. Odoo Partners and community contributors who are supporting the key development of these apps are more than open to whether they will fit your needs or not.
From here, we can also see the app specification, across what versions it supports, what hosting options it is compatible with, the lines of code amount used and further other supporting information.
While I won't list out all the documentation, I would highly advise you to go and check out the documentation which is provided by VentorTech. This is a fantastic example of how it should be done to ensure best practices and standards. Well done guys! 😃
To put some context into this currently while writing this article:
There are 49280 apps on the Odoo App Store.
Now not all apps are up to this standard. In fact, the majority are not. That's where the problems start to arise, which is what I want to discuss further today.
The Problem With The Odoo App Store
So the problem with the Odoo App Store. I think it boils down to a number of key factors which have been frustrating the Odoo Community for a while. With users purchasing apps that only after purchasing don't operate as advertised, it is already NOT a recipe for success but a crumbling failure that is quickly going to be noticed.
FYI: Also, be aware of various unauthorised websites that are selling Odoo Apps at 'discounted prices' as the key app publishers, and that work hard to support the community lose all their efforts for the app. Niyas Raphy reported on this last month, and unfortunately, this is not the first time it has occurred.
App Quality Control
I can appreciate that many people reading this article feel my pain and sympathy for this area. At this current time, ANYONE, yes, anyone can post a new module or app in the Odoo App Store. Yes, this is great - we want as many people to be involved as possible within the community but this has quite serious issues regarding no quality control for what is being uploaded. At the current time of which I am writing this, 'there is still no unity or body that regulates what is then uploaded to the store'.
Here is quite a concerning post from Kaushik Nagani, talking about how a company called 'MNC Company' has been copying apps, tweaking them and uploading them again on the app store, which, of course, without any regulatory body, they are freely able to do so.
Let's put ourselves in the shoes of a business for just a moment, that does not have any tech or development experience. How they can be sure that the code they have just installed or even purchased is of a quality standard? If, in this circumstance, we look more towards some other popular app stores such as Apple or even Google Play, unaware users or visitors could likewise, be expecting the same level or standard for upload.
I could not agree more with Edwin van der Ploeg in their article previously linked above. If any typical user expects that downloading an app for an ERP system can follow the same process as likewise downloading an app on your smart device, then that is simply just not the case. We can't blame them; why should we? It comes down to best practices, education and informing the end user in the best possible way we can.
Many won't see the complexities that this could cause.
'Is it safe to download this app? Will this app mess anything up in my current system regarding configuration? Is this app even compatible with the Odoo Version I am on?'
I could go on and on here, but you get the point I am trying to make.
In addition to app quality control, it is also important to note that there are apps on the store which have remained there, and the functionality being offered is now in the current version of Odoo, making the app, well redundant. Some authors upgrade the apps without checking if the functionality is native or not.
Coding Standards
Given that authors are not approved and the skill/knowledge levels are different, the coding standards can be widely varied on the app store. Many suggest, even myself, that the majority of the apps are not hitting the required good coding standard. This can have a wider effect by making them harder to read and further maintaining them across future upgrades and potential conflicts that may arise.
In any practice or software, following the quality guidelines should be standard.
Security/Performance Issues
Both are super important, but the major concerns come from both security and performance. With apps not being verified or approved, how do you know that something, in particular, is not leaking data? The penalty for that could be extremely serious, given that many companies using Odoo could be in the medical field. But even so, any company should be given awareness and understanding of the potential repercussions of data leaks or systems being exposed externally.
In many countries, this can even result in heavy fines.
Regarding performance, let's think about scalability here. For the vast majority of the time, we don't know how apps are being developed. Given that many apps on the store have been there for years, is the code/functionality up to scratch when being pushed and now downloadable for newer versions? This could also be considered in that 'GAP Analysis' piece and breaking down if this app could have an effect on your existing flows and processes. However, we will touch on that soon with customisations.
Not All Apps Are Bad
I think it is important to note that not all apps are bad. There are some very high-quality app providers out there, like the OCA, the Odoo Community Association.
If you want to learn more about them, check out their website. The OCA is super well known around the community for it's coding standards and for supporting through quality-made apps. Many have turned to the OCA apps after being 'stung' already on the app store.
Customisation Conflicts + Upgrading New Versions
While any app might be able to operate and work on its own accord, take this into consideration with potentially other customised modules or apps which have been either also installed from the Odoo App Store or built bespoke for your implementation. Conflicts may arise, so performing that 'GAP Analysis' and completing some rigorous testing is really important.
This is also applicable when you decide that it is the right time to upgrade your Odoo environment. Any customisations made/implemented and then remain in your business workflows are there for the long term, not the short term. Odoo's native functionality changes every year, so it is important to ensure that any apps you have downloaded are likewise not going to cause conflicts.
Should You Publish On The App Store?
Well, this might sound contradictory, but yes, I would highly recommend publishing on the app store, given that the parameters above can be adhered to and best practices are followed. While ultimately it does come down on Odoo to maintain, as a wider Odoo Community, we would be doing users/partners and contributors a disservice in not highlighting.
If you fancy learning more about this process, Frederick Tubiermont has been conducting some data and analytics from the store in recent months, which is a really interesting view for those like me who are actively looking at the situation.
It's a great stream to build on as a partner or consultant, but PLEASE, take these points into further consideration so that for the benefit of the users, community and ecosystem, greater standards are set and achieved.
You can find more guidelines set by Odoo here:
So, How Can This Be Improved?
Well, I have been thinking about this a lot in the previous weeks. To me, it comes down to standardising app processes that are published and ensuring that good measures are put in place within the store to ensure app quality. Many businesses are now even considering not using the Odoo App Store at all, which is a great shame.
Businesses are honestly thinking that the less hassle, the better and, of course, they should, so from my perspective, here is what I would love to see:
- Set Coding Standards for the Odoo App Store
- Ensure Apps Go Through Security/Performance Testing
- Set Up Regulated/Onboarding Processes For Authors
- Authors to be Validated by Odoo Before Publishing
- Promote Apps/Quality Authors
- Have An App Store Clean Up...
It's an honest shame that quality contributors are being penalised because these processes are not being undertaken. I think the main frustration from my side is that I cannot find the direction Odoo wants to go with the app store. Focusing on community-driven efforts to uphold new ideas, features and insights. It could be so successful, even more than it has already been, for the contributors who have supported it well so far.
So, as I close out on my final thoughts here, with Odoo Experience 2024 approaching and a flurry of Odoo Apps on the store increasing once again, something needs to be done about this to ensure quality remains paramount and focus retains on the user and end customer, not selling another app for the sake of it. I hope Odoo take on board the community concerns and address this quickly, so that the app store can take shape and support users effectively once again.
Let Me Know Your Thoughts:Â How Can This Be Solved Quickly So That Customers/Users Are Not Affected Further?
As our community grows, here at The Purple Juice Co, I just wanted to say thank you again for tuning into another article. I'll continue reporting on all the news, insights, tips, tricks and information on Odoo as an ecosystem. All I ask is that you keep turning up! :)
If you ever fancy having a conversation or want to ask a question, drop me a message! 📩