fin

Start the project in the current directory

$ fin project start

$ fin project stop

$ fin bash [container_name]

$ fin logs [container_name]

$ fin logs [[-f|--follow]] [container_name]

fin <command> [arguments] [options]
Example: fin add 50 "Lunch with John"
Example: fin report --month 03

init
    Initializes a new fin ledger file in the current directory, setting up the necessary data structure.

add <amount> <description>
    Records a new financial transaction with a specified monetary amount and a descriptive note.

list [--count <N>]
    Displays a list of recent transactions, optionally limiting the output to the last N entries.

balance
    Calculates and shows the current financial balance across all tracked accounts or categories.

report [--month <MM>] [--year <YYYY>]
    Generates a financial report for a specified period, such as monthly spending or annual summaries.

delete <ID>
    Removes a specific transaction from the ledger based on its unique identifier.

undo
    Reverts the last recorded add operation, effectively deleting the most recent transaction.

search <pattern>
    Finds transactions that contain a given text pattern within their description or other fields.

config [--set <key=value>]
    Manages fin's configuration settings, allowing adjustments to default behaviors or paths.

fin is a command-line interface (CLI) tool designed for personal finance management. It allows users to record transactions, generate reports, track balances, and manage financial data directly from the terminal.

Unlike graphical user interface (GUI) finance software, fin operates entirely in a text-based environment, appealing to users who prefer efficiency, automation, or privacy. It typically stores financial data in a plain text file, often in a structured format like CSV or a custom ledger format, making it easy to backup, version control, and process with other text-based tools.

It is not a standard, pre-installed Linux utility but an open-source application that requires separate installation. Its primary utility lies in providing a quick, scriptable, and transparent way to interact with one's financial records without relying on proprietary software or cloud services.

• fin is not a standard, pre-installed Linux command; it must be installed separately, typically via a package manager like npm or by compiling from source.
• It is a command-line tool, lacking a graphical interface, which might not be suitable for users preferring visual financial management.
• Data is typically stored in a plain text file, requiring users to manage backups or use version control systems for robust data protection.
• fin is designed for personal finance tracking and may not be suitable for complex accounting, business, or multi-user scenarios.

fin typically stores financial data in a human-readable, plain text file (e.g., CSV or a custom format) in the directory where fin init was run. This allows for easy inspection, manual editing, and integration with other text-based tools like grep, awk, or custom scripts.

Due to its plain text data format and command-line interface, fin records can be easily parsed and processed by other scripts or tools. This enables custom reporting, data analysis, or integrations beyond fin's built-in capabilities, catering to advanced users and developers.

fin-cli is an open-source project, primarily developed and maintained by solidiquis (Solidity CLI tools developer). It emerged as a lightweight, privacy-focused alternative to more complex or cloud-based finance software. Development has been ongoing with regular updates, driven by community contributions and the maintainer's vision for a simple, efficient CLI finance tracker. Its design emphasizes ease of use, data ownership, and compatibility with standard text processing tools.

ledger(1), hledger(1), beancount(1)