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Announcing Mercurius Inventory Manager: A New Project for Hobbyists and Small Businesses

Announcing Mercurius Inventory Manager: A New Project for Hobbyists and Small Businesses

March 23, 2023•6 min•Personal Projects

Announcing Mercurius Inventory Manager: A Personal Project for Hobbyists and Small Businesses

As an enthusiastic hobbyist who loves brewing beer and tinkering with electronics, I have to confess: my inventory is a complete mess. There are days when I find myself digging through mountains of components, searching high and low for that one elusive resistor, only to discover it hidden in the depths of my workshop. I'm sure many of you can relate to the frustration of losing track of your inventory, whether it's for personal projects or managing a small business.

This got me thinking: what if there was a better way to track and manage everything we have, a simple solution that could run on a Docker container? And that's how Mercurius Inventory Manager was born – a fun little project aimed at helping us take control of our chaotic inventories and turn them into well-organized, easily accessible systems.

A Walk on the Wild Side: The Challenges of Inventory Management

We all know that feeling when we're eager to start a new project, but can't find the parts we need or remember if we've already used them for something else. It's like embarking on a wild adventure through the uncharted territories of our workshops or storage rooms, trying to hunt down that one specific item. And let's not forget the struggle of managing costs and keeping track of suppliers, which can feel like herding cats.

The goal of Mercurius Inventory Manager is to help us tame this wild inventory landscape by providing a simple, easy-to-use solution that brings everything together in one place. It's designed to improve our lives, whether we're passionate hobbyists or small business owners who don't have access to advanced inventory management systems.

The Plan: Features and Functionality

I'm planning to create Mercurius Inventory Manager using MAUI, so there will be a mobile app and desktop, and the main API will run on a Docker container. It will use SQLite, PostgreSQL, or other databases depending on the need. Here's a rundown of the features I'm aiming to include in the system:

Inventory Management Features

  • Multiple warehouses and storage locations within each warehouse
  • Items with multiple attributessuch as name, description, category, tags, and barcodes
  • Items with multiple pictures and file attachments (e.g., datasheets, manuals, etc.)
  • Decimal quantity tracking for liquids and granular items
  • Multiple suppliers with different item prices and lead times
  • Item reservations and allocation to specific orders or projects
  • Batch or lot tracking for perishable items or items with expiration dates
  • Item movement history and audit trails
  • Reorder point and automatic reorder suggestions
  • Bundle items or kits consisting of multiple individual items
  • Integration with popular e-commerce platforms (WooCommerce and Shopify)
  • Reporting on inventory levels, item movements, and supplier performance

The journey with Mercurius Inventory Manager

The journey to bring Mercurius Inventory Manager to life won't be without its challenges, but I'm excited to embark on this adventure. As a fun side project, it's an opportunity to not only learn and grow as a developer but also to create something useful for fellow hobbyists and small business owners.

In the future, I'm planning to integrate Mercurius Inventory Manager with WordPress and Shopify, creating a production-ready software solution that can help plan the next batch of beer or other projects. But for now, my primary focus is on building a solid foundation with the core features.

As I dive headfirst into this project, I'll share my progress and experiences, along with any amusing anecdotes and entertaining setbacks that might occur along the way. After all, what's an adventure without a few twists and turns?

Stay tuned for updates, and feel free to share your thoughts, suggestions, and inventory management horror stories in the comments below. Together, let's embark on this journey to tame our wild inventories and bring order to the chaos that lies within our workshops, storage rooms, and businesses. Whether you're a beer-brewing hobbyist or a small business owner juggling multiple responsibilities, Mercurius Inventory Manager aims to make your life easier and more organized.

As I set off on this quest to build a comprehensive inventory management tool, I invite you to join me and follow along every step of the way. We'll laugh, we'll cry, and most importantly, we'll learn from each other's experiences. Because at the end of the day, what unites us all is our passion for our hobbies and businesses, and our never-ending quest for organization and productivity.

I may not know if I'll complete every single feature I've outlined, but one thing's for sure: with your support and feedback, we can turn the Mercurius Inventory Manager into a fantastic tool that will bring joy (and organization!) to our lives.