castle/README.md

Castle Accounting Extension for LNbits

A full-featured double-entry accounting system for collective projects, integrated with LNbits Lightning payments.

Overview

Castle Accounting enables collectives like co-living spaces, makerspaces, and community projects to:

• Track expenses and revenue with proper accounting
• Manage individual member balances
• Record contributions as equity or reimbursable expenses
• Track accounts receivable (what members owe)
• Generate Lightning invoices for settlements

Installation

This extension is designed to be installed in the lnbits/extensions/ directory.

cd lnbits/extensions/
# Copy or clone the castle directory here

Enable the extension through the LNbits admin interface or by adding it to your configuration.

Usage

For Members

1. Add an Expense: Record money you spent on behalf of the collective

   • Choose "Liability" if you want reimbursement
   • Choose "Equity" if it's a contribution

2. View Your Balance: See if the Castle owes you money or vice versa

3. Pay Outstanding Balance: Generate a Lightning invoice to settle what you owe

For Admins

1. Create Accounts Receivable: Record when someone owes the collective money

2. Record Revenue: Track income received by the collective

3. View All Transactions: See complete accounting history

4. Make Payments: Record payments to members

Architecture

Data Models

• Account: Individual accounts in the chart of accounts
• JournalEntry: Transaction header with description and date
• EntryLine: Individual debit/credit lines (always balanced)

Account Types

• Assets: Things the Castle owns (Cash, Bank, Accounts Receivable)
• Liabilities: What the Castle owes (Accounts Payable to members)
• Equity: Member contributions and retained earnings
• Revenue: Income streams
• Expenses: Operating costs

Database Schema

The extension creates three tables:

• castle.accounts - Chart of accounts
• castle.journal_entries - Transaction headers
• castle.entry_lines - Debit/credit lines

API Reference

See description.md for full API documentation.

Development

To modify this extension:

1. Edit models in models.py
2. Add database migrations in migrations.py
3. Implement business logic in crud.py
4. Create API endpoints in views_api.py
5. Update UI in templates/castle/index.html

Contributing

Contributions welcome! Please ensure:

• Journal entries always balance
• User permissions are properly checked
• Database transactions are atomic

License

MIT License - feel free to use and modify for your collective!