To run the GTK client you need to have gi.repository avaiable in the python environment, this means that if you use virtualenv to install the dependencies of accounting-api you need to set it up with the --system-site-packages flag.
accounting-api does not yet have a method for end-user installation. This section describes how you would set up accounting-api for development purposes, which can also be used as an environment to try out the functionality of accounting-api.
See the sections below on how to install the dependencies. Then run the following in your shell.
# Get the source code
git clone git://gitorious.org/conservancy/accounting-api.git
cd accounting-api
# Set up the python 3.3 virtualenv (this will make the GTK client not work)
mkvirtualenv -p /usr/bin/python3.3 accounting-api
# OR If you want the GTK client to work
mkvirtualenv -p /usr/bin/python3.3 --system-site-packages accounting-api
# If your terminal prompt does not say "(accounting-api)", run
workon accounting-api
# Install the python packages
pip-3.3 install -r requirements.txt
If all went well, head to Usage. If not, head to the channel #npoacct on irc.freenode.net.
# git python 3.3 and virtualenvwrapper
sudo apt-get install git-core python3.3 virtualenvwrapper
# ledger 3
sudo apt-add-repository ppa:mbudde/ledger
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ledger
# Run the web service
LEDGER_FILE=../path/to/your.ledger ./bin/serve
# Get a balance report via the web service
./bin/client balance
# Get the transaction log
./bin/client register
# Insert a simple transaction, currency will be autodetected from your
# locale, for another currency, use ``--symbol USD``
./bin/client insert "January rent" Assets:Checking Expenses:Rent 654.32