[geeks] Accountable Geeking

[Jonathan C. Patschke]

Computers and arithmetic--what could be more fun?  While managing my
personal finances, and trying to script together a point-of-sales program
for a friend, I've come across a really neat idea:  Accounting
(double-entry, not process) as a service over SSL/TCP.

My idea is to implement a general journal manager using PostgreSQL[1] as a
backend, and then export generic interfaces for account manipulation,
inventory management, personnel, administration, etc. using a daemon
listening on some arbitrary TCP port.

>From there, I could build my checkbook/finance manager on that, and reuse
the codebase to have a strong foundation upon which to build the POS
software.

Here's the rub:  It's been about 5 years since I've done any accounting.  
I -know- that I've forgotten everything I knew about the tax laws, and I'd
probably even trip over a ledger or two while trying to jog my memory.

Can any recommend a really thorough and dense textbook on corporate
accounting?  I've got the basics, but the specfics are in the far, dusty
reaches of my memory.  In particular, I'm looking for something that
-doesn't- assume computer-based accounting, since I'm going to be starting
from dust.

--Jonathan
[1] If anyone has gotten PostgreSQL 7.2 to run under IRIX, I would be very
    appreciative of whatever black magic was needed.  It doesn't compile
    as documented, and I've already RTF FAQ, README, and platform-specific
    install guide.