<p>We are a trade association with limited IT resources. Though we have programming skills, we do not have Java experience. My questions here relate to whether we should proceed with the community version of BIRT which seems to provide everything we need.</p>
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<p>I am looking for answers from folks who have deployed the product (particularly the community version). Please help.</p>
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<ol><li>Can our accounting department design/publish their own reports through the BIRT interface - not a software capability question, rather a complexity question (can non-IT folks handle this product)?</li>
<li>I recognize we need to add a Java platform to our LAMP server(s) or stand up a new one (all are hosted in the cloud); but do we need Java experience to make BIRT useful? We would like to simply use the product, not enhance it.</li>
<li>Our databases are primarily mySQL - I assume this is a no-brainer.</li>
<li>We are looking to build a data warehouse to bring other data sources into the picture (they are either not databases, or databases to which we have no access other than exports).</li>
<li>Can we learn the product (both deployment, and production use) through the apparently rich set of information on-line, or will a training program be required. </li>
</ol><p>Many thanks -</p>
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<p>George Nicholson</p>
<p>Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)</p>
