An article on Sage Journals on line by Egbert de Smet, University of Antwerp. The article was published on November 1st 2009. Abstract: The new ABCD software for free and open library automation with ISIS is presented with its technological and practical characteristics. As a web-based integrated solution it combines most (if not all) functions of other systems such as KOHA with the flexibility of the (Win)ISIS software to create and handle databases of any structure. The main technical characteristics as well as some managerial issues are briefly presented.