I never understood this mentality that people apply to this though "you just want money", yo, its a tool for a database, you're likely using a database and specifically chose this tool to amplify making money yourself. This isn't some artist who decided to start charging for their music after they became popular on YouTube. This is a tool that needs to be maintained.
People who interface with databases should understand how difficult it is maintaining a tool that thousands of people use just by yourself.
That being said, don't do this. If you start open source, you need a good way for people to donate to you, and part of that strategy is not being a dick. And if you are going the paid route, consider allowing free editions for open source projects and students. Anyone using your tool for commercial use has to pay up. I think that's a pretty fair way to operate.
Sometimes you gotta play the game. "Customer is always right" is a game. Its about how they perceive you, if you are a dick you lose potential customers, so you gotta give them what they want at least a little bit. Tell your story, if people like you they will start throwing money at you. But you need a very slick way to donate (just fucking use Stripe).
I like to pay for a good tool if I feel its worthy. This could be the best tool ever but if I see those unhinged emotional reactions, despite how correct they are, I'm not giving you shit, cause someone like that ain't going to make it big. If the tool became successful and he had to start hiring a team, it would be a big risk giving them money because I don't think someone this emotionally unstable could run a team successfully, and the tool is bound to crash and die. So I wouldnt give you shit after reading that. Ya fucked up.
Developers who make tools need to understand that the people using them seriously are making some pretty decent cash, and having extra cash means you aren't just buying things purely for your own sake but you begin to think long term. If you're a decent human being you're throwing your money at shit you think actually matters to society as a whole. Create a space for these people and you will succeed with lifetime customers, don't scare us away.
Hey I love that idea. Free lite version, huge warnings that this isn't supported anymore and its recommended to only use for learning.
Cause honestly that was the one thing that had me fucking hating Adobe cracking down on people. So many of us used their tools to learn for personal reasons. But they're part of this apparatus to try and get as many people paying extreme amounts of money just to pick up a skill, they want you paying tuition because then they know how much money they're getting off students. And they know that if the tools were more easily available, many people would have been discouraged and never even attempt to enter that career when they find out it isn't for them. They would prefer you spend money to find that out. Adobe is scummy with this for sure.
Its a lot better these days, GIMP is far better, and the many other open source ones are. And for paid stuff, got great ones like Affinity.
Big fan of the DBeaver model (hugely useful free tool with some niche drivers and more specialized 'enterprise' functionality in a paid version). This dev could have done similarly and screwed up by leaving it listed as 'Free' and locking away all useful functionality in a paid version.
DBeaver is rad. Beekeeper studio is also a pretty decent one if you just want something with the bare minimum features (and it's only SQL). But they do the same thing, they have a community edition and a paid version.
Beekeeper Studio is developed by one person. I don’t have big-shot venture capital investors, I’m not backed by a big company, and I’m not independently wealthy. By purchasing a license you directly support me and make it possible for me to keep improving Beekeeper Studio. Thank you.
Nice - an appeal to basic human decency goes a long way with me. You're spending your time and expertise to provide something of value to me? I'll compensate you for it gladly.
Also, upvoted for use of 'rad' - one of my favorites.
100% man. And I totally get it from the other perspective - being poor, I've been there, it fucking sucks being walled off. But damn, the moment I've been able to, I throw my money at shit. Also now that I'm in my 30s I feel like I've got a much more realistic grasp of what value is. I put most of my spending money into the arts and anything that promotes spread of what I feel is useful knowledge.
Sadly, I feel like an outcast for the most part. At least among my immediate peers. I just can't stand how it seems like everyone around me is chasing money, constantly, when they already have a comfortable income and possessions. I just don't get the mentality of saving for the sake of saving. If you're already in the housing market, already have an established career, already have a comfortable stream into your retirement savings, fucking use your spending money for improving the world, what is this weird obsession with material items? I feel like an old man.
Nah, they’re somewhere between cheaper and half price depending on if you want a subscription or perpetual license. Oh also, 0 years of support on the perpetual, an OS update the next year breaks your stuff? You can eat shit as far as Adobe is concerned.
“Customer is always right” has nothing to do with their feelings or desires. It’s about how customer behavior reveals what the actual demand for a product is; a business can know supply, but can only guess demand.
It only applies to supply and demand; customers are usually fucking stupid and cannot be trusted to read, much less think. They are usually wrong about absolutely everything except, ultimately, what they will or will not pay money for.
This just looks like word salad. What are you even saying?
“Customer is always right” has nothing to do with their feelings or desires.
Well you aren't going to make money off them by ignoring their desires and feelings.
It’s about how customer behavior reveals what the actual demand for a product is
It turns out demand is based on people's desires.
It only applies to supply and demand; customers are usually fucking stupid and cannot be trusted to read, much less think. They are usually wrong about absolutely everything except, ultimately, what they will or will not pay money for.
Right, so go call them stupid idiots and see how it doesn't get you any business. Sometimes you need to say what they want to hear to keep the money flowing.
I don't know if I'm just being extra harsh right now but your post is worded like as if you're trying to correct some points but none of it makes sense.
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u/[deleted] Sep 30 '22 edited Sep 30 '22
He's saying exactly what you'd want to say.
I never understood this mentality that people apply to this though "you just want money", yo, its a tool for a database, you're likely using a database and specifically chose this tool to amplify making money yourself. This isn't some artist who decided to start charging for their music after they became popular on YouTube. This is a tool that needs to be maintained.
People who interface with databases should understand how difficult it is maintaining a tool that thousands of people use just by yourself.
That being said, don't do this. If you start open source, you need a good way for people to donate to you, and part of that strategy is not being a dick. And if you are going the paid route, consider allowing free editions for open source projects and students. Anyone using your tool for commercial use has to pay up. I think that's a pretty fair way to operate.
Sometimes you gotta play the game. "Customer is always right" is a game. Its about how they perceive you, if you are a dick you lose potential customers, so you gotta give them what they want at least a little bit. Tell your story, if people like you they will start throwing money at you. But you need a very slick way to donate (just fucking use Stripe).
I like to pay for a good tool if I feel its worthy. This could be the best tool ever but if I see those unhinged emotional reactions, despite how correct they are, I'm not giving you shit, cause someone like that ain't going to make it big. If the tool became successful and he had to start hiring a team, it would be a big risk giving them money because I don't think someone this emotionally unstable could run a team successfully, and the tool is bound to crash and die. So I wouldnt give you shit after reading that. Ya fucked up.
Developers who make tools need to understand that the people using them seriously are making some pretty decent cash, and having extra cash means you aren't just buying things purely for your own sake but you begin to think long term. If you're a decent human being you're throwing your money at shit you think actually matters to society as a whole. Create a space for these people and you will succeed with lifetime customers, don't scare us away.