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Re: bundling software with TSVN?

From: Thomas Hruska <thruska_at_cubiclesoft.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:02:11 -0700

Stefan Küng wrote:
> zero3cool wrote:
>
>> "No" from me as well. I'd rather see TSVN survive as a completely ad/spam
>> free product.
>
> We all do. But there's a difference between the dream and reality.
>
>> As a student, my funds are limited as well, but if it comes to such
>> "spam"
>> in TSVN, I'll gladly donate whatever my share would be.
>
> No offense, but I've heard that before. My experience tells me that
> people always tell you they will donate - the donations however tell a
> completely different story.
>
> Stefan

Same experience here. You aren't alone. Donationware doesn't work
(open source or otherwise - I've been in both boats, I know your
frustration) unless we live in a charitable society/world, which we
apparently don't - just lots of good meaning people who don't put
actions to words. I'm not saying that no money comes in - just not
_enough_ money comes in. My experience is that I have to label anything
I do on a "donationware basis" as a permanent financial _loss_...so my
interactions with open source are limited. People go where the money is.

However, bundling a dubious product is not the way to go. I do have to
disagree with the person about bundling a TortoiseMerge competitor.
Beyond Compare is a product I use for merging directories and advanced
directory/file comparison filters. Stuff TortoiseMerge doesn't do and
doesn't need to either. It would allow the TSVN dev. team to handle
requests like, "Gee I wish TortoiseMerge did XYZ" more easily - you
could simply point them at the bundled product if you don't want the
feature in/have to develop the feature for TortoiseMerge but know the
other product has the feature. You get money, the author gets money,
the user might grumble a bit but they'll shell it out. It allows you to
prioritize features more easily and you can share feature ideas with
each other that the one person doesn't want to implement but the other
person does. At the end of the day everyone, in theory, goes home
happy. (But the "happiness" part isn't likely to happen easily).

Just an idea. But when bundling, I suggest going after the product you
want vs. having someone just appear on your doorstep one day offering a
dubious product. Those are called scammers, door-to-door salespersons,
and Jehovah's Witnesses.

-- 
Thomas Hruska
CubicleSoft President
Ph: 517-803-4197
*NEW* MyTaskFocus 1.1
Get on task.  Stay on task.
http://www.CubicleSoft.com/MyTaskFocus/
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Received on 2008-03-11 15:02:23 CET

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