Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ames!hao!oddjob!gargoyle!ihnp4!homxb!mtuxo!mtune!codas!killer!jfh
From: jfh@killer.UUCP (The Beach Bum)
Newsgroups: comp.sources.d
Subject: Re: Posting shareware to the Usenet
Message-ID: <2610@killer.UUCP>
Date: 29 Dec 87 19:03:18 GMT
References: <417@ddsw1.UUCP> <262@papaya.bbn.com> <4309@bellcore.bellcore.com> <2377@dasys1.UUCP>
Organization: Big "D" Home for Wayward Hackers
Lines: 43
Summary: Why I have done this.

In article <2377@dasys1.UUCP>, samperi@dasys1.UUCP (Dominick Samperi) writes:
> Perhaps the original developer of the shareware/freeware concept made a
> killing because he did it at the right time. I do not think that it works
> anymore. 
 
It doesn't work any more because people are trying to make a killing.  Consider
a package we have here which is `Shareware'.  The author expects $35 if you
like it.  Well, I don't think the damned thing is worth $35.  Ten or fifteen
dollars maybe, but not thirtyfive.

> Question: What motivates a programmer to develop a large complex software
> system, perhaps requiring many weeks (or even years) of development effort,
> which is then posted for the world to use, for free?

About five years ago I developed a database system and report writer.  It
runs under just about any Unix, uses curses, and so on.  Back then it was
fairly state of the art for Unix on PC's.  Then, RDS came out with Informix
and blew my dreams of selling this thing and making a fortune.

At one time the sources were available to friends and so on.  Now, I'm
writing a new database system to replace Informix 3.30, and I need to keep
my grubby hands on the code.  If you knew me 4 or 5 years ago, you'd have
gotten a nice, fast, little database system for free.

That project took 6000+ hours of programming and in original form was
15,000 lines of assembler.  But, given that it had no commercial value,
well, why not give it away?  Or maybe charge for the documentation.

[ Informix is a trademark of Relational Database Systems, or whatever they
  changed their name to. ]

> -- 
> 	Dominick Samperi, Manhattan College, New York, NY

- John.

PS - I may be releasing an ACE parser and listing generater to the net
sometime soon.  I can't see that having much real commercial value either.
I guess that's the key to what it takes me to release (free|share)ware.
-- 
John F. Haugh II (jfh@killer)   | "There are really not many jobs that actually
HECI Exploration Co. Inc.       |  require a penis or a vagina, and all other
11910 Greenville Ave, Suite 600 |  occupations should be open to everyone."
Dallas, TX. 75243               |                - Gloria Steinem