Why would developer want to do a free software development ?
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Dear Developers, it's quite some times that i have been thinking this question and couldn't find a settled answer for it. it is, "Why would developer want to do a free software development ?" free i mean is like "free beer" software development i mean --> they offer the software on the internet for free downloading or "freeware". so far i found the answer is "advertising". but it couldn't be for so long. i mean even hosting is paying, but why freeware ? for example, "free download manager", "daemon tools lite", and some others. even some are very generous in "giving" their working result on the net for free. i didn't against the free thing. only want to know, what could motivate developer to do it ? sometimes i read that they sacrificed their holiday to develop it, their after work time, their free time... that is a "mean" sacrifice for me. few have specific dedication and/or personal goal...maybe. but what is exactly the major fact of consideration for doing it ? Thank you for any attention given to my question. 1st answer: If you enjoy writing code or have developed something that scratches a personal itch why not give it to other people? It's like wondering why people dress up as Furries, play board games, participate in sunday league football or cricket, do sudoku... 2nd answer: I have also thought about that, open source i can understand. Because you got something you want to do with help from others.Freeware I don't know. I know that Daemon tools lite is released as a light version.You try it, like it and you want more. Then you have to purchase the full version. So sometimes you release a free version because you have an expensive Full version you want to sell. Permalink | Broken Post? Report Posted 19 hours ago Söderlund933 3rd Answer There is lot more to software then coding. You have to provide technical support, provide bug fixes, implement new features, and upgrade when new OS comes. For a small software it may not be worth to go through all this trouble, especially if expected user base is small. So if you still want to share it with others then make it freeware. Also when you use many freeware softwares and when you write a utility yourself then you might want to give back to community. And as others mentioned, companies do it for advertisement. They provide a reduced functionality software for free and sell a more powerful software. -Saurabh Notes: Previously i posted this message under question/answer section. but someone
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Dear Developers, it's quite some times that i have been thinking this question and couldn't find a settled answer for it. it is, "Why would developer want to do a free software development ?" free i mean is like "free beer" software development i mean --> they offer the software on the internet for free downloading or "freeware". so far i found the answer is "advertising". but it couldn't be for so long. i mean even hosting is paying, but why freeware ? for example, "free download manager", "daemon tools lite", and some others. even some are very generous in "giving" their working result on the net for free. i didn't against the free thing. only want to know, what could motivate developer to do it ? sometimes i read that they sacrificed their holiday to develop it, their after work time, their free time... that is a "mean" sacrifice for me. few have specific dedication and/or personal goal...maybe. but what is exactly the major fact of consideration for doing it ? Thank you for any attention given to my question. 1st answer: If you enjoy writing code or have developed something that scratches a personal itch why not give it to other people? It's like wondering why people dress up as Furries, play board games, participate in sunday league football or cricket, do sudoku... 2nd answer: I have also thought about that, open source i can understand. Because you got something you want to do with help from others.Freeware I don't know. I know that Daemon tools lite is released as a light version.You try it, like it and you want more. Then you have to purchase the full version. So sometimes you release a free version because you have an expensive Full version you want to sell. Permalink | Broken Post? Report Posted 19 hours ago Söderlund933 3rd Answer There is lot more to software then coding. You have to provide technical support, provide bug fixes, implement new features, and upgrade when new OS comes. For a small software it may not be worth to go through all this trouble, especially if expected user base is small. So if you still want to share it with others then make it freeware. Also when you use many freeware softwares and when you write a utility yourself then you might want to give back to community. And as others mentioned, companies do it for advertisement. They provide a reduced functionality software for free and sell a more powerful software. -Saurabh Notes: Previously i posted this message under question/answer section. but someone
Good question. I give some of my software away for free because it's generally a personal project that I've worked on that's been used as a bit of an R&D piece. I develop software commercially, but this is generally for clients and it means that you work within the rigid constraints of client requirements which generally doesn't give you much scope to try new things out. With the personal projects, I can code what I want and make it available for others to use - in effect, they become my beta testers and it helps me to find out what works and what doesn't. Partially, it's also an ego thing - it's great to get praise from others about utilities/applications that you pulled together.
I have CDO, it's OCD with the letters in the right order; just as they ruddy well should be
Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads
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Good question. I give some of my software away for free because it's generally a personal project that I've worked on that's been used as a bit of an R&D piece. I develop software commercially, but this is generally for clients and it means that you work within the rigid constraints of client requirements which generally doesn't give you much scope to try new things out. With the personal projects, I can code what I want and make it available for others to use - in effect, they become my beta testers and it helps me to find out what works and what doesn't. Partially, it's also an ego thing - it's great to get praise from others about utilities/applications that you pulled together.
I have CDO, it's OCD with the letters in the right order; just as they ruddy well should be
Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads
Ok, if i try to point out (according to my point of view) your answers: 1. personal project --> good reason. 2. Develop software commercially --> i like this! 3. beta testers --> yes this is acceptable for me. 4. ego thing --> hahahhaha... true enough. my conclusion...hmmm... the formula: giving free = develop software personally + can be sold for $$$ + tested + appreciation. the answer hit me. it motivates me to develop software and to share it. thank you.
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Ok, if i try to point out (according to my point of view) your answers: 1. personal project --> good reason. 2. Develop software commercially --> i like this! 3. beta testers --> yes this is acceptable for me. 4. ego thing --> hahahhaha... true enough. my conclusion...hmmm... the formula: giving free = develop software personally + can be sold for $$$ + tested + appreciation. the answer hit me. it motivates me to develop software and to share it. thank you.
Here are new questions for you to answer: why would people contribute to a site such as CodeProject? More in particular, why would anyone answer your question for free? Why did you expect anyone to do so? :)
Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles] Nil Volentibus Arduum
Please use <PRE> tags for code snippets, they preserve indentation, and improve readability.
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Here are new questions for you to answer: why would people contribute to a site such as CodeProject? More in particular, why would anyone answer your question for free? Why did you expect anyone to do so? :)
Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles] Nil Volentibus Arduum
Please use <PRE> tags for code snippets, they preserve indentation, and improve readability.
uhhmm... if it is worth of money then ask for it. but if it isn't then share it or just keep it myself. would that be an answer for your and my question ? :confused:
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uhhmm... if it is worth of money then ask for it. but if it isn't then share it or just keep it myself. would that be an answer for your and my question ? :confused:
I don't know, I'm not very fond of "why" questions, except in a strict business environment, where they are essential. I'm sure money isn't always the key. When a short question (a "how to" kind of helicopter view question) and a really good answer can keep me from making the wrong decision in one of my projects, then one hour spent on CodeProject can maybe save me months of development time, and some of that time can be returned to the community. :)
Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles] Nil Volentibus Arduum
Please use <PRE> tags for code snippets, they preserve indentation, and improve readability.
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I don't know, I'm not very fond of "why" questions, except in a strict business environment, where they are essential. I'm sure money isn't always the key. When a short question (a "how to" kind of helicopter view question) and a really good answer can keep me from making the wrong decision in one of my projects, then one hour spent on CodeProject can maybe save me months of development time, and some of that time can be returned to the community. :)
Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles] Nil Volentibus Arduum
Please use <PRE> tags for code snippets, they preserve indentation, and improve readability.
yeah, i agree with you. money isn't always the key and giving back to community is a way to say thank you. :-D
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Dear Developers, it's quite some times that i have been thinking this question and couldn't find a settled answer for it. it is, "Why would developer want to do a free software development ?" free i mean is like "free beer" software development i mean --> they offer the software on the internet for free downloading or "freeware". so far i found the answer is "advertising". but it couldn't be for so long. i mean even hosting is paying, but why freeware ? for example, "free download manager", "daemon tools lite", and some others. even some are very generous in "giving" their working result on the net for free. i didn't against the free thing. only want to know, what could motivate developer to do it ? sometimes i read that they sacrificed their holiday to develop it, their after work time, their free time... that is a "mean" sacrifice for me. few have specific dedication and/or personal goal...maybe. but what is exactly the major fact of consideration for doing it ? Thank you for any attention given to my question. 1st answer: If you enjoy writing code or have developed something that scratches a personal itch why not give it to other people? It's like wondering why people dress up as Furries, play board games, participate in sunday league football or cricket, do sudoku... 2nd answer: I have also thought about that, open source i can understand. Because you got something you want to do with help from others.Freeware I don't know. I know that Daemon tools lite is released as a light version.You try it, like it and you want more. Then you have to purchase the full version. So sometimes you release a free version because you have an expensive Full version you want to sell. Permalink | Broken Post? Report Posted 19 hours ago Söderlund933 3rd Answer There is lot more to software then coding. You have to provide technical support, provide bug fixes, implement new features, and upgrade when new OS comes. For a small software it may not be worth to go through all this trouble, especially if expected user base is small. So if you still want to share it with others then make it freeware. Also when you use many freeware softwares and when you write a utility yourself then you might want to give back to community. And as others mentioned, companies do it for advertisement. They provide a reduced functionality software for free and sell a more powerful software. -Saurabh Notes: Previously i posted this message under question/answer section. but someone
How about "just for the fun of it"? Or, "for the challenge"?
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How about "just for the fun of it"? Or, "for the challenge"?
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How about "just for the fun of it"? Or, "for the challenge"?
THink about it... if you are just starting out as a company, what better way to release your first (simple) product to the masses? - Free It gets attention/promotion downloads, generates interest... I am working on a project at the moment... I am planning on releaseing it free.. I am also planning on having a "complex" payware version too. its the same as downloading an evaluation version of a piece of software.
-------------------------------------------------- John Crocker