5 ms·

I just bought VS 2015 in Oct 2016 and there is no upgrade path to VS 2017. Microsoft sold me legacy product and support says I have to pay again. This is still

by msmm 9y ago

I just bought VS 2015 in Oct 2016 and there is no upgrade path to VS 2017. Microsoft sold me legacy product and support says I have to pay again. This is still good old money hungry Microsoft that is trying to lure developer into their tools trap.

thanksgiving 9y ago
I'd just use the community edition if the software I was writing is educational or free and open source.
- golergka 9y ago
  There's astounding amount of companies that are just telling employees to use community edition, too. Haven't yet heard of anyone being sued over it. (Just to clarify, I do not support or excuse this behaviour).
  - my123 9y ago
    I believe that the Express editions can be used for paid software.
  - AlexeyBrin 9y ago
    It is astounding how many people don't read the license. You can legally use VS Community in your company for paid software as long as you have less than 5 employees or make less than one million per year. See https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/community/ https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/community/
    - msmm 9y ago
      Not if you sell your product to a company that have more than 5 employees or make more than million. Essentially community edition is for students and enthusiasts.
      - justin66 9y ago
        With that much money coming in, you ought to be able to figure it out and buy the appropriate tools.
        msmm 9y ago
        It is if client gets that money. If you write and sell your software to such clients you can't use community version even if you work alone and get paid less than a million.
      - AlexeyBrin 9y ago
        Sorry, but you are just cheap if you complain that with 1 million profit you can't afford to pay for VS.
        maxerickson 9y ago
        $1 million revenue. Doesn't really change the point about being cheap, but a business with $1 million in profit is way more fun than a business with $1 million in revenue.
        msmm 9y ago
        It also counts if your client has such revenue. You could be making little, but you can't use community version if you work with such clients.
        AlexeyBrin 9y ago
        If you are working on the client premises ask them to buy a license for you to use. If you are working from your home ... use the Community edition and that's it.
        msmm 9y ago
        I have my own office and no, it is not "that's it".
    - golergka 9y ago
      Oh, I was talking about companies that are certainly bivger than that.
- AlexeyBrin 9y ago
  You can legally use the Community edition for paid software, as long as your company has less than 5 employees and makes less than one million $/year or something like that (read the license carefully). Check the license and usage here https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/community/ https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/community/
Maarten88 9y ago
Should have taken the version with MSDN subscription: that one includes VS upgrades, various Windows licenses and even some Azure credits.
- msmm 9y ago
  Why should I pay for things I don't need? Every other company offers upgrade paths but not Microsoft. Had I known earlier they don't care about small devs I would have bought something else.
  - olie 9y ago
    > Why should I pay for things I don't need? You don't have to, but you are saying that you need to upgrade. > Every other company offers upgrade paths but not Microsoft. Many companies are moving to a SaaS model. Some, like Adobe and Autodesk, don't sell perpetual licenses at all. For engineering software you've always had to pay maintenance fees. > Had I known earlier they don't care about small devs I would have bought something else. Community edition is free for individuals and five licenses for small companies. I get that you're disappointed that you can't upgrade for a cheaper price, but the perpetual, or standalone, license isn't for people who need upgrades and it says so clearly on the page (which might not have been there when you purschased it though): "If all you need is the current version of Visual Studio Professional, you can make a one-time standalone license purchase. If you need new versions of Visual Studio Professional, access to Visual Studio Team Services, or have short-term needs then the Visual Studio Professional monthly subscription may be a better option." https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/pricing/ https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/pricing/
    - msmm 9y ago
      Monthly subscription was not available for me in October. > but the perpetual, or standalone, license isn't for people who need upgrades This is endemic to Microsoft. Every other software I bought had discounted upgrade options. They also didn't say "hey we release new version in few months and will abandon this one and you will not be able to upgrade" Maybe I am spoiled by other companies. Microsoft is certainly not small business friendly. Their support also was pathetic. It took them couple of months to say I can't upgrade.
devwastaken 9y ago
Everyone keeps patting Microsoft on the back for taking the 'step' into opensource, but all I see is the same product rehashed half a dozen times and massive dependence upon MS's ecosystem for development. There's a reason they can pay hundreds of developers to make these products, because they're still making plenty of money, infact, they're probably making more than ever.

by msmm 9y ago

thanksgiving 9y ago

I'd just use the community edition if the software I was writing is educational or free and open source.

golergka 9y ago
There's astounding amount of companies that are just telling employees to use community edition, too. Haven't yet heard of anyone being sued over it. (Just to clarify, I do not support or excuse this behaviour).
- my123 9y ago
  I believe that the Express editions can be used for paid software.
- AlexeyBrin 9y ago
  It is astounding how many people don't read the license. You can legally use VS Community in your company for paid software as long as you have less than 5 employees or make less than one million per year. See https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/community/ https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/community/
  - msmm 9y ago
    Not if you sell your product to a company that have more than 5 employees or make more than million. Essentially community edition is for students and enthusiasts.
    - justin66 9y ago
      With that much money coming in, you ought to be able to figure it out and buy the appropriate tools.
      - msmm 9y ago
        It is if client gets that money. If you write and sell your software to such clients you can't use community version even if you work alone and get paid less than a million.
    - AlexeyBrin 9y ago
      Sorry, but you are just cheap if you complain that with 1 million profit you can't afford to pay for VS.
      - maxerickson 9y ago
        $1 million revenue. Doesn't really change the point about being cheap, but a business with $1 million in profit is way more fun than a business with $1 million in revenue.
      - msmm 9y ago
        It also counts if your client has such revenue. You could be making little, but you can't use community version if you work with such clients.
        AlexeyBrin 9y ago
        If you are working on the client premises ask them to buy a license for you to use. If you are working from your home ... use the Community edition and that's it.
        msmm 9y ago
        I have my own office and no, it is not "that's it".
  - golergka 9y ago
    Oh, I was talking about companies that are certainly bivger than that.
AlexeyBrin 9y ago
You can legally use the Community edition for paid software, as long as your company has less than 5 employees and makes less than one million $/year or something like that (read the license carefully). Check the license and usage here https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/community/ https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/community/

Maarten88 9y ago

Should have taken the version with MSDN subscription: that one includes VS upgrades, various Windows licenses and even some Azure credits.

msmm 9y ago
Why should I pay for things I don't need? Every other company offers upgrade paths but not Microsoft. Had I known earlier they don't care about small devs I would have bought something else.
- olie 9y ago
  > Why should I pay for things I don't need? You don't have to, but you are saying that you need to upgrade. > Every other company offers upgrade paths but not Microsoft. Many companies are moving to a SaaS model. Some, like Adobe and Autodesk, don't sell perpetual licenses at all. For engineering software you've always had to pay maintenance fees. > Had I known earlier they don't care about small devs I would have bought something else. Community edition is free for individuals and five licenses for small companies. I get that you're disappointed that you can't upgrade for a cheaper price, but the perpetual, or standalone, license isn't for people who need upgrades and it says so clearly on the page (which might not have been there when you purschased it though): "If all you need is the current version of Visual Studio Professional, you can make a one-time standalone license purchase. If you need new versions of Visual Studio Professional, access to Visual Studio Team Services, or have short-term needs then the Visual Studio Professional monthly subscription may be a better option." https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/pricing/ https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/pricing/
  - msmm 9y ago
    Monthly subscription was not available for me in October. > but the perpetual, or standalone, license isn't for people who need upgrades This is endemic to Microsoft. Every other software I bought had discounted upgrade options. They also didn't say "hey we release new version in few months and will abandon this one and you will not be able to upgrade" Maybe I am spoiled by other companies. Microsoft is certainly not small business friendly. Their support also was pathetic. It took them couple of months to say I can't upgrade.

devwastaken 9y ago

Everyone keeps patting Microsoft on the back for taking the 'step' into opensource, but all I see is the same product rehashed half a dozen times and massive dependence upon MS's ecosystem for development. There's a reason they can pay hundreds of developers to make these products, because they're still making plenty of money, infact, they're probably making more than ever.