4 ms·

> The tech industry as a whole has, over the last decade, adopted an especially frenzied pace that looks an awful lot like someone lost in the woods, freaking o

> The tech industry as a whole has, over the last decade, adopted an especially frenzied pace that looks an awful lot like someone lost in the woods, freaking out, running in different directions trying to figure out where they've been and where they're supposed to be going. I think there's a simpler explanation: people are trying to find new business models. The old model of individuals paying tens or hundreds of dollars for software is slowly dying, and it's on full display in the iOS app store where even $5 is perceived to be a lot to charge for an app. So we need new models. The rise of SaaS is tied to that shift. in-app purchases and related psychological shenanigans are related to that shift. The SV elders, like Peter Thiel of Palantir, now more than ever seem to favor rent-seeking business models and started selecting for those businesses 5 years ago. To course-correct, someone in technology will have to discover a new business model. I'm personally betting that we'll see a backlash and new models wherein people pay so there is no chance of data harvesting (going back from SaaS to standalone software)

kurthr 9y ago
Yes, when everything from Word, to CAD/CAM, to espionage is being priced on a yearly (soon to be monthly) a la cart SaaS subscription basis, you know that it's all about cash flows and lock-in. As you point out it really started after 2010 and has accelerated since 2015.
unethical_ban 9y ago
Good points, and it doesn't make Slack or anyone else look any better. They aren't doing what they do for the good of communication and long term retention. They are making themselve a single vendor point of failure on purpose, like so many companies have tried and will try to do with their customers. I don't believe there is a dichotomy between IRC and Slack. In fact, Rocket Chat and Mattermost show that locally hosted platforms can be developed openly and serve a similar purpose.

kurthr 9y ago

Yes, when everything from Word, to CAD/CAM, to espionage is being priced on a yearly (soon to be monthly) a la cart SaaS subscription basis, you know that it's all about cash flows and lock-in. As you point out it really started after 2010 and has accelerated since 2015.

unethical_ban 9y ago

Good points, and it doesn't make Slack or anyone else look any better. They aren't doing what they do for the good of communication and long term retention. They are making themselve a single vendor point of failure on purpose, like so many companies have tried and will try to do with their customers. I don't believe there is a dichotomy between IRC and Slack. In fact, Rocket Chat and Mattermost show that locally hosted platforms can be developed openly and serve a similar purpose.