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I've found JetBrains and .. tele.. ? (screenflow) to both be decent compromises. Well... I guess screenflow isn't a rental - I upgraded through version 6 - I m

I've found JetBrains and .. tele.. ? (screenflow) to both be decent compromises. Well... I guess screenflow isn't a rental - I upgraded through version 6 - I may upgrade to 9 now, as there's enough 'new' stuff (and I have a newer laptop) to make it worthwhile. I appreciated it not being a subscription, precisely because nothing changed for me - I kept using the same software for a few years, knowing I was missing out on some bug fixes (but also knowing I could upgrade to get them reasonably cheap - it was a choice on my part). The JetBrains model is good because I'm able to keep using a version without paying for upgrades (but I have kept up anyway as the annual fee is so cheap for what I get). The points you've made are why I don't typically get software that is truly 'rental only' or hits your other points. That said, I've not run in to too many in the past few years that are affected by those issues any more. Are there some in particular you're thinking of that have those problems?

danieldk 7y ago
Do JetBrains products still work if the company would go out of business or decided to undo the perpetual license? (I haven't upgraded my license since they switched to the subscription model.) [1] [1] It would probably be difficult contractually, but such things happen. See e.g. TextDrive hosting lifetime accounts.
- jhawk28 7y ago
  Your perpetual license only works on a historical version. It doesn't work with any updates. The incentive is for them to continue building products that make you want to upgrade. The perpetual license key works in a disconnected network so it doesn't matter if JetBrains went out of business. You just need to make sure you have a local copy backed up.
  - taneq 7y ago
    Honestly that's OK, if it doesn't break my current build arbitrarily then maybe later I'll upgrade.
sjwright 7y ago
The Jetbrains model needs a simple, catchy name so that more companies can be inspired to choose it. Perpetual subscription?
- mcgrath_sh 7y ago
  Rolling lease to own, maybe?
- taneq 7y ago
  The "JetBrains model" is how all software used to work. You... buy the software. And then maybe you get free updates until the next major release. If you buy the next major release then that's another "12 month subscription".
- pseudalopex 7y ago
  JetBrains calls it a perpetual fallback license.

danieldk 7y ago

Do JetBrains products still work if the company would go out of business or decided to undo the perpetual license? (I haven't upgraded my license since they switched to the subscription model.) [1] [1] It would probably be difficult contractually, but such things happen. See e.g. TextDrive hosting lifetime accounts.

jhawk28 7y ago
Your perpetual license only works on a historical version. It doesn't work with any updates. The incentive is for them to continue building products that make you want to upgrade. The perpetual license key works in a disconnected network so it doesn't matter if JetBrains went out of business. You just need to make sure you have a local copy backed up.
- taneq 7y ago
  Honestly that's OK, if it doesn't break my current build arbitrarily then maybe later I'll upgrade.

sjwright 7y ago

The Jetbrains model needs a simple, catchy name so that more companies can be inspired to choose it. Perpetual subscription?

mcgrath_sh 7y ago
Rolling lease to own, maybe?
taneq 7y ago
The "JetBrains model" is how all software used to work. You... buy the software. And then maybe you get free updates until the next major release. If you buy the next major release then that's another "12 month subscription".
pseudalopex 7y ago
JetBrains calls it a perpetual fallback license.