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"Comes with source code" != "must be given away for free". You can charge them to download the source code. You can charge them to download pre-compiled executa
by ddevault 6y ago
"Comes with source code" != "must be given away for free". You can charge them to download the source code. You can charge them to download pre-compiled executables. Someone else could build it and put it up online, but you'd have the only authoritative source, the first word on updates (including security updates), the only source that they can trust hasn't been manipulated, and the first-mover advantage. And if someone goes to a shady site to download your software to avoid paying you for it, maybe they can't afford it and you should look the other way.
- tarruda 6y agoI think that business model could work well for 1-2 person companies, but how well would it scale? TBH I'm not very informed in this regard, do you know where can I read more about open source business models?
- ddevault 6y ago>I think that business model could work well for 1-2 person companies, but how well would it scale? I have no reason to suspect it would not scale up. In fact, the larger the force behind the software, the more difficult it is for a competitor to step in and try to maintain a fork. >TBH I'm not very informed in this regard, do you know where can I read more about open source business models? I wrote about this here: https://drewdevault.com/2020/11/20/A-few-ways-to-make-money-in-FOSS.html https://drewdevault.com/2020/11/20/A-few-ways-to-make-money-... I don't address your specific domain - end-user software - but I would just say "try selling it, with the source code".