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I have been using it for a while now, and it has been my go-to replacement for Docker. Additionally, I have Linux machines that allow me to test things that I c

by xyos 4y ago

I have been using it for a while now, and it has been my go-to replacement for Docker. Additionally, I have Linux machines that allow me to test things that I can't on macOS. The product is excellent, and the CLI integration is phenomenal. I'm curious about the pricing scheme for this product.

kdrag0n 4y ago
Glad to hear that, thanks for sharing :) Still working out the details (personal vs. business use, subscription vs. perpetual license, pricing, OSS and student discounts, etc.), but here are some preliminary thoughts (TLDR: difficult choice because people don't like subscriptions): --- OrbStack is a product that requires continuous maintenance to components in order to improve over time and prevent security issues. Subscriptions are the only way to align our incentives with yours: we’re incentivized to keep improving the product and moving forward; you want improvements, and you can always cancel if you don’t feel like you’re getting that. Lifetime: Unsustainable. OrbStack's components need continuous updates: compatibility with new macOS versions, Linux kernel, Docker, other assorted pieces, and new features to stay competitive. This would make it more likely to be discontinued. Major version upgrades: This incentives us to withhold features for months when they would otherwise be released much faster; we'd rather deliver gradual improvements so you get constant value. Also, major upgrades have a high risk of introducing breaking changes, bugs, and other issues due to a lack of gradual testing. You don’t want massive changes in your dev tools every year, do you? 1-year updates + fallback perpetual: Isn't this more or less a yearly subscription in disguise? Just cancel if you don’t want to keep paying. I know JetBrains does a hybrid of this + subscription — not entirely opposed to it, but it shares a lot of these issues (e.g. incentivizes slower feature development). Realistically, would anyone revert to a year-old version and stay on it forever? (Also, from our perspective: Sure, less people will pay if it’s subscription-only, but I'd expect long-term recurring revenue to be higher. I’d love to be able to keep expanding the project.) All that being said, I'm still not sure. Compared to Docker, not being subscription-only could be an advantage, and I want to keep pricing simple. It's a hard problem. --- There's more in the docs at https://docs.orbstack.dev/faq#free https://docs.orbstack.dev/faq#free, but this is most of it. I'll have to figure out what the best choice is for OrbStack.
- tempaccount420 4y ago
  I'd like a high initial price and then lower subscription price. Like $30 initial, then a few dollars a month on subscription. If I stop paying subscription, I would like to still use the version I have, even if I won't receive updates.
  - kdrag0n 4y ago
    Not sure I've heard of a model exactly like that before, but it sounds fairly similar to "1-year updates + fallback perpetual" which is the JetBrains model. I'm kind of leaning towards that, with a monthly option for a lower commitment: - Monthly. No perpetual license. - Annual. Perpetual license for the latest version as of your subscription renewal (a little odd, but matches JetBrains). Both in the range of $5-12/mo total. I could also consider free/discounted plans for educational and non-commercial open-source development.

by xyos 4y ago

kdrag0n 4y ago

Glad to hear that, thanks for sharing :) Still working out the details (personal vs. business use, subscription vs. perpetual license, pricing, OSS and student discounts, etc.), but here are some preliminary thoughts (TLDR: difficult choice because people don't like subscriptions): --- OrbStack is a product that requires continuous maintenance to components in order to improve over time and prevent security issues. Subscriptions are the only way to align our incentives with yours: we’re incentivized to keep improving the product and moving forward; you want improvements, and you can always cancel if you don’t feel like you’re getting that. Lifetime: Unsustainable. OrbStack's components need continuous updates: compatibility with new macOS versions, Linux kernel, Docker, other assorted pieces, and new features to stay competitive. This would make it more likely to be discontinued. Major version upgrades: This incentives us to withhold features for months when they would otherwise be released much faster; we'd rather deliver gradual improvements so you get constant value. Also, major upgrades have a high risk of introducing breaking changes, bugs, and other issues due to a lack of gradual testing. You don’t want massive changes in your dev tools every year, do you? 1-year updates + fallback perpetual: Isn't this more or less a yearly subscription in disguise? Just cancel if you don’t want to keep paying. I know JetBrains does a hybrid of this + subscription — not entirely opposed to it, but it shares a lot of these issues (e.g. incentivizes slower feature development). Realistically, would anyone revert to a year-old version and stay on it forever? (Also, from our perspective: Sure, less people will pay if it’s subscription-only, but I'd expect long-term recurring revenue to be higher. I’d love to be able to keep expanding the project.) All that being said, I'm still not sure. Compared to Docker, not being subscription-only could be an advantage, and I want to keep pricing simple. It's a hard problem. --- There's more in the docs at https://docs.orbstack.dev/faq#free https://docs.orbstack.dev/faq#free, but this is most of it. I'll have to figure out what the best choice is for OrbStack.

tempaccount420 4y ago
I'd like a high initial price and then lower subscription price. Like $30 initial, then a few dollars a month on subscription. If I stop paying subscription, I would like to still use the version I have, even if I won't receive updates.
- kdrag0n 4y ago
  Not sure I've heard of a model exactly like that before, but it sounds fairly similar to "1-year updates + fallback perpetual" which is the JetBrains model. I'm kind of leaning towards that, with a monthly option for a lower commitment: - Monthly. No perpetual license. - Annual. Perpetual license for the latest version as of your subscription renewal (a little odd, but matches JetBrains). Both in the range of $5-12/mo total. I could also consider free/discounted plans for educational and non-commercial open-source development.