4 ms·

Part of my "best life" isn't being nickel and dimed into poverty by everything modern wanting it's "only a cup of coffee" $5 drop of blood every month

andrewstuart 3y ago
It's just about balance. If there is something I need that provides value then my wallet instantly comes out. I more than happily pay for my JetBrains IDE - it's a tool I use full time. Same for ChatGPT - I'd throw my money at them. I'd pay 5 times as much. I was paying for an anti spam system but I'm not convinced it was doing a great job.
- frou_dh 3y ago
  Yep it's funny to me how many developer/poweruser type people act like exchanging money for goods and services is a weird unsavoury concept. Do they have this same hangup in other areas of life?
  - nyanpasu64 3y ago
    I don't like having my personal workflows dependent on payments or subscription fees, and I don't like rewarding enshittifying corporations deliberately worsening free programs with feature restrictions and manipulative upsell ads (see Windows 10/11, Discord, scummy mobile apps/games, etc.) Re. other areas of life, I will pay (limited) amounts of money for scarce goods (which software isn't), but frankly it's terrifying that you're reliant on unaffordable payments and subscription fees to avoid freezing or starving to death in real life. Given my current (in)ability to hold a job, I don't see a long-term future for myself surviving.
  - hotnfresh 3y ago
    It’s less the money and more being stuck with a particular company, with the vulnerability that implies. A real world thing that’s similar is cordless power tools. All the god-damn incompatible battery styles.
  - johnnyanmac 3y ago
    technically yes. Esepcially as more and more things veer towards monthly subscriptions that have no business requiring a service. I will try to seek out cheaper or "free" solutions as more and more things try to leech money from me. If something I need is a one time payment of $200 and is worth it, I'll grab it. If it's a $15/month subscription I'm put off, even if I may only use it 6 months and it comes out cheaper. I'm forgetful as is and I despise the thought of continually paying for something I've forgotten about. But I know I'm the odd one out there.
- johnnyanmac 3y ago
  >It's just about balance. Odd to say after making a statement about two extremes. But for me, it's more about stability. Jetrbains is great for me too but I don't feel so dependent on it with a project that it shitting the bed would endanger my own aspects. I can still use Visual Studio or Sublime Text or even go back to good ol' vim if needed. That flexibility of choice ironically enough makes me fine with paying for what's best for me. But for me, take a game engine. That's a very core part of my project and lately we've see how the two biggest competitors can screw things over so easily. They may be the best choice, but are they MY best choice? As things are now I'd rather choose a tool I'll struggle with more but have more control over. Because if a game engine suddenly wants to demand retroactive payment, that's a huge issue for me. And I don't mind spending some time helping out other engines rise up so others can make an easier jump.

andrewstuart 3y ago

It's just about balance. If there is something I need that provides value then my wallet instantly comes out. I more than happily pay for my JetBrains IDE - it's a tool I use full time. Same for ChatGPT - I'd throw my money at them. I'd pay 5 times as much. I was paying for an anti spam system but I'm not convinced it was doing a great job.

frou_dh 3y ago
Yep it's funny to me how many developer/poweruser type people act like exchanging money for goods and services is a weird unsavoury concept. Do they have this same hangup in other areas of life?
- nyanpasu64 3y ago
  I don't like having my personal workflows dependent on payments or subscription fees, and I don't like rewarding enshittifying corporations deliberately worsening free programs with feature restrictions and manipulative upsell ads (see Windows 10/11, Discord, scummy mobile apps/games, etc.) Re. other areas of life, I will pay (limited) amounts of money for scarce goods (which software isn't), but frankly it's terrifying that you're reliant on unaffordable payments and subscription fees to avoid freezing or starving to death in real life. Given my current (in)ability to hold a job, I don't see a long-term future for myself surviving.
- hotnfresh 3y ago
  It’s less the money and more being stuck with a particular company, with the vulnerability that implies. A real world thing that’s similar is cordless power tools. All the god-damn incompatible battery styles.
- johnnyanmac 3y ago
  technically yes. Esepcially as more and more things veer towards monthly subscriptions that have no business requiring a service. I will try to seek out cheaper or "free" solutions as more and more things try to leech money from me. If something I need is a one time payment of $200 and is worth it, I'll grab it. If it's a $15/month subscription I'm put off, even if I may only use it 6 months and it comes out cheaper. I'm forgetful as is and I despise the thought of continually paying for something I've forgotten about. But I know I'm the odd one out there.
johnnyanmac 3y ago
>It's just about balance. Odd to say after making a statement about two extremes. But for me, it's more about stability. Jetrbains is great for me too but I don't feel so dependent on it with a project that it shitting the bed would endanger my own aspects. I can still use Visual Studio or Sublime Text or even go back to good ol' vim if needed. That flexibility of choice ironically enough makes me fine with paying for what's best for me. But for me, take a game engine. That's a very core part of my project and lately we've see how the two biggest competitors can screw things over so easily. They may be the best choice, but are they MY best choice? As things are now I'd rather choose a tool I'll struggle with more but have more control over. Because if a game engine suddenly wants to demand retroactive payment, that's a huge issue for me. And I don't mind spending some time helping out other engines rise up so others can make an easier jump.