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Do you think there is a way for (potential) customers to identify any information about the intentions of the developer or company? The recent Internet Defense

by DASD 14y ago

Do you think there is a way for (potential) customers to identify any information about the intentions of the developer or company? The recent Internet Defense League makes me wonder if something similar couldn't be launched for small software companies who make it CLEARLY part of their ethos about the direction of the company. This would not necessarily be a membership kind of animal but more of a "we agree with the ideas of Small Software Developers' Principles."

cperciva 14y ago
Do you think there is a way for (potential) customers to identify any information about the intentions of the developer or company? Well, in many cases "free" is strongly suggestive of the "not trying to build a company, just building a portfolio in order to attract job offers" scenario. Beyond that, it's hard to say. The recent Internet Defense League makes me wonder if something similar couldn't be launched [...] I'm not sure what "something similar" would be here. Your favourite website is being shut down because its developers got acquihired by Google, so you should write a letter to your member of congress?
- DASD 14y ago
  I don't know if free is necessarily an indicator or not. Craigslist at one point was a start-up and usage of the site is free with the exception of ads for some categories(apartment listings I believe?) in dense areas such as NYC. I would say the business supported the founder well enough and even so he was able to create a philanthropic extension because of it. "Something similar" being companies that subscribe to an idea of "not heading towards acquihire." Substitute idea with ethos/loose organization/alliance/whatever other non-hostile word might suffice here. I'm not suggessting that by participating you elect to be lynched by a mob at the slightest whim of misunderstanding or error. It is more of a self-certify that a company has an intention of providing a service and not a portfolio to be hired in 180 days.
  - cperciva 14y ago
    Cases like craigslist are why I said "in some cases". A simple website which can handle millions of users from a single low-end server can survive being free for a long time. An online backup service where a single user might cost many dollars a month to serve, on the other hand, needs revenue to survive in the long term. Your idea of self-certification is why I wrote that blog post. It's an open invitation to lynch me if Tarsnap gets acquired and shut down a few months later.

by DASD 14y ago

cperciva 14y ago

Do you think there is a way for (potential) customers to identify any information about the intentions of the developer or company? Well, in many cases "free" is strongly suggestive of the "not trying to build a company, just building a portfolio in order to attract job offers" scenario. Beyond that, it's hard to say. The recent Internet Defense League makes me wonder if something similar couldn't be launched [...] I'm not sure what "something similar" would be here. Your favourite website is being shut down because its developers got acquihired by Google, so you should write a letter to your member of congress?

DASD 14y ago
I don't know if free is necessarily an indicator or not. Craigslist at one point was a start-up and usage of the site is free with the exception of ads for some categories(apartment listings I believe?) in dense areas such as NYC. I would say the business supported the founder well enough and even so he was able to create a philanthropic extension because of it. "Something similar" being companies that subscribe to an idea of "not heading towards acquihire." Substitute idea with ethos/loose organization/alliance/whatever other non-hostile word might suffice here. I'm not suggessting that by participating you elect to be lynched by a mob at the slightest whim of misunderstanding or error. It is more of a self-certify that a company has an intention of providing a service and not a portfolio to be hired in 180 days.
- cperciva 14y ago
  Cases like craigslist are why I said "in some cases". A simple website which can handle millions of users from a single low-end server can survive being free for a long time. An online backup service where a single user might cost many dollars a month to serve, on the other hand, needs revenue to survive in the long term. Your idea of self-certification is why I wrote that blog post. It's an open invitation to lynch me if Tarsnap gets acquired and shut down a few months later.