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I opened a company specifically for this (ipad/iphone development) it was my plan to leave my current company and build something less stressful. I reached a po

I opened a company specifically for this (ipad/iphone development) it was my plan to leave my current company and build something less stressful. I reached a point where I'm no longer interested in building apps for the app store, apple asks too much and give us too little. I posted on HN because most readers are also programmers and they are exactly whom will fork the project, etc. That said, yep, it can be considered a 'publicity stunt', but you make it sound as something bad. I really just want that those interested get in touch.

Steko 14y ago
"you make it sound as something bad" Because you've basically admitted that your post is disingenuous. The DUNS requirement is easily sidestepped in the short term and a complete non-issue in the long term.
- dutchbrit 14y ago
  But it really shouldn't be an issue in the first place, right?
  - pretoriusB 14y ago
    It's not, except if you are a company. And if you are a company, you have a lot more paperwork to worry about than just DUNS. Plus, it helps keep out the less motivated.
ghshephard 14y ago
I'm confused - if you opened a company, then there is obviously going to be a lot more paperwork/hoops to jump through than if you did this as an individual. Maybe I'm missing something here - why didn't you just publish the App as an individual?
- eduardordm 14y ago
  My idea was to release an app every 3-5 months and make at least 60k/year. I cannot sell that much in Brazil as a individual (limit here is 36k BRL). Actually, it took me 8 days to open the company. At the first day I had the CNPJ (EIN in the US), so, in fact, it took me less than 24 hours to be able to accept payments. I don't see the app store as a viable way of making a living anymore (for single developers). I'll try to build something that doesn't depend of other company's mood.
  - eridius 14y ago
    First off, you actually have a limit on how much an individual developer can make? That sounds crazy. Secondly, I don't understand your anger at Apple. They don't control DUNS numbers. It's not their fault that you're having a problem getting one.
    - Steko 14y ago
      Elaborating a bit on DUNS: My understanding is that DUNS was not always a requirement for companies publishing on the iOS App Store. It was added about a year and a half ago (?) and given the timing and what DUNS represents it seems reasonable to assume that it was added as a reaction to app spammers and scammers that would run fly by night operations, take people's money and run. DUNS may not have been the best solution and like other areas of the submission/approval process it seems there are some obvious quality of life improvements Apple should implement but in the big picture what is the alternative to DUNS? (1) Go back to scammer friendly system. Yeah I don't see that happening. (2) Apple holds the money for longer. I don't see people lining up for this option. (3) Everyone has to buy insurance. Spoilers: insurer asks for DUNS number. (4) A better partner than D&B. Is there one? The US government appears to be looking for alternatives as well[1] but it doesn't look like there is a good replacement. [1] http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-715R http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-715R GSA has been conducting an analysis of alternatives for the use of Dun & Bradstreet's DUNS entity unique identifier and is expected to complete its analysis by March 30, 2013.
      - tomkin 14y ago
pretoriusB 14y ago
>I opened a company specifically for this (ipad/iphone development) it was my plan to leave my current company and build something less stressful. This seems more like wishful thinking (and underestimating the effort and polish needed) than a serious business decision. >I reached a point where I'm no longer interested in building apps for the app store, apple asks too much and give us too little. It asks for: a Mac to work (lots of people have one already) on, a $99/year iOS developer account and 30% of your sales. With that you get: an quite capable IDE for free, a top-notch SDK, tons of documentation, access to a market of 100+ million devices and one-click credit card accounts that is KNOWN to sell billions of apps. Seems like a bargain. Heck, companies used to sell a developer license for their SDK at the price of a high-end Mac itself -- and without providing access to any market or a free IDE. A lot still do. What exactly have you provided to feel so entitled? A half-finished app, built while "learning Objective-C"?

Steko 14y ago

"you make it sound as something bad" Because you've basically admitted that your post is disingenuous. The DUNS requirement is easily sidestepped in the short term and a complete non-issue in the long term.

dutchbrit 14y ago
But it really shouldn't be an issue in the first place, right?
- pretoriusB 14y ago
  It's not, except if you are a company. And if you are a company, you have a lot more paperwork to worry about than just DUNS. Plus, it helps keep out the less motivated.

ghshephard 14y ago

I'm confused - if you opened a company, then there is obviously going to be a lot more paperwork/hoops to jump through than if you did this as an individual. Maybe I'm missing something here - why didn't you just publish the App as an individual?

eduardordm 14y ago
My idea was to release an app every 3-5 months and make at least 60k/year. I cannot sell that much in Brazil as a individual (limit here is 36k BRL). Actually, it took me 8 days to open the company. At the first day I had the CNPJ (EIN in the US), so, in fact, it took me less than 24 hours to be able to accept payments. I don't see the app store as a viable way of making a living anymore (for single developers). I'll try to build something that doesn't depend of other company's mood.
- eridius 14y ago
  First off, you actually have a limit on how much an individual developer can make? That sounds crazy. Secondly, I don't understand your anger at Apple. They don't control DUNS numbers. It's not their fault that you're having a problem getting one.
  - Steko 14y ago
    Elaborating a bit on DUNS: My understanding is that DUNS was not always a requirement for companies publishing on the iOS App Store. It was added about a year and a half ago (?) and given the timing and what DUNS represents it seems reasonable to assume that it was added as a reaction to app spammers and scammers that would run fly by night operations, take people's money and run. DUNS may not have been the best solution and like other areas of the submission/approval process it seems there are some obvious quality of life improvements Apple should implement but in the big picture what is the alternative to DUNS? (1) Go back to scammer friendly system. Yeah I don't see that happening. (2) Apple holds the money for longer. I don't see people lining up for this option. (3) Everyone has to buy insurance. Spoilers: insurer asks for DUNS number. (4) A better partner than D&B. Is there one? The US government appears to be looking for alternatives as well[1] but it doesn't look like there is a good replacement. [1] http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-715R http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-715R GSA has been conducting an analysis of alternatives for the use of Dun & Bradstreet's DUNS entity unique identifier and is expected to complete its analysis by March 30, 2013.
    - tomkin 14y ago

pretoriusB 14y ago

>I opened a company specifically for this (ipad/iphone development) it was my plan to leave my current company and build something less stressful. This seems more like wishful thinking (and underestimating the effort and polish needed) than a serious business decision. >I reached a point where I'm no longer interested in building apps for the app store, apple asks too much and give us too little. It asks for: a Mac to work (lots of people have one already) on, a $99/year iOS developer account and 30% of your sales. With that you get: an quite capable IDE for free, a top-notch SDK, tons of documentation, access to a market of 100+ million devices and one-click credit card accounts that is KNOWN to sell billions of apps. Seems like a bargain. Heck, companies used to sell a developer license for their SDK at the price of a high-end Mac itself -- and without providing access to any market or a free IDE. A lot still do. What exactly have you provided to feel so entitled? A half-finished app, built while "learning Objective-C"?