6 ms·

> Just as personal computers transformed the '80s, this latest generation knows that the Net is going to transform the '90s. With the same ethic that has guided

by arh68 12y ago

> Just as personal computers transformed the '80s, this latest generation knows that the Net is going to transform the '90s. With the same ethic that has guided previous generations, today's users are leading the way with tools created initially as "freeware" or "shareware," available to anyone who wants them. So, did that generation die? I think it died back with Justin Frankel and Shawn Fanning. 'Writing shareware' hasn't really been an acceptable job description since about then. And if that wave from '95 died, what wave are we in now? EDIT: PS I just remembered Bram Cohen's name so I'm trying to rethink the generations..

jiggy2011 12y ago
Open source is the new shareware I think.
pjc50 12y ago
Everything's been professionalised as there are far more people able to write software and far more competition. "Shareware" has been replaced with IAPs, "free to play", and advertising-supported software. Everything is now always connected; there's no advantage to distributing software by mailing out floppy disks and persuading people to hand those disks to others.
Udo 12y ago
The existence of shareware was mostly due to an information imbalance and difficulties in distribution. These factors went away when the internet became ubiquitous and fast. Trialware and nagware still exists, though. Today, the distribution and adoption challenge is mostly solved through open source software, so I'm guessing that people who would have been shareware authors in the 80s and 90s are simply doing open source (with commercial support, corporate sponsorship, and/or dual licensing) or are working on closed-source commercial software. For that last category, the internet has also lowered the barriers tremendously in every conceivable way. My guess is the spirit and complex motivations of software authors have not fundamentally changed but have morphed to fill a different eco system.
wisty 12y ago
If you want a free closed-source app with optional upgrades, have a look at your phone.

by arh68 12y ago

jiggy2011 12y ago

Open source is the new shareware I think.

pjc50 12y ago

Everything's been professionalised as there are far more people able to write software and far more competition. "Shareware" has been replaced with IAPs, "free to play", and advertising-supported software. Everything is now always connected; there's no advantage to distributing software by mailing out floppy disks and persuading people to hand those disks to others.

Udo 12y ago

The existence of shareware was mostly due to an information imbalance and difficulties in distribution. These factors went away when the internet became ubiquitous and fast. Trialware and nagware still exists, though. Today, the distribution and adoption challenge is mostly solved through open source software, so I'm guessing that people who would have been shareware authors in the 80s and 90s are simply doing open source (with commercial support, corporate sponsorship, and/or dual licensing) or are working on closed-source commercial software. For that last category, the internet has also lowered the barriers tremendously in every conceivable way. My guess is the spirit and complex motivations of software authors have not fundamentally changed but have morphed to fill a different eco system.

wisty 12y ago

If you want a free closed-source app with optional upgrades, have a look at your phone.