Re:Local-first software: you own your data, in spite of the ...
by masukomi on Thursday November 21, 2019 @03:07PM
(#21598921)
what do you do when you've saturated the market?
one-time fee only works if you have a constant stream of new customers into your niche that is sufficient to pay your salary.
with upgrades or subscriptions you can have a group of users who love what you do and are happy to support you without having to hope for new users and constantly market to get them.
Re:Local-first software: you own your data, in spite of the ...
by JohnFen on Thursday November 21, 2019 @03:46PM
(#21599398)
> what do you do when you've saturated the market?
If I want to continue active development on it, then I sell upgrades. If not, then I'll continue to do free maintenance releases, but my main business will be from different products.
> one-time fee only works if you have a constant stream of new customers into your niche that is sufficient to pay your salary.
You can continue to get income from existing customers. You just have to provide real value to them in exchange for it.
I strongly disagree. I have always, up to this day, sold software on that model, and I will probably always do so. There's nothing unsustainable about it.
What is true is that rent-seeking can be much more profitable. But fortunately for those of us who find it very distasteful, it's not necessary.