PureBasic Forums - English

Hi All,

Just read the PureArea interview with Fred, and found it a great read, perhaps even a bit inspiring. Yes, I am tardy.

I am not sure how many licenses are sold on a monthly basis for Fred to live off of, and considering his intention to continue to offer lifetime updates thought it might be a worthy Christmas/New Years present to see if anyone else would like to chip in a bit of $$ for him?

If any of his team, André Beer, etc would set-up a PayPal account, I'd be happy to make a $10 donation. If a number of others did so as well, it would probably let him buy something nice for SWMBO (she who must be obeyed!). I'd like to see the community give a little something back to the man who's single-handedly created this phenomenon. Who knows, maybe a running total on the PureBasic website, or the PureArea?

I'm sure Thanks are great to hear, but a little $$ is nice too

Just donate directly to him. I've done that in the past when he helped me out a lot. I couldn't help it. It's so rare that a person like that would take time out of their schedule to personally help someone. I'm sure I"ll be doing that again shortly.

Interesting, if I saw a PayPal account somewhere I would.
Currently,

41 views
1 reply
2 votes no
1 vote yes

$10 at current exchange is barely enough to get 2 beers. Actions speak louder than words.

Xombie wrote:Just donate directly to him. I've done that in the past when he helped me out a lot. I couldn't help it. It's so rare that a person like that would take time out of their schedule to personally help someone. I'm sure I"ll be doing that again shortly.

I don't have $10, I have 10€

Also, shipping the money would cost me a bit...

Else Fred would have about 0,000000001% more money than what he now owns

I intend to purchase a new licence as soon as PB4 is released.

At least if it's any good I will!

I will. Pb is too cheap for what you're getting.

I will donate some money if Fred posts his PayPal details. I have a bit of money in there from selling stuff on eBay.

Poll Recap:
Yes! 58% [ 10 ]
No 41% [ 7 ]

Total Views- [308]

A guy spends a full year of 40+ hour weeks trying to fulfill people's requests, problems, features, etc, and at the end of it all, only 10 people are willing to pull some spare change out of their pocket? Thats really, really sad, especially since I know there would be an easy 50+ posts if Fred were to announce that he was going to add a charge for PB 4.0 I say keep 3.9x in proudction and free upgrades, and make 4.0 a totally seperate product, like Win98 and Win2000, and either charge full price or reduced for PB 3.9x owners.
Sure as heck no one is going to volunteer to give you anything for your effort. And I only use PB intermittently, but the lack of support beyone empty words was kind of lame.

> the lack of support beyone empty words was kind of lame

I fully understand where you're coming from, but this subject has been
discussed many times here (try a search!) and Fred has ALWAYS stated
that all updates will remain FREE. Until that changes, don't post comments
like the above because Fred has my support in ways you don't see.

First of all, Happy new year everybody !

What we should also keep in mind is the future of PureBasic.
I would not like to read in this forum in a few months that Fred has decided to stop working on PB, just because he was not earning enough money to live 'decently'.

Of course, none of us like to pay for something if they can get it for free.

But we should consider that this behaviour can be dangerous for some of us, who are working hard on projects based on PB, and because we are asking Fred for more and more functionalities...

So, Yes, I'm OK to give some bucks to Fred just now, but I'm also OK to pay for a 4.0 version.

Just because in my mind, it's the best way to keep PB alive... and, as we say in France : "any work deserves wages..."

Regards,
Nicolas

i think i'll buy another license on the relase of pb4, i have this feeling that fred will honour most of our (read: at least some of mine ) wishes...

PB wrote:I fully understand where you're coming from, but this subject has been discussed many times here (try a search!) and Fred has ALWAYS stated that all updates will remain FREE. Until that changes, don't post comments like the above because Fred has my support in ways you don't see.

PB, I'm quite sure Fred has your support and a fair number of other's in ways we don't see readily. However thats besides the point. I expect Fred will do exactly as he has said he would, I've no reason to doubt his word.
However, Delta69 seems to have gotten my point particularly well.
I am not sure how Fred survives on current savings, however I fear it is not something that is long-term, sustainable, or dare I say, remotely financially attractive to many here.
You may be privy to Fred's personal finances more than many here, however I just read the interview, and it appeared that he is living off of his savings, aside from other PB income perhaps. And my comment wasn't indicating Fred -would- start charging for PB4 to members, but just that he may need to if he wants to continue to work full time on PB in the future and not go back too work with PB going back to more of a side effort.
Pretty funny though, I get the feeling I'm being scolded for pointing out what seems financially obvious. I guess the kinder, and better thing (for Fred) would be to be quiet, or just post like many others asking when my new PB4 will be ready? Or maybe I respect his efforts, and am as mentioned, disappointed that less than 1% of the Community felt his time was worth even a child's spare change.

There is a reason why Updates to every other OS, programming language cost $$. They don't have a primary developer willing to work for basically nothing, and in fact from a financial perspective, accumulating personal debt to support a project. What Fred is attempting to do is noble. I just think it is not-sustainable in the long run, unless PB4 is a home-run, and generates substantial new sales. If it does, then his time, and investment pays off financially and even better gives him the freedom to continue forward. If not, then he still gets the personal satisfaction of keeping his promise, and a happy community, but does realize a real financial loss of 1 years pay as he could have been working a regular 9-5. Knowing Fred, he'd probably say its worth it, and that is a refreshingly humble thing to hear nowadays.
And, when did it become a crime to say one would -like- to reward a developer for their continuing work?

> when did it become a crime to say one would -like- to reward a developer
> for their continuing work?

I've got nothing against that; it was the comment of "lack of support" (that
I quoted) that I was taking offense to.

PB wrote:> when did it become a crime to say one would -like- to reward a developer
> for their continuing work?

I've got nothing against that; it was the comment of "lack of support" (that
I quoted) that I was taking offense to.

OK, thats good too hear. I didn't think my comment alluded to the number of folks helping Fred out behind the scenes as much as to the rest of us masses. BTW, if someone does want to donate a little to the cause, is there a way to do that aside from buying an entire new license? Sounds like some others are willing to do so.

@koehler: Sorry I'm such a grump lately. And to others, too.