Interview by Quin and Nsstudios

[Fred]

Hello folks,

Quin and Nsstudios kindly asked for a new interview with me, so here we go ! https://www.purebasic.fr/blog/?p=554

Old interview by Andre can be found here: https://www.purebasic.fr/english/viewtopic.php?t=64493

Have fun !

Fred

[Marc56us]

Thank you for the news.

(Translated and reposted on the french forum for those who don't come here or don't have online translation tools.)

[miso]

Thanks for the great interview (to both Fred and Quin). The Netscape article was also useful.

[BarryG]

I’m planning to switch to same payment model than SpiderBasic soon (1 year free update included, then if you need the most recent version you have to subscribe for another year at a discounted price)

Wait a sec! This is the most important bit of the interview. New users of PureBasic will have to subscribe if they want updates? And I assume those of us who paid for free lifetime updates will be grandfathered and still get them?

[Quin]

This is absolutely incredible ,Thanks so much for being willing to answer our questions and host this interview, Fred!

[Fred]

I’m planning to switch to same payment model than SpiderBasic soon (1 year free update included, then if you need the most recent version you have to subscribe for another year at a discounted price)

Wait a sec! This is the most important bit of the interview. New users of PureBasic will have to subscribe if they want updates? And I assume those of us who paid for free lifetime updates will be grandfathered and still get them?

Yes

[skinkairewalker]

Thanks Fantaisie Software, for the extraordinary work, and you can be sure that whatever decision they make, I am a supporter.

[Little John]

That's an interesting read. Thanks for the insights, Fred!
However, one important question was not asked: Have your sons written their first PureBasic or SpiderBasic program yet?

[skinkairewalker]

Wait a sec! This is the most important bit of the interview. New users of PureBasic will have to subscribe if they want updates? And I assume those of us who paid for free lifetime updates will be grandfathered and still get them?

Analyze these two situations:

• 1st Situation
  In almost every company worldwide (mainly in communist countries), the government is always an obstacle. Regulations, taxes, bureaucracy, and compliance requirements can create unnecessary burdens, making it harder for businesses to thrive. Fantaisie Software, like any other company, has to worry about finances—not just for the business itself but also for the developers and employees who rely on it for their livelihood.
  
  Considering that they are developing one of the most efficient tools in the software creation market, don’t you think that constantly worrying about finances can become a mental burden that could even demotivate the team at Fantaisie Software? Financial insecurity can lead to slower development, fewer innovations, and, in the worst case, the abandonment of the project altogether. ( which is not the case with Fantaisie Software, which even selling 1x the license, still gives 1000000% of itself, as Fred presents improvement after improvement, even without having financial reward for it... )
  
  On top of that, as a programmer and user, I’ve already made some money using PureBasic for freelance work. That alone would justify giving something back—even though I don’t have a habit of making donations. If more users supported the tool financially, the developers could focus on improving it rather than worrying about sustainability.

• 2nd Situation
  Alternatively, we could look at it from another perspective: PureBasic is a valuable asset for our careers, especially for freelancers creating their own software. Unlike open-source tools that rely solely on volunteers, PureBasic is a professionally maintained product that ensures stability, efficiency, and long-term support.
  
  Developing a tool like PureBasic is neither cheap nor easy. It requires years of experience, constant research, adaptation to new technologies, and ongoing improvements. Beyond just writing code, the developers must handle bug fixes, compatibility updates, documentation, customer support, and new feature development.
  
  This business model of charging for annual updates is more than fair. In fact, it’s essential for sustainability. Many software projects die because they lack funding or developers lose interest due to the lack of financial return. If we expect the developers to dedicate their lives to improving PureBasic, shouldn’t they be fairly compensated for their work?
  
  Imagine a scenario where they stopped updating the tool due to a lack of funding. We, as users, would be left without updates, new features, or even security fixes. In the long run, supporting PureBasic isn’t just about the developers—it’s also in our best interest as users who rely on the tool for professional and personal projects.

PureBasic is not the only software that suggests this model. Many other professional tools also use an annual licensing system to support development...

[Fred]

That's an interesting read. Thanks for the insights, Fred!
However, one important question was not asked: Have your sons written their first PureBasic or SpiderBasic program yet?

Not yet, but I'm working on it (it's hard to get rid of Minecraft )

[USCode]

...
Not yet, but I'm working on it (it's hard to get rid of Minecraft )

It doesn't end Fred, my kids are both at University and they STILL play Minecraft!

[Fred]

...
Not yet, but I'm working on it (it's hard to get rid of Minecraft )

It doesn't end Fred, my kids are both at University and they STILL play Minecraft!

[skywalk]

Thanks for the interview Fred.
What issues do you see limiting PureBasic from widespread professional use?
Is closed source compiler the biggest resistance?
I trust you!

[minimy]

Fred's interview was very interesting. It's good to get to know the people behind the scenes. Without a doubt, PB is one of the best tools for programmers.
Lots of encouragement to the whole team and thank you.

[BarryG]

I’m planning to switch to same payment model than SpiderBasic soon (1 year free update included, then if you need the most recent version you have to subscribe for another year at a discounted price)

Wait a sec! This is the most important bit of the interview. New users of PureBasic will have to subscribe if they want updates? And I assume those of us who paid for free lifetime updates will be grandfathered and still get them?

Yes

PERFECT! Thank you.