Very Busy Lately
posted on august 17, 2004, tag: xpad
Over the past few weeks, I've been slowly recoding this website. The recode is mainly for clean-up and speed improvement, and to take advantage of new features in PHP5. It's nearing completion, but it won't matter to you anyway since you won't see any difference. That is, unless I release the source. I'm still undecided on that part, but I'm willing to listen to arguments.
I wish there was a good way to ask people to pay like $2 US to download the source, but there's no way to track people in that system. I feel like I've put so much work into this site that giving away all the back-end code for nothing would be like giving away my house. It's thousands of lines of hard-earned work and to give it away free and clear might be too much. Is there a good way to require people to pay a tiny amount to get the source? All I keep thinking is that once someone gets it, they can send it to whomever they wish, and I'll be screwed.
The real reason I haven't posted in the past few days is that, well, I've been working on a new build of xPad. That's right, you heard me: a new build of xPad. I have a new, revised, private roadmap that includes several point releases. I'm not going to publicly release my timeline—I'll just say that new versions are coming. Soon.
Other than that, work has been busy, I've been visiting the dentist regularly (only have four more teeth to fix!), and I spent the weekend finding, test-driving and eventually (yesterday) buying and learning how to drive (standard transmission) a car. It's a used Saturn (2002) with virtually no miles that's in near perfect condition, but it's a standard so it was a bit stressful at first. I couldn't even take the car off the lot—my sister had to drive it off for me and then teach me how to drive it in a parking lot (thanks Ash!). After about an hour of practice I felt comfortable enough to drive home and by the time we drove through Manhattan I felt completely fine driving the car. I'll be sure to post a few pictures tonight.
The car should open up some new filmmaking possibilities, since we will no longer be tied to our apartments or mass-transportation. Speaking of films, I know both Shawn and I have mentioned a film coming soon, and it still is. With all our busyness, and Shawn's vacation last week, we're a little behind. Soon enough, though.
What have you been up to lately?
Comments
There are 10 comments, comments are closed
Richard on 08/17/2004:
Hey, a new version of xPad, this is great news. I use it daily and still love it. Keep us all posted.
As for driving... hey, you're issue in NY will be parking!
If you find yourself driving north and slightly east up Rt. 7 in Connecticut during leaf peep season give a shout, we have what a city dweller might consider an interesting place to stop for a beer on the way to parts north. Come in early fall and corn will still be in season and our garden will still be pumping. Bring that new 300D along for kicks.
Jason Cosper on 08/17/2004:
Zounds! A new version of xPad would be really appreciated and I'm anxiously awaiting it. I'm glad to hear that you've gotten your groove back in that department.
Arthur Bahadourian on 08/17/2004:
Hi,
Of what you've shared with us, generously, it's been great learning experience. As a PHP junkie, as you get deeper in PHP5, I'm looking forward reading your experiences AND willing to pay (whatever you decide) for the code.
If you're improving 'xPad', I will definitely jump ship (from BBEdit) and purchase it!
Thankx! And great success,
Arthur
David on 08/17/2004:
Garrett, the best way to charge a bit for the source code is to simply do so. For example, a Paypal link with a minimum amount of $3. I would easily write down $50 instead.
Too bad I can't use xPad, I am on Windoze and Linux...
Lashlar on 08/17/2004:
I second David's suggestion, with some smaller suggestions:
A minimum of say, $5.
An agreement (that we would have to accept/decline) binding us to refrain from redistributing the source code or showing it to anyone else. To a large extent, that would have to work on the honor system, but... I'd certainly like to believe that your readers aren't the sort to ignore such an agreement.
And finally, if I weren't on Windows — due to law school requirements — xPad would sound wonderful. (Note to self: When you leave the confines of law school, find a firm that doesn't mind you using a Mac.)
Miguel Angel Friginal on 08/18/2004:
The publishing the code sounds great, but I think I would be happy with just part 3 of your ongoing How this site works series of articles.
Hey! Thanks for all the great job anyway!
Erik Price on 08/18/2004:
I think it really boils down to the question of why you want to release the source. Is it because you want to make some money? Or is it because you want to share the work you've put into making this site?
Judging from the above comments, there's some folks prepared to donate more than $2 to show their appreciation. But there will always be those who won't, and there just doesn't seem to be any real way to stop that. Bigwig software companies face the same dilemma.
Kevin on 08/18/2004:
Glad to hear that your picking up work on xPad again. It's always good when someone with an attention to detail is producing Mac software. I'll have to check it out.
And because you asked, I've been writing a little script for my first mini film. After seeing your films posted here I was inspired to finally try it myself. I've never been to film school and really have no clue what I'm doing! It's always been a dream of mine though so we'll see what happens. Would it be cool if I pestered you in the future regarding your process?
Finally, my contribution to the land of Mac applications is a little browser for the TidBITS newsletter called XBit. It should be going final soon.
Garrett on 08/18/2004:
I've posted a new entry with more details about releasing the source of this site. Thanks for all the great feedback, everyone. Feel free to post other thoughts you might have on the topic.
Also:
Richard—I might just take you up on that. And yes, parking in NYC is no fun!
Erik—I answered your question directly in the new entry.
Kevin—Pester away. I'll check out XBit tonight.
Jeff on 08/18/2004:
Think back to your early experiences with php; how much did you rely on code snippets at php.net? How many functions did you take, re-bake and make your own from various tutorials on the web? Did you learn your CSS from Shea, Bowman, Zeldman, et. al? In addition to Erik's question of why you want to release the source, ask yourself if perhaps it's time to give something back to that community and if open-sourcing this site is the way to do so (heck, maybe you've already given lots back to that community, I just started reading your site the other day)
As for $2 or $5 or whatever, I'd say forget it. You might clear $200, but better to focus your commercial efforts on that new version of xPad and sell 20 more licenses there. And just think of the immortality you'll get in the colophons of bloggers everywhere if you give the site code away for free ;)
Frankly, I'm not going to use your code lock stock and barrel to run my site (hacking is the fun part, right?), but in reading your How this site works posts I hear you talk about a few things I'd like to implement myself and I'd be interested to see exactly how you are doing it. Is knowing worth $5? Sure. Am I likely to get around to paying that $5? Probably not. C'est la vie, eh?