So stop getting caught off guard when your favorite project sells out! “They were getting so popular, why did they have to shut it down?” Because it’s hard to resist a big payday when you are rapidly heading into debt. And because it’s culturally acceptable to leave your user base high and dry if you get a good offer, citing self-inflicted financial hardship.
Easier said than done. As soon as someone starts charging for something, expectations will change. Users will expect better support, quicker revisions and more and more features. Maybe this is wrong, but it’s how the world works.
I am all for donating to these projects, but it’s buyer beware. Just because you pay doesn’t mean the project won’t disappear. There are plenty of pieces of software I have purchased only to have them abandoned shortly after.
(via Marco Arment)
