There's a lot of insightful information here already, so I'll just add a bit and reinforce some...
There's nothing in the GPL (any version) that says you can't charge for your software. Whether people will pay is another story, since they don't have to. But, many people don't want to compile or jump through hoops installing, or even downloading the software in the first place. So, one way to start is to just offer the disks for sale. Almost anybody will pop $5 for a pre-burned disk with a reliable install routine on it. Since CDs cost about 25 cents apiece, and take about 5 minutes to burn, and cost about 50 cents to ship, you're still $4.25 up not counting your labor. If you find you're selling a lot of them, you can always hire a fulfillment service. That'll drop your per-unit sales profits a bit, but it takes workload off you so all you're doing is collecting checks.
Adding the project to Sourceforge is a good way to get help, if you haven't the time, inclination, or wherewithal to put the finishing touches on it. There's no money in that, but it improves the product and its uptake.
Support is a good way to make money, but if you don't have the time or resources for that, then you may not want to put it out there at all. Besides, outside of corporate users, paying for support sounds like crime to most people
"There is no comparison between Apple's 'consumer' machines and the consumer lines of its competitors. All of Apple's machines are ready to move into the enterprise, depending on the job at hand. The company's simple and elegant product line, which is also highly customizable, will be Apple's entree to the business market -- if IT decision-makers can get over their prejudice against equipment that's traditionally been aimed at consumers."
Signed,
Apple's Mother
Slashdot Mirror
There's a lot of insightful information here already, so I'll just add a bit and reinforce some... There's nothing in the GPL (any version) that says you can't charge for your software. Whether people will pay is another story, since they don't have to. But, many people don't want to compile or jump through hoops installing, or even downloading the software in the first place. So, one way to start is to just offer the disks for sale. Almost anybody will pop $5 for a pre-burned disk with a reliable install routine on it. Since CDs cost about 25 cents apiece, and take about 5 minutes to burn, and cost about 50 cents to ship, you're still $4.25 up not counting your labor. If you find you're selling a lot of them, you can always hire a fulfillment service. That'll drop your per-unit sales profits a bit, but it takes workload off you so all you're doing is collecting checks. Adding the project to Sourceforge is a good way to get help, if you haven't the time, inclination, or wherewithal to put the finishing touches on it. There's no money in that, but it improves the product and its uptake. Support is a good way to make money, but if you don't have the time or resources for that, then you may not want to put it out there at all. Besides, outside of corporate users, paying for support sounds like crime to most people
"There is no comparison between Apple's 'consumer' machines and the consumer lines of its competitors. All of Apple's machines are ready to move into the enterprise, depending on the job at hand. The company's simple and elegant product line, which is also highly customizable, will be Apple's entree to the business market -- if IT decision-makers can get over their prejudice against equipment that's traditionally been aimed at consumers." Signed, Apple's Mother
Exactly so. It's two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.