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Been a while...

05 02 07 - 20:47 It's been a while.

Some updates:

The Kismet server reading code in KisMac is committed, and a build is available at http://trac.kismac.de/.

I'm working on two projects at the moment.

One is a GPS measuring app. It has live graphs for various things. When it's done, it will calculate speeds, positions, paths, distances, delta velocities, and forces. And draw graphs for all of the above. It will also support logging to a multitude of formats. In other words, it will do a lot.

Another is a SimTower clone. Maybe not clone, as it's probably going to play quite differently. It could very well end up that the only similar thing between the two is they both have a building.

Don't ask how I got the urge to write this (one person knows, and now probably thinks I'm insane for it :) ). We'll just have to see how it turns out. It's coded against SDL, so there will be a Linux / Windows port (as well as the obligatory Mac version).

However, here's the other side of the coin. I spend a lot of time coding (possibly even too much), and it's getting me nothing.

Basically, here's the deal. When these apps are ready, I'll have some method of donating. To start off with, those that donate get a copy of the app in return. The minimum amount will only be a few dollars though.

When I've made a few dollars, it will be upgraded. There will be a paid/free version of the app. Once again, the paid version is not a large donation. Only a few dollars. If you're using the GPS app commercially, or something similar, you will need to contact me,a and we'll work something out.

After that, I'll make the app freeware, but those that donate will get something extra.

The next step is that the app will be GPL'd and set free. At this point, you're happy because it's open-source, and I'm happy becaue I've got something for it.

If you want to beta-test, contact me and we can discuss the possibility. You'll need to do the job well though.

Yes, I know how it feels to have a developer that charges for software. I know open-source is great, and I support it. And I've done a lot of work supporting the odd opensource project. KisMac being a prime example :). But it doesn't favour the developer. I don't get particularly much in return.

It seems like it doesn't cost anything to code. But it does. There's time invested into it. And time is valuable. It's even used as a currency in this micronation. By the time both projects are finished, development "costs" in terms of time may end up being a fair amount.

Maybe I'll set hard limits on how much gets donated before the next stage. Maybe I won't. I could (and probably will) give people a link to their website and their name mentioned for donating. I could hold a competition to win something small for donating. It all depends on how these things work out.

You will see a return on your investment. It will go towards something useful that will inspire / allow future development.

If you're one of those people who doesn't want to pay anything for software, by all means, ignore these two apps. Or wait until they eventually become free/opensource. Maybe they'll become found on *that* kind of site if they become popular enough. Which would be an interesting experience.

The alternative is that I could just make it the usual expensive and horribly crippled shareware that seems to be popular. And yes, I have actually, on occasion bought the odd piece.

This also doesn't mean that my other simple projects will become closed-source or anything like that. This is just for these two.

We'll just have to see how this turns out closer to the release date.

Any questions?