[Q] Costs of Developing vs. Donations - General Questions and Answers

Do developers of custom roms recoup all their costs when accepting donations?
Or do they typically lose money and just do it for fun?
Thanks.

Why you are asking? It always starts as hobby and passion, when as a result you want to show this to the world, people who like this start to require more and more. Developer has to spend more and more time. So wants some money for work, as it stopped to be passion.

Related

This forum has become a place for earning money for more people nowadays.:(

Iam a windows mobile user starting from wizard.
The HTC WM devices are known for few things,
1. Can get free softwares and cracked softwares easily.
2. Device can be SIM,CID, Security unlocked easily.
3. Shall be customized easily with new cooked ROMs.
More than anything, all these were available for free.
But now,
1. Security/Sim unlock - pay money
2. Hard SPL - pay money.
3. Cooked ROMs- More cooks demanding registration in their own website and demanding (almost) donations for cooked ROMs with each one telling their own reason(web hosting charges, low internet speed, spending personal time, stolen device,etc)
4. Collecting donations telling some of their attactive future projects which they never have a plan to complete,
etc.
This forum has become a place for earning money for more people nowadays.
So figure out how to do everything all by your self.
Seriously, I don't blame anyone that charges for worthwhile software. I've spent a few hundred dollars on software for my phone which I spent much more money on.. I figure it only makes sense.
Not agree
If some are making money with the work of others is too bad.
But here all Devs give us their work for free, donations are accepted but no paying.
Of course this site has grown a lot and it´s a reference point on the web
Respectfully,
skr_xd said:
Iam a windows mobile user starting from wizard.
The HTC WM devices are known for few things,
1. Can get free softwares and cracked softwares easily.
2. Device can be SIM,CID, Security unlocked easily.
3. Shall be customized easily with new cooked ROMs.
More than anything, all these were available for free.
But now,
1. Security/Sim unlock - pay money
2. Hard SPL - pay money.
3. Cooked ROMs- More cooks demanding registration in their own website and demanding (almost) donations for cooked ROMs with each one telling their own reason(web hosting charges, low internet speed, spending personal time, stolen device,etc)
4. Collecting donations telling some of their attactive future projects which they never have a plan to complete,
etc.
This forum has become a place for earning money for more people nowadays.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
your a fool i tell you
1, security sim unlock = FREE - the only one ive seen that you have to pay for is that blackstone, diamond, raphael, xperia but then thats only if you dont contribute, all of the rest are ftree but they will accept donations (BTW do u know what the money is used for? maybe its for buying new devices to create helpful softare)
2, Hard spl is free and will stay that way you can donate but for the reasons stated above its worth it
3, rom chefs may need to keep an eyes on what being downloaded so registration is helpful, also the ask for donations but then again rom building takes a lot of time to do and takes dedication and most of all caffiene, if you dont want to donate or resent the fact that theyve created something people like then dont
4, All serious app creator will follow up on the rpomises, every developer and chef will be consistant
to cut a long story short if theys guys werent able to provide this service then u wouldnt be able to have the choice to donate, itd cost you at least three times the amount you would donate
so these are free tools that people make so we can get it for free its either donate for consistent releases or shun them and leave it to companies and commercial solutions that would charge you an arm and a leg and why?
becuase we actually need this stuff
now time for pilots word of the day
if you resent paying or donating for a service then dont pay. but youd be the first to cry when they cant afford to host that rom u want and the sim unlocker you want
these people are the backbone of this forum if you dont like the fact they can make a quick buck either contibute or have a coke, a smile and shut the **** up
just noticed you donated to xda developers, are you some sort of complete thicko
skr_xd said:
Iam a windows mobile user starting from wizard.
The HTC WM devices are known for few things,
1. Can get free softwares and cracked softwares easily.
2. Device can be SIM,CID, Security unlocked easily.
3. Shall be customized easily with new cooked ROMs.
More than anything, all these were available for free.
But now,
1. Security/Sim unlock - pay money
2. Hard SPL - pay money.
3. Cooked ROMs- More cooks demanding registration in their own website and demanding (almost) donations for cooked ROMs with each one telling their own reason(web hosting charges, low internet speed, spending personal time, stolen device,etc)
4. Collecting donations telling some of their attactive future projects which they never have a plan to complete,
etc.
This forum has become a place for earning money for more people nowadays.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi, Pilot showed me this thread.
let me tell you my opinion, as I've been around since HTC universal (same vintage as your wizard) and I make HSPL's and am part of SIM/Security unlocking projects too.
1. warez is not allowed on these forums!!!! so stop discussing that, also this is not HTC specific, so totally nothing to do with XDA please.
2. yah, on the htc wizard there is no radio security to hack. that changed with kaiser and newer devices (MSM7xxx). if you contribute then you can still have the security and sim unlockers free. otherwise, we won't allow shops etc to play the freeloader game and earn money from our work free.
3. Hard-SPL: wow, this shows who you really are. are you a shop who resells htc devices after hacking and customizing them??? because they're the only ones who have to pay for topaz or jade HSPL. if you are just a user, you get the license transparent and free and you even get personal support if something isn't working. so stop complaining if you are just a user - but if you are a shop, then you should understand this scenario.
4. as for roms, I'm not really following that space, so dunno. but if some do that then maybe they are saying the truth, hosting is not free for sure. of course I'm sure you are still not forced to pay for cooked roms, as you mention the word "almost" regarding the donations. so it seems you can still get them free, so then why does it upset you if they'd like you to donate while they still give it to you free if you don't?
if there is a rom you are actually required to pay for - well I guess it's in their right to ask for money, but this is not my area, this is just my personal opinion. show me a link to such a rom though, I'm curious
5. show me such a project? I again have to admit I don't follow everything on XDA, I'm curious to hear about those projects, got any links?
and a summary. as I see it, actually XDA became *less* of a place for earning money - from the viewpoint of the shop owners/phone resellers. (as they are somewhat forced to pay for things now)
XDA used to be a golden mine for these people, reselling devices with cooked roms or selling the software itself on ebay (roms, hardspl/sim unlockers) without paying anything to the following people: rom creators/cooks, HardSPL creators, free sim unlocker creators (for the latter 2: pof, jockyW, Olipro, me).
Although I respect the op opinion let me give you mine;
I cooked loads of ROMs for the wizard and I loved it. Then I got a Hermes and started cooking for it then it hit me, I never had a working device because I was flash/testing sometimes 10 times a day! The ideal solution was to have 2 devices but that costs money and even though I got some donations it was not near enough,so for that and many other reasons I kind of got of the game.
Now I got a touch pro 2 and sure I could have a crack at trying to unlock it but, are you nuts! I mean what happens when I brick it witch often happen trying to crack it?
Who is going to give me £425 for the new device? That rights no one.
Hell it took me 1 year to save up for the current device, then yes people require money because they need new devices’ to crack, to pay for software to do it etc....
Regards,
Ps;
i do not agree with people charging for ROMs or related tools, asking for voluntary donation hell yes, they do deserve it.
its their work so they have the right to charge if they want to....
but there are waaaay more free goodies than paid ones
skr_xd said:
Iam a windows mobile user starting from wizard.
The HTC WM devices are known for few things,
1. Can get free softwares and cracked softwares easily.
2. Device can be SIM,CID, Security unlocked easily.
3. Shall be customized easily with new cooked ROMs.
More than anything, all these were available for free.
But now,
1. Security/Sim unlock - pay money
2. Hard SPL - pay money.
3. Cooked ROMs- More cooks demanding registration in their own website and demanding (almost) donations for cooked ROMs with each one telling their own reason(web hosting charges, low internet speed, spending personal time, stolen device,etc)
4. Collecting donations telling some of their attactive future projects which they never have a plan to complete,
etc.
This forum has become a place for earning money for more people nowadays.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was never forced into paying 1 cent to the developers.
Sorry if i hurt you people here.
It was just from a user point of view.(Iam a NORMAL USER ONLY)
Actually the truth is, iam really fed up of a HTC device and my point was why a user like me need to spend so much for tweaking a HTC device (Its not devs mistake, i adore your opinions) and still not getting a satisfactory result from the device.
This thread was just an outcome of a pure frustration upon the under performing HTC devices and the need of customization & tweaking required
Another side, I do respect the devs who give their time for developing
and i have donated to a few already including XDA dev forum.
Next thing about,
Cooked ROMs- More cooks demanding registration in their own website and demanding (almost) donations for cooked ROMs with each one telling their own reason(web hosting charges, low internet speed, spending personal time, stolen device,etc)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If i name a few its not so good and there are supporters for everyone and opposers for everyone and will openup a fight here.
Look at some ROM threads in Blackstone and Kaiser forum and you can understand why i say like this.
I think its a free world & one should have the right to earn from his talent if its worthy of giving him/her few bucks.
Cracks/Serials are there for every OS, Reverse engineering is a reality, imagine they are asking people to donate them & people are even paying them. So I don't think one should not ask for donations for a genuine original work.
Cooked ROM's are really a way for any young developer to earn a few bucks. I know few cooks personally & I know how good it is for them to earn. Its like a part time job for them.
I although appreciate the spirit under which the poster has commented on this tendency but that simply doesn't point out to original issues involved. Its something more than just cooked ROM's, HSPL etc.
I felt bad when I saw medkid left cooking for Kaiser just because he failed to garner enough donations out of it. But then its about thinking personally, its his intellectual property, who am I to feel wrong about it. If I dont like it I should move to other cooks w/o complaining.
Cheerz
Regards
Saksham Katyal
I admit that I am a cook, and a skinner that asks for donations. BUT I only ask for them in the form of tips, if you like what I do, tip me, just like at your favorite restaurant. I only ask for them on things that I have completed, or at least have uploaded already (I consider nothing of mine ever complete, there is always something to be done with it.)
But people asking for donation for things they havent released yet. i think isnt the best way because then expectations are high and what happens if you cant deliver?
skr_xd said:
Next thing about,
If i name a few its not so good and there are supporters for everyone and opposers for everyone and will openup a fight here.
Look at some ROM threads in Blackstone and Kaiser forum and you can understand why i say like this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't like it then don't use the fruits of their dedication and hard work.
Is there anything worse in this world then someone who takes and takes without giving back ( what 10 , 20 dollars/euros in donations ) and then has the gall to complain when people take their work semi private ?
I can provide technical help to the many users here , based on my many years of WM experience and my voracious appetite for reading and searching out info., but have yet to dedicate the time and patience it takes to program an app or cook a rom. So I happily and with as much $ compensation as I can, take advantage of everyone's abundant generosity. I do so by gladly adhering to any steps , hoops, registrations they may require.
The only thing I question is their sanity. If it was my creativeness, dedication and talent, I would leave all you people in the dust, run straight to the iphone app store, come up some stupid app like " iboobs " that all the iPhone drones ( who by the way have to pay just to poop with the iPhone in their hands ) can't do with out. Collect my tens of thousands of dollars from the Apple app store and live wealthily ever after. Instead of having to deal with some of the idiots here, who piss and moan and ( start new *****ing threads ) everytime a chef even suggests that he may like to take control of his work by having people register on his own site
denco7 said:
The only thing I question is their sanity. If it was my creativeness, dedication and talent, I would leave all you people in the dust, run straight to the iphone app store, come up some stupid app like " iboobs " that all the iPhone drones ( who by the way have to pay just to poop with the iPhone in their hands ) can't do with out. Collect my tens of thousands of dollars from the Apple app store and live wealthily ever after. Instead of having to deal with some of the idiots here, who piss and moan and ( start new *****ing threads ) everytime a chef even suggests that he may like to take control of his work by having people register on his own site
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, maybe not as crazy... there are many iphones and the appstore definitely makes it easy to find the apps, but nothing is perfect in this world either; if you don't have a really kick ass program then it will never make its way into the top 100 or whatever, and then it'll be hard to find it between the loads of other similar apps in the same category (especially as the search function is reported to be near useless). and many iphone owners are not willing to pay anything - just like on other platforms; many more don't even care about installing apps. just like for any other smartphone (though maybe the rate is a bit better for iphone? don't know numbers so maybe not at all). so you still have to do real work to get rich even on iphone. I read a blog of someone who made an iphone game which didn't get that successful even though it was an okay game, that's how I know so much about this
and you have to feel dedicated too.. I wasn't going to invest 99 usd and into a Mac so easily anyway for a platform that does not excite me that much though, if apple releases an iphone with a proper hardware keyboard and better screen resolution, I will be a lot more interested.
now this would make a new topic, i.e. why didn't we XDA devs switch to iphone yet or why should we?
Why this GREAT forum just can not help those GREAT freeware makers a better life?
Add one: If people think that donations can make them money you are wrong. Check the posted donation list and calculate the total amount and total time spent please.
skr_xd said:
Iam a windows mobile user starting from wizard.
The HTC WM devices are known for few things,
1. Can get free softwares and cracked softwares easily.
2. Device can be SIM,CID, Security unlocked easily.
3. Shall be customized easily with new cooked ROMs.
More than anything, all these were available for free.
But now,
1. Security/Sim unlock - pay money
2. Hard SPL - pay money.
3. Cooked ROMs- More cooks demanding registration in their own website and demanding (almost) donations for cooked ROMs with each one telling their own reason(web hosting charges, low internet speed, spending personal time, stolen device,etc)
4. Collecting donations telling some of their attactive future projects which they never have a plan to complete,
etc.
This forum has become a place for earning money for more people nowadays.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Come on man. You're indian. You should try and understand.
1. Security/CID was never free to begin with. Even with other devices and besides, if you contribute to the forums, olipro or cmonex will probably give it to you free.
2. Since when did HardSPL cost money?
3. More cooks sure, but the really good ones stayed and don't demand a single cent to download. If you can't accept that, learn cooking yourself and then you'll appreciate what they do.
4. I think you're really referring to TouchXperience here lol which is in effect and will be completed.
I don't see why one shouldn't charge and make a little money
I think the developers should charge for their work! w/out it you would have nothing, so why complain?
BTW, I have never been forced to pay for anything here, but love donating cos w/out a stable ROM my phone would SUCK. Donating allows the developer to buy more devices (hopefully) so they can cook more roms etc, it makes sense!
you are just STINJY!
I think people are not appreciating that fine thread running behind the idea of poster. I support him in that.
nvm nvm nvm
Well I have been reading this thread, but now decided to pen down my views.
I have been the member since there were only Himalaya and Wallaby.I remember so many revolutionary events, viz, porting of wm 2003 SE to Himalaya, then wm 5.0 to Himalaya and BA, cooking tools release etc etc..Well the creators never asked for donation and whole world got benefited.
Considering the current scenario, all I can suggest that xda-dev should decide whether it wants to act like a complete dedicated support to HTC devices or an independent windows mobile Solutions provider.If it is support, then of course no donations, if solution, then yes has right to accept money for providing service.But, then it should not discriminate.It should also have dedicated sections for other WM devices, Asus, Samsung, Acer/eten.
Anyone who wants to provide solution shd register it with the xda-dev by paying small amount and can charge for providing own unique solutions..well just like an app store.This will help the website and there will not be any fakers and we have genuine people to deal with.
It is true that this website is a source for millions of Shop keepers, resellers for various things viz unlock, hard spl, customization, support when device is almost bricked etc etc.But this is limited to HTC devices.Now the scenario is changing, end user doesn't have any time and wants the proper trusted solution irrespective of brand, so if it want to buy a Windows Mobile, it has lot of options other than HTC, and a reseller or shop keeper, will have to provide the same as the end user wants, and now when we have i phone, no one will think more about it.
I feel this community has indeed given a global platform for many talented people.Let's keep it clean and respect it.No one shd point a finger like this thread.

[Q] Costs of Developing vs. Donations

Do developers of custom roms recoup all their costs when accepting donations?
Or do they typically lose money and just do it for fun?
Thanks.
Generally, there aren't any costs of developing except for time (as the devices that they code for are the ones they own, or were donated to them). And if you're asking if donations cover the time that they spend on it, very very doubtful.
VERY doubtful
I think more time is spent reading about will it work on some other device or why it isnt like some other rom.
No it doesn't that's why we do it for the love....
Many a night spent in kitchen without even thinking about donations.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
tl,dr
they do it for fun, be grateful

[Q] How much to give to a developer?

So some of the developers working on the rezound are phenomenal for dealing with all the drama and childish behavior and the fact that the phone was a B*%#& and a half to develop for.
I am trying to help out a developer with whatever lil i have but i dont want to insult him / her either . What do you guys recommend for min ( or even max to evenly distribute ) for a developer that you feel really helped you out ?
jmichaels1982 said:
So some of the developers working on the rezound are phenomenal for dealing with all the drama and childish behavior and the fact that the phone was a B*%#& and a half to develop for.
I am trying to help out a developer with whatever lil i have but i dont want to insult him / her either . What do you guys recommend for min ( or even max to evenly distribute ) for a developer that you feel really helped you out ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What an interesting thread , among those where people are just too lazy to search...
Don't worry about how much you give, no developer will feel insulted.
You won't be able to make it worthwhile for the developer, most spend countless hours on their projects and 3 digit donations would have to come in to make it worthwhile for the dev. But that doesn't matter as no one publishes his creations on xda in expectations of money.
The developer will just be happy that some users care enough about his work to even donate.
That being said, i would recommend this:
If you are looking for a minimum to give, my recommendation would be the price of a beer/energydrink/nice cup of coffee/tee .
There is no maximum , if you have the money and give the developer 1000$, i'm sure he won't mind. Maybe don't donate a million else he might abandon his work and live on an island in the pacific drinking cocktails instead of developing .
Between those, donate anything you would feel good about or are comfortable with.
i normaly donate like 5-10 dollars/eur.
how much u will donate is up to you...since its your own will how much u will give. i'd give even more if i had golds
Generally I donate about 10-20 dollars for the developer. All the money you donate goes to the person. This way I'm more apt to give a little more without the question of where my money is going.
I'd say about 5 min 20 at the top level if your poor like me
What about donations to multiple devs?
I recently made some donations to some devs who packaged one-click solutions for the Transformer Prime & Galaxy Nexus. Now, the devs did use other's work (and acknowledged it), but is it OK to just ask them to share the donation as they see fit?
I mean, when I buy software, I pay a company and they distribute the proceeds to employees in the form of wages (and to shareholders/owners) so I don't have to find each individual who contributed to the application and determine how much they deserve based on the significance of their contributions.
Not that these donations are expected to make anyone rich, but my hope would be that ALL contributors are receiving something for their work.
give what you have to give

Question about apps

it' s possible, with some modifications, install free apps that are not free?
Yes or Not?
Warez???
Let me see if I can't answer your question & help you out here.
If I have this straight, you are wondering if there is a way to take "Paid" apps & install & use them for free?
You want to reverse engineer a program that was written by a developer that maybe learned what he knows here or contributes by helping others here & then create a key generator or a crack type patch to avoid spending 0.49 to $5.00, half the price it would cost an iPhone user for the same app thanks to developer collaboration & the Open Source Framework & SDK, effectively stealing from the app creator & taking away from him or her their livelihood & the means by which they support their family.
Furthermore, you are asking for this information at a website that was founded by developers, made for developers & run by developers, many of whom make a living by writting paid versions of the software you are inquiring about pirating.
Am I summing it up pretty well so far?
So, If you are a baker & I came into your bakery & stole your cookies, but not just your cookies, your award winning cookie recipe as well, just because I didn't want to bake the cookies myself or take the time to learn how to bake a really good cookie or because I was too lazy or conceited enough to believe that I, like everyone else, should have to work to pay for the things that other people create as a part of their work, you would be okay with that, right? With me robbing you, not just once, but everyday, for the rest of your life, because I am gonna post your cookie recipe at a site for naughty baker's that like to steal, I am the Cookie Pirate after all, so what does me stealing your program, errrrr, Cookie & recipe really harm.? It's just a few dollars, right?
But wait, what about all the time you spent perfecting your recipe? Or all the baking equipment you bought to bake the cookies? The money you have paid for advertisement or other marketing? The employees you may have to pay, whom also rely on the sale of your cookies? Any licensing fees you may have had to pay for use of portions of your cookie recipe or it's name? The store front you rent to sell your cookies out of? So, does stealing the few cookies & a recipe (code that is reversed or cracked) really just cost you a few dollars?
Think about what you are asking & have some decency. You are asking developers on a developer site, how to steal from developers. And worse, you think it's alright? Just like a bakery, a developer has to buy software to develop with & licensing fees for distribution, websites cost money just like a store front, development is often done by individuals, companies or developer groups & they all are working to support themselves, their families & have further spent the time &/or money learning to do what they do. Time is not cheap, neither is a college degree in computer sciences.
Do you know why the software companies pay up to a Million Dollars in reward money to those that report software piracy? Because it costs economies tens of millions in losses.
I am gonna have a look at your previous posts & activities online & if I find a hint of other similar posts, I will have no choice but to ban you.
You should be ashamed of what you are asking.

How much does making and developing an application cost?

Hello world,
I am currently in the process of designing/creating a Twitter application for Android. I've searched the web for cost of development, and a lot of websites state that it takes thousands of dollars to create an application. These answers have development teams in mind though, and I am looking to do everything myself. I'm aware that this is an extremely HUGE project, but i'm willing to devote the time simply because I enjoy the process. I'd just like to know if there are any development fees involved when making an application entirely by myself. Are there fees i'd have to pay to Twitter? Fees i'd have to pay for development in general?
Any insight is appreciated!
Thanks for your time.
A lot of it comes down to a few things.
1. How much of the work are you going to do yourself and how much will you have to farm out to coders, designers, etc?
2. How much is YOUR time worth? That is, will this project take you away from a paid job?
If you're developing apps in your spare time all by yourself, then the costs should be negligible. That's part of the reason why there are so many free apps in the Play Store. Well, that and a lot of advertisements.
Developing the appps is free.
If you want to upload it to play store account which will cost you 25 $
And nothing more.

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