Summary of ShareWare experiences (Moderately long).

[V. Joe Burkley]

Several weeks ago I posted a request for developer's experiences with the
various types of distributing software.  The following is my interpretation
of the responses I received.  The full text of all the responses is fairly
long, so I will not post it.  It is available to all interested parties via
email, just send me a note requesting it (makes good reading).  

First, some definitions.

Shareware: Freely distributed, users can try for free but are on a honor
           system to become a registered user (by paying a fee) if they
           desire to use the software on a long-term basis.

Freeware:  Freely distributed, no cost ever to the user.  The author retains
           copyright and the users cannot redistribute the program or source
           code for a profit.

Public Domain:  Freely distributed, author gives up all rights.  Often 
                includes source code.  No cost to users.

Crippleware: Freely distributed, but the program is a limited version of the
             software that is available by registering.  Or the program is
             a full blown version that will cease to work after a given date.
             Often thought of as a Demoware or inconvenienceware.  User must
             register for uncrippled version.

Guiltware: Freely distributed fully functional program.  Program will 
           constantly remind the user to register the program for a fee.  A
           slight variation is Inconvenienceware.  User will have to answer
           annoying questions, perform extra typing, etc.  Guilt message
           or annoying features eliminated by registering.

First rule of thumb is that using any of the above methods will almost 
guarantee that you will not get a sizable amount of money.  If you believe
that the program you have written is truly entertaining/useful/whatever,
seriously look into releasing it through a distribution network or going
commercial.  It will take more time, effort, and money on your part but the
potential rewards will be much much greater than the ...ware routes.

Now, assuming that your product is not quite brilliant, it is too simple, or
you don't want to take the time to make it robust, here is a summary of 
people's feelings.

Shareware:  Best to hope for is about $2000-$3000 (although I didn't get
responses from makers of the really big programs like 4DOS or Procomm).
Mostly substantially less.  Consider your time and effort when setting price.
You will have to deal with cashing checks and answering peoples questions. Are
you going to give a phone number?  What about moving, do you want to deal with
a P.O. box so that people can send you registration 2 years from now?  
Consider giving people something for registering.  A printed manual is good,
or free future upgrades, etc.  Don't expect money from Europe; partly due
to attitudes and partly because of dealing with exchange rates.  Best types
of products for shareware seem to be utilities.             

Freeware/PD:  Probably the easiest way to distribute your work.  You receive
no direct compensation but you might get fan mail and a whole lot of 
satisfaction.  Good way to advertise your abilities as a programmer.  Jobs
might come your way if people are impressed with your creation.  
(Consultants can easily make $50 per hour.)

For both of the above, be sure to date and put version numbers on display
in your program.  You may go commercial at some future time and it will be
very important that you distinguish between releases.

Crippleware:  There is a large amount of resentment about this type. On the
other hand, some of the best return rates of registration was for crippleware.
Some people will refuse to look at any program that is crippled.  If your goal
is to achieve the widest distribution stay away from both crippleware and
guiltware.  What part of the program to cripple is a very difficult question.
With games that take a long time to play, not allowing saving is good.  Date
limitations are also pretty good.  Take the time to document what exactly is
crippled so that the user is clearly aware of the advantages of registering.
Remember that if you cripple that program too much no one will use it at all
and if you don't cripple enough there is little incentive to register.  You
also get all the problems of shareware listed above.

Guiltware/Inconvenienceware:  Difficult to judge how much guilt to inflict.
Probably nice to have the reminders to register increase in frequency the 
longer the program is used.  Have a startup screen which displays
registration information for several seconds. For inconvenience you might
have the program display a sequence of random numbers which the user then has
to type in each time the program is started.  Alternatively, the program
configuration might have to be re-entered after each startup.  Other problems
as listed under shareware.

Something else to consider; do you want other people making money off of
distributing your program?  There are many companies that redistribute groups
of shareware programs on floppies or via modem for a fee.  It is possible that
a user will feel that since he/she paid for the disk once, they don't need to
pay you to register it.  If this bothers you, you might consider putting a 
message barring distribution by these companies in your read.me file or
opening screen.  Have user's write to you if they got your program in such a
way.

Last, the following are some comments about services and information sources:

" The best source of information regarding shareware is the Association
of Shareware Professionals.  This is a group of several hundred
developers, many of which are authors of some of the most successful
products available.  The most practical way to interact with the ASP is
via CompuServe.  If you don't have access, you'll find it well worth
your while (most computer dealers offer starter packages).  The ASP
shares several sections of the IBM PC JR forum on CompuServe (they're
not affiliated - just an administrative grouping).  Type GO SHAREWARE.
You'll get all the information you need, and more through interactions
with members and from library files in the forum.  Membership gives you
access to additional ASP sections, plus the right to reference the ASP
in your distributions.  It's pretty much the "Good Housekeeping" seal
for shareware.  There are, however, stringent requirements for
membership in order to maintain the quality of ASP shareware.  One of
the chief rules is no crippling of software.  You'll find out the
reasons for this, plus other guidelines, hints, and experiences of
authors. "


"    I'm sure lots of people will suggest you use the GNU license terms.
Under this license, the Free Software Foundation allows anyone to use the
software as one wishes.  However, if one intends to distribute the
software or any new software which depends upon the original package,
one may not make a profit.  In other words, use GNU software and your
software is free if you want to let anyone else have it.  The GNU license
is getting pretty popular, even with people not associated with the FSF."


"Before you actually release your software as shareware, please contact me.
I am president of KarmaSoft.  We currently have 2 products on the market
Mail-O-Dex and Power Pinball.  I would be very interested in talking to
you about your product and even if we make no commitments I can help you
with some simple advice.
 
KarmaSoft is ** always ** interested in new software.  Being a small and
growing company, we can most likely take on small projects and make them
profitable for both ourselves and the developer.  It has taken years to
secure distribution channels and advertising clout, but with that behind
us we can most likely help you to profit from your efforts and bring new
exciting software to the greatest number of end users.  Please give me
a call if you have any new great ideas that people may want.
 
Tony Scott

KarmaSoft
P.O. Box 1034
Golden, Co. 80402-1034
(303)-277-1241
"


"Hope this has been sorta helpful, but I'll tell you, if your product
is good enough, maybe you should call a Software chain like Egghead
Software and talk to them about marketing the product.  I've talked
to them, though never followed through.  I will say that they are very
helpful, full of suggestions, and can help you coordinate things like
disk duplication, labels, packaging, etc."


" Let me also turn you onto a REALLY good magazine that I've found -
called Midnight Engineering.  It's a relatively low-budget magazine
that talks exclusively about getting products (mostly those produced
"on the side" of a normal job) to the market.  Topics I've seen
covered in the current issue are:

  Software Protection schemes (hardware "key" devices)
  How to Patent an idea
  Alternate Funding for Your Startup
  Getting Your Program To Market (just discussed mail order though)"

Much thanks to all who contributed.    -Joe Burkley, burkley at cod.nosc.mil
-- 
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= \ \_ _/ / =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
| Joe Burkley              | O_O |       "It's not enough that I succeed,   |
| burkley at cod.nosc.mil      \/_\/            everyone else must fail."      |
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- \_/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=