Here`s a mobile app conundrum. Say you`ve invested a lot of time into building an app that is opensource; a labor of love primarily. Would it be ok to put that in the AppStore for a minor fee? Is that not done? Or would it have to be donations only (which typically no one does)?
Yes, people can compile and install it for free, other developer could decide to publish it for a cheaper price or free. You`re selling convenience mostly, which is ok, as long as it`s honest.
Does it have to be open source? Some Android devs have ran I to an issue where people took their app republished it and then started claiming copyright on the original which gets you taken down from the play store.
As per my thread I think its unethical if you take open source that you havent contributed to significantly - but you have, I personally see no issue here. Coincidental story in issue 596 1-12 Jan 2021 that might help you decide. Some of my favorite apps do this. open sources both apps and the backend. And Stongbox an iOS client for keepass.
I`d be ok with that, I`m a developer so I`m ok with paying other developers for their valuable work.
What is it that you want to get out of it? Growth? Recognition? Money? Other? You could freeze development in this repository and then add new features to a private repo thats wholly owned by you. It doesnt strike me many people would want to compete for this type of app?
Ive been considering this with an app Ive been working on. Im under no illusions that the app is going to make me rich. If it makes me a couple hundred a year Ill be happy. The plan was to open source it as a portfolio piece.
iap (i could be wrong but you want people to access your product but you also have to feed the family). go forward and let us know hot it goes!
They`re not mobile apps, but 2 open-source projects that come to mind are Textual ( and Mindustry (
It is perfectly fine to sell it! And someone might clone it and sell it too! But you could keep the brand, trademark or some assets to yourself, to keep it distinguished from others. You might require that they rename the app for example.
Totally fine. Anki is open source (GPL), but the iOS app cost money. That`s how they fund the project. I`m a happy customer who pays for it.
Thats correct, people could. Is the app already open source? My first app was TweetStation and I both open sourced it and sold it for a while. People were free to buy it, or install it even publish a copy.
Its taken time, why not charge, if its useful On the flip someone else could release it and charge a fee if you dont
That could happen for sure. On the other side you could change your license prohibiting this.
I think donations route to save you issues later. Depending on your license there is nothing stopping someone else building the same app and releasing it for free? What if the license did, it now costs you time/money to get that app pulled. And the next one. And the next one.
Yes, it would be ok. Charging is a separate issue from being open source.
