Messages

1

Developer's Corner / Re: Software protection and registration.

« on: April 10, 2008, 06:45 AM »

Thanks everyone for your replies. 

I'm glad that you all agree what a pain it is using activated software.
I think that I will proceed with a good registration system and totally avoid activation altogether. From reading the link tinjaw provided, I was surprised to find that the best selling software avoids activation also, without hurting sales in the process. That's definitely encouraging!
Hopefully other software houses will follow suit, and take a look at what they are putting their customers through.

2

Developer's Corner / Software protection and registration.

« on: April 09, 2008, 04:36 PM »

Hi,

I'm currently in the process of releasing a shareware product and I'm having trouble deciding on which way to go as regards to using activation keys.
From a developer's point of view, software should be protected as much as possible from piracy etc, but at what cost to the customer? Having the application 'phone home' and be limited to one machine would not be acceptable for me as a customer, so I would like to ask what other method I could possibly use.

I have toyed with the idea of eliminating any kind of activation and trusting the customer to the EULA, and maybe offer a good support package to warrant paying for it.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks.

3

Developer's Corner / Re: Strange customer...

« on: October 31, 2007, 08:37 PM »

Thanks everyone.

I'll certainly get a contract next time, even though everything has turned out for the best, it still has been a nightmare(which I dont want to repeat).

Thanks again for all your help, things may have been different had I not posted. 

John.

4

Developer's Corner / Re: Strange customer...

« on: October 31, 2007, 10:26 AM »

Hi all,

Just to let you know that I received payment today. Everything is finished and all turned out good.
Still no contract though! 

Thanks,
John.

5

Developer's Corner / Re: Strange customer...

« on: October 23, 2007, 10:52 AM »

Forgive me for quoting myself, but as i get older i need to prove that indeed what i'm losing in terms of speed i'm gaining in terms of wisdom:

my experience has been that you can detect scams on first contact. in the case of your customer, i suspect everything is fine and on the up-and-up, and you're just experiencing the normal uncertainties and delays of business as usual.

-mouser

-mouser (October 23, 2007, 09:54 AM)

I never once doubted you... Honest 

Yayy!  Congratulations!  Isn't it grand to actually get paid for your work?

-Ralf Maximus (October 23, 2007, 10:01 AM)

It feels good to finally put this ordeal behind me, the coding was the easy part as it turned out!

6

Developer's Corner / Re: Strange customer...

« on: October 23, 2007, 09:50 AM »

Hi,

I got an email today and everything it seems, will turn out fine. The customer is in the process of making an intermediary payment and is sending me a contract as I type. As soon as I get the contract through, I'll post back and see what you all think of it.

In the meantime, are there any template contracts I can view so I can get a good idea of what to do next time?

Thanks,
John.

7

Developer's Corner / Re: Strange customer...

« on: October 15, 2007, 03:24 PM »

Excellent advice! Thank you.

I'll certainly consider writing an article when this sad(or hopefully good) story ends.

I have been a developer for quite some years now, but unfortunately I've never had the (dis)pleasure of customer interaction with regards to setting time frames, contractual obligations, or even liaising about design aspects.
The 'managers' dealt with that stuff.

I suppose there is more to a programmer than writing code!

I'm glad to have posted, you've all been a great help, with really good advice.
I'll certainly keep you all posted on how this pans out.

Thanks.
John.

8

Developer's Corner / Re: Strange customer...

« on: October 15, 2007, 09:41 AM »

I took everyones advice and emailed him for payment for work done so far.
He's still being difficult about making significant changes, but I made it clear that I will not do anymore until a payment is made.

Anymore hassle will definitley result in me walking away from it (which I should have done earlier).

I'll post back and let you know what he says.

Thanks.

9

Developer's Corner / Re: Strange customer...

« on: October 13, 2007, 08:30 AM »

Hello all,

I eventuallty got an email back, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting...
He never mentioned the passport situation, he just asked if I could make some minor alterations to the program.
When I say minor, he wants me to attach to various processes and perform some Lotus API programming. Hardly minor considering what the projects worth...

If I hadn't committed myself without proper terms in place, all this wouldn't be happening, it's turning out to be a nightmare.

I'll keep you posted, if and when a contract appears!

10

Developer's Corner / Re: Strange customer...

« on: October 12, 2007, 08:05 AM »

I just emailed him again, and requested that he contacts me for payment details. The appliciation is now complete, so my end of the bargain is over as far as work is concerned.

I could try and market the program myself I suppose, but more likely it will never see the light of day.

Hopefully I'll get a reply today, i'll let you all know. 

John.

11

Developer's Corner / Re: Strange customer...

« on: October 11, 2007, 06:21 AM »

Just to update, the customer has not contacted me since I refused the passport details, which was 2 days ago.

Looks like everything has turned sour. 

12

Developer's Corner / Re: Strange customer...

« on: October 09, 2007, 12:56 PM »

Perhaps your client would like to send you his passport information so that you can do some verification of his bona fides... 

-cranioscopical (October 09, 2007, 12:26 PM)

I wonder what his answer would be? 

It's embarrassing to think that this is all a scam, considering the effort it took to meet his requirements.
If it is a con, then it's the oddest one I've ever come across!

At least I learnt a thing or two about secure encryption.

13

Developer's Corner / Re: Strange customer...

« on: October 09, 2007, 11:06 AM »

I just emailed the customer and told him to forget my passport (politely).

The revised contract is a good idea. When I receive one from him, I'll post it up so you can all take a look.

Thanks for the all of the advice, appreciate it!

John.

14

Developer's Corner / Re: Strange customer...

« on: October 09, 2007, 10:42 AM »

Thanks for all of your replies.

Originally I wanted to use PayPal, but as mouser said, it would confirm to the customer who I really am, and put the customer at ease.
Although, asking for so many personal details, it could be a bad idea.

The project value is $5000 as is, and $2 per unit sold. Not great, but not bad considering I wasn't earning a great deal with the current version, plus a relatively short development time. He has proposed future applications at better rates.

I am from the UK, and he resides in Canada.

Also, never-ever go for a "payment on success" payment strategy, I've burned my fingers with that crap.

-f0dder (October 09, 2007, 10:32 AM)

The wonders of hindsight! 

John.

15

Developer's Corner / Re: Strange customer...

« on: October 09, 2007, 10:05 AM »

Hi Ralf,

I havn't delivered the code yet, or took payment.

The customer contacted me to expand on a previous program that I had written. He stated that he was starting a software security company and needed an application to get up and running with. So he made an offer of a lump sum payment, and also a percentage of the software's revenue. After 2 weeks of wrangling out a design with him, I had come to the conclusion that he was asking for the impossible, so I suggested that another much simpler design which required small changes to the original code. We agreed on a price, and I got to work on the new design.
Yesterday I virtually finished the program(minus a few tweaks) and informed him. So up to now the last contact I had with him is asking for the passport, address etc.. He does want me to sign a contract and stop distrubuting the program that his is based on.

@Veign - Payment by his request, would be by bank transfer. I believe it's the safest way?

Thanks,
John.

16

Developer's Corner / Re: Strange customer...

« on: October 09, 2007, 09:34 AM »

To be honest, I am pretty much clueless with selling bespoke software.
I don't know the normal procedures involved with exchanging software, money, licensing etc.

I got a sinking feeling when he mentioned a passport, maybe it could be some kind of identity scam?

I should have looked into it all thoroughly before I even started programming.

17

Developer's Corner / Strange customer...

« on: October 09, 2007, 08:43 AM »

Hi,

Firstly, great site!

I need a bit of advice concerning a customer of mine. I recently just completed an encryption program for him, and now he wants to draw up a contract to finalise everything. The thing that worries me, is that he wants to view a copy of my passport to validate who I am plus my address etc. I've never heard of that before! The customer lives overseas, and he says that he wants to protect himself for when he makes his payment to me.

What should I do about it? Is giving the information he wants necessary?

Thanks for any help.

John.