Making a Program

perleager has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Making a Program by dimar (Curate) on Jan 24, 2005 at 21:51 UTC
You might want to start with a website that is more oriented to your particular question. (see e.g., association of shareware professionals You said ... I have this idea of a program that may become very popular. .. and .. I never actually programmed anything that was for sale or even as freeware. ... and ... I am planning to make this script purchasable for under 40$. You do realize, that based strictly on these statements, you are already stacking the deck against yourself. a great idea does not automatically translate into great software great software does not automatically translate into recognition recognition does not automatically translate into sales sales do not automatically translate into profits profits do not automatically justify the specific effort required to make them If you do not have any experience with commercial software, you have some homework to do before a lawyer will take you seriously enough to even take your money from you. try reading some Joel for example. You might do well to see a lawyer, as they will have the professional duty not to disclose confidential info, but even then you have to do your homework first. If your best projections for this project of yours is $400,000 tops, you may be better off selling this great idea of yours to an existing company and let them develop, market and deploy your solution. No matter what path you take, you are going to have to reveal the secret to someone with more experience than you sooner or later ... which means working your butt off no matter how you look at it.	[reply]
Re: Making a Program by idsfa (Vicar) on Jan 24, 2005 at 21:36 UTC
Yes. Lawyers have that information. Why exactly did you expect free help? The intelligent reader will judge for himself. Without examining the facts fully and fairly, there is no way of knowing whether vox populi is really vox dei, or merely vox asinorum. -- Cyrus H. Gordon	[reply]
Re: Making a Program by punkish (Priest) on Jan 25, 2005 at 01:18 UTC
Does anyone have any information where I can read about this issue? I do, but I will take 30$ from each sale you make. In advance please. Paypal me 30000$ to my account oomgallagalla@nigerianministryofcomputers.com	[reply]
Re^2: Making a Program by Popcorn Dave (Abbot) on Jan 25, 2005 at 03:44 UTC
Wow, you're generous! Most of the Nigerian e-mails that I get want a blank check and stationary with my signature. :) Useless trivia: In the 2004 Las Vegas phone book there are approximately 28 pages of ads for massage, but almost 200 for lawyers.	[reply]
Re: Making a Program by holli (Abbot) on Jan 24, 2005 at 21:32 UTC
Don´t use perl. holli, regexed monk	[reply]
Re: Making a Program by TedPride (Priest) on Jan 25, 2005 at 09:13 UTC
Any security system can be broken, and the more elaborate you make the security system, the more it's going to irritate people and motivate them to go somewhere else. Probably the best solution is unlock codes that only work during a certain time period (check key against hash for current day and 6 preceding days) or can only be used once (software connects to your database over the internet to verify the key, then "uses" it), but the former can be fooled by changing your computer time, and the latter requires an active internet connection, something which may or may not be available depending on the type of program you're making. Optionally, you can offer a bare-bones version of your program for free, then charge for installation and/or additional features.	[reply]