Commercially licensed addons.. point of view?

Good points, smooth-graphics.

I understand it is a big job, and probably not realistic. I was only pointing out all the issues with commercial code, from a user’s point of view. One good example of someone that is managing to monetize with an add-on is FoxyCart. I’ve never used them, but from what I understand, they integrate seamlessly into MODX, and are able to charge a subscription every month, because the end-user needs their part of the software to make it all work.

Maybe another idea (this may have been posted already) is to integrate the commercial add-ons as ’free for development’ but to go live it has to be paid for. One way this could work is to have a file inside of the add-on that requires connection to the add-on’s dev team to work, and test it somehow whether it is on the WWW or on a local server. Or perhaps have the code on a 30 or 60-day time bomb, if that is possible; that should give enough dev time, and then make collecting the $$ mandatory to continue using. Not sure how that would work, or even if it would work...

This would get rid of the issues of developers/end-users being afraid to invest money, and then being upset about a lack of support or the add-on not working quite as expected, while still allowing the commercial devs to make money when their software is actually being used. Download, install, configure and customize for free -- oh, you got it working, and your site is going live? That’ll be $50.

Quote from: goonz at Mar 01, 2011, 01:36 AM

Maybe another idea (this may have been posted already) is to integrate the commercial add-ons as ’free for development’ but to go live it has to be paid for. One way this could work is to have a file inside of the add-on that requires connection to the add-on’s dev team to work, and test it somehow whether it is on the WWW or on a local server. Or perhaps have the code on a 30 or 60-day time bomb, if that is possible; that should give enough dev time, and then make collecting the $$ mandatory to continue using. Not sure how that would work, or even if it would work...

Sorry but this is a no-go. I have several test servers that actually are webservers and clients should see what they get via www. All this crappy time-bomb things don’t work either. We don’t need DRM anymore. You can’t stop people using your software (or music or videos) with restrictions…

Quote from: smooth-graphics at Mar 01, 2011, 01:40 AM

Sorry but this is a no-go. I have several test servers that actually are webservers and clients should see what they get via www. All this crappy time-bomb things don’t work either. We don’t need DRM anymore. You can’t stop people using your software (or music or videos) with restrictions…

I know what you mean, just bouncing ideas around. About the www, that is true, that is why I went to time-bomb afterward. Any other ideas about ways to allow free dev and paid live?

Releasing the product as freemium addons.

Meaning that the product stay free and maintained as an open source project, but that you can retreive money for any kind of professionnal support, change , adaptation.

Quote from: smooth-graphics at Mar 01, 2011, 01:27 AM

... If the plugin is sold, they get 60$ per plugin purchase. That’s nothing. ...

If I’m already coding the plugin anyway because I think it’s an interesting project, or perhaps already developed a base for it with a paying client..
.. taken into account that I’m a poor student ..
.. I would love to get $ 60,- for someone buying my plugin I spent ages on :p

It wont cover the actual costs (unless the plugin is so awesome suddenly the whole community buys it), but it does allow me to go out for dinner an evening. Or to save up for something. Of course the developers who already are in a position to ask over $ 150/hr will laugh at this amount, but for my (and I don’t think I’m the only one) it’s still a nice addition.


I’m loving all this discussion, and I guess on one side the developers would love to get some recognition they can spend, too. On the other side it’s never going to cover the cost. And the end-users will need to have a way to see the addon in action, without having to pay upfront.


This discussion has made me think about how I could in some way fund some development, and one idea I personally had (but didn’t see being posted here, yet) is setting up a private provider which requires authorization. The end-user signs up for an account on my site. They are delivered to a VisionCart based store where they can pick different subscriptions to the entire provider. They get a license code, add it in some system setting on the site they’re working on, and get access to all the addons released through there - including updates. This commercial provider is then free to use on say, three installations (based on domainname, or perhaps a server ip or something similar. I know the auth key gets send to the provider, so that could also be used as that differs per install iirc) unless they bought more licenses.

That would remove some of the stress on the quality of/usability of a single addon as you are (1) entitled to free updates, (2) can use it on several installations and (3) have access to a whole set of tools which may come in handy. And as you can use a VisionCart based shop to add more licenses instantly you wont have to contact the developer when they run out.

If this becomes a reality I badly need to donate to VisionCart though, lol.

Quote from: Mark at Mar 01, 2011, 07:09 AM

If I’m already coding the plugin anyway because I think it’s an interesting project, or perhaps already developed a base for it with a paying client..
.. taken into account that I’m a poor student ..
.. I would love to get $ 60,- for someone buying my plugin I spent ages on :p
It wont cover the actual costs (unless the plugin is so awesome suddenly the whole community buys it), but it does allow me to go out for dinner an evening. Or to save up for something. Of course the developers who already are in a position to ask over $ 150/hr will laugh at this amount, but for my (and I don’t think I’m the only one) it’s still a nice addition.

Sure, but you can’t think as a student. And as you said and we all know you won’t cover the cost I like the idea of crowdfunding the development of a addon. With that money you surely can go to dinner for some weeks every evening. I personally thing it’s much better in summary than if a user has to puchase the addon in a difficult way (I don’t know an easier one) like you’ve written below. Wouldn’t it be cool to develop a addon and know that people like the idea and give you about 500$ just about that you develop the first version of it?
Quote from: Mark at Mar 01, 2011, 07:09 AM

I’m loving all this discussion, and I guess on one side the developers would love to get some recognition they can spend, too. On the other side it’s never going to cover the cost. And the end-users will need to have a way to see the addon in action, without having to pay upfront.

Last point - I don’t see any solution which is good for developers and end-users.
Quote from: Mark at Mar 01, 2011, 07:09 AM

This discussion has made me think about how I could in some way fund some development, and one idea I personally had (but didn’t see being posted here, yet) is setting up a private provider which requires authorization. The end-user signs up for an account on my site. They are delivered to a VisionCart based store where they can pick different subscriptions to the entire provider. They get a license code, add it in some system setting on the site they’re working on, and get access to all the addons released through there - including updates. This commercial provider is then free to use on say, three installations (based on domainname, or perhaps a server ip or something similar. I know the auth key gets send to the provider, so that could also be used as that differs per install iirc) unless they bought more licenses.

Very complicated. How much time do you invest to setup all? About 5hrs I think - thats 250$ with 50$p.h. of wage. How many addon licences do you have to sell to only get this work refunded?
Quote from: Mark at Mar 01, 2011, 07:09 AM

That would remove some of the stress on the quality of/usability of a single addon as you are (1) entitled to free updates, (2) can use it on several installations and (3) have access to a whole set of tools which may come in handy. And as you can use a VisionCart based shop to add more licenses instantly you wont have to contact the developer when they run out.

1) What is a free update and what is not? That is a question though… you have to support older versions, too.
2) How exactly would you do it? Can’t do it with domain name as I perhaps have several domains running in one modx setup or as I want to change my URL but not the setup. This has to be done with a modx setup ID (which seems to be here as Provisioner uses it) but still then if setup brakes serial is lost. This means a bit extra effort to do for a solid concept.
3) Seems to be cool but what if there are 50 different addon-devs where every dev has its own package-provider set up? Package Management would be horrible…

What do you actually think about this:

- Crowdfunding (like Kickstarter), you even can add bonuses for well paying people
- additional support contracts for your addon (this is for professionals who need liability for the addon)
- after fundraising still exists a donate button (Can’t we implement that into the Extra’s section???)

Sure, but you can’t think as a student. And as you said and we all know you won’t cover the cost I like the idea of crowdfunding the development of a addon. With that money you surely can go to dinner for some weeks every evening. I personally thing it’s much better in summary than if a user has to puchase the addon in a difficult way (I don’t know an easier one) like you’ve written below. Wouldn’t it be cool to develop a addon and know that people like the idea and give you about 500$ just about that you develop the first version of it?

Why can’t I think as a student?

1) What is a free update and what is not? That is a question though… you have to support older versions, too.
2) How exactly would you do it? Can’t do it with domain name as I perhaps have several domains running in one modx setup or as I want to change my URL but not the setup. This has to be done with a modx setup ID (which seems to be here as Provisioner uses it) but still then if setup brakes serial is lost. This means a bit extra effort to do for a solid concept.
3) Seems to be cool but what if there are 50 different addon-devs where every dev has its own package-provider set up? Package Management would be horrible…

1) Anything that’s been published to the private provider.
2) There’s the modauth key which is set during install, I believe, which could be used for this.. Package manager sends it automatically, too. (Probably for the request to be verified) That would allow you to use it in a setup with multiple domains.
3) I don’t think it’ll go that fast. There’s not a single premium addon out there for Revolution besides what agencies create for internal use, and as this discussion shows the hesitating, I don’t think it will kick off like that. Plus the system to do it will still need to be developed, too.

- Crowdfunding (like Kickstarter), you even can add bonuses for well paying people

From this discussion, this sounds like the best solution at the present time for everybody. Especially in an awesome community like this, there is something about premium addons that just don’t fit the crowd here... but (as Crawford also said) enterprises do want proven solutions and would rather pay for something knowing it will work. Those aren’t being catered for - yet.

- additional support contracts for your addon (this is for professionals who need liability for the addon)

If people want to buy support my email’s in my signature for a reason..

- after fundraising still exists a donate button (Can’t we implement that into the Extra’s section???)

I would appreciate the option to put a Paypal donate button in the Repo. That will help all addons developers, but is not a replacement for commercial addons or crowdsourcing, so slightly unrelated to this topic.

I’m definitely in favor of commercial add-ons for Modx. The fear that the process wouldn’t be profitable seems to be more indicative of the fact that most Modx users are developers than anything else really (most would just make what they need). My perspective though is that I’m willing to pay for something that is implemented better than I could and saves me time. I’m primarily a designer and I don’t necessarily want to spend several days shoehorning some free snippets or plugin when an excellent commercial version exists and has good support.

An excellent example of a paid plugin for another CMS is Gravity Forms for Wordpress. There are tons of plugins that exist for WP for form building but none that are as user friendly, well coded, and versatile as Gravity Forms (I don’t work for them or anything like that - just a happy customer). I was willing to pay for that functionality and to save myself a LOT of time. I actually really wish something as easy to use to generate forms existed for Modx. I would pay for it in a heartbeat.

Quality control for a paid product is dictated by customer purchases. If it’s a bad product, everyone will hear about it fairly quickly.

Another thing: How would you do translations in a commercial addon? If you get money for the code, translators want, too. For me I’d calculate on my common base. And if you pay for about 10 languages it will be expensive…
The other side I expect a commercial addon to have some localizations included.

Truelly commercial (so those that cover the costs) would make the money to pay for that. Or at least some payment, such as a free license for as long as language updates are given. But if you’re offering an addon in a different language, I would also expect support in that language.

Commercially developing addons is tricky.. but I think it’s important for the health of this project to attract a bigger group of developers who develop quality addons. Money’s a good motivator... and if there’s a general bias against paid addons (which some people have, understandably) that will never be... There will always be free addons. The Core team releases amazing addons at no costs (they’re getting paid for it through MODX, LLC, which gains revenue through the partner program, donations, job postings etc - or at least that’s my understanding) and there’s little you can’t do with getResources and some creativity in using the properties already...



Gravity Forms is amazing and could definitely do with a port to MODX - but that’s a huge undertaking and will cost loads of time, even for basic functionality. And that development would be costy, unless someone’s got nothing better to do Wordpress has the advantage of a bigger community (at this time.. never know what the future will bring ) and also more people willing to pay.