Pay for plugins, out of respect

Hi maddavid888, do you mind if I take out the analogy at the end? It could be interpreted that you’re comparing people who don’t pay for plugins with thieves, or someone dishonest. If that is your intention that’s absolutely fine to think that but that’s going to be removed from the forums.

Andrew that was silly of you to take it out, [Personal remark moderated] i was only highlighting the fact that most people have an expectation that everyone will do the right thing even if they don’t have to, so paying for a plugin even when you don’t have to is more that accepted and its more than fair, even though you don’t have to ?

it like choosing what to do when someone is not looking, sure you can get away without paying but that doesn’t mean you should?

You’re certainly free to ask, but that’s not something I’d ever ask, require, or expect of users of my “free” plugins. If I ever have a need or desire to offer a premium plugin (and many do), I will. Submitting free plugins to the WordPress plugin repository is my way of contributing to both the WordPress and Open Source community. I’m not sure why you’d suggest that “plugins are not for free” when that’s one benefit (free as in free beer) of open source software. Sure, I’ll gladly take a donation if it’s offered, but I don’t ask or expect it, and truthfully, I offer my plugins freely and really don’t want the money. Just my two cents. YMMV

I may start a war with this post but hey, that’s life

As long as you remain respectful to other forum members then it’s all good.

I want to ask users to start paying for plugins, $5 per annum

In your own marketplace or site you can do what you like but here all plugins here are free. Have you considered Code Canyon or setting up your own shop?

and don’t bullshit me or yourself you can afford $5 per annum, if you cant then don’t use it, if you have a bad attitude that thinks why should i pay if its for free then don’t ever expect anything decent to come into your life.

OK… how do you imagine people will reply to that? ??

I am continually amazed by all the free plugins that people just think screw the developers, if I can get it for free then why bother

Just like volunteer support, hosting a plugin or theme here is done freely and in a community spirit. It’s a contribution or a gift to people usually to fix a problem or scratch an itch.

Any author hosting code here does not have to support that code here or anywhere else. Supporting that code is optional though it is very cool when they do.

it like choosing what to do when someone is not looking, sure you can get away without paying but that doesn’t mean you should?

There’s a big difference between “you can” and “you should”. Most plugin users are grateful but it’s the ones who complain, send nastygrams to authors and start making demands that really sours it for the authors.

If you want to host a plugin in the repo just be aware that it could be a thankless effort. That’s unfortunate and not a hard rule but that’s really how it is.

Just curious: where are your plugins maddavid888?

I have pondered this topic in my own mind many times.

Having worked along side people who believe all software should be paid for and also worked along side people who believe all software should be free, I tend to believe that if something is offered for free, then it should be free. If someone wishes to donate, then they are free to donate.

I’m not one who takes kindly to anyone making decisions for me, or telling me what I should or shouldn’t do (unless a good reason is given). And I believe many people believe the same as I do.

The WordPress platform itself is free. It has always been free and there are a lot of contributors, plugin developers, theme developers, and support people who like to give back to the community that has grown around the WordPress platform.

For many of us, money is not the biggest concern. We have been given a great tool to work with and that tool has been created in such a way that it is easily modified to fit into virtually any type of project.

It isn’t the users that motivates me to be involved. It is the desire to give something back to the community that now makes up the WordPress experience and has helped me to both develop great projects and given me experience and knowledge to make those projects better.

For many of us, a thank you and a nice review of what we have done goes further than the money some others expect should be spent.

By the way, how would five dollars be divided among all of the contributors to WordPress? Or are you suggesting that everyone should pay five dollars to every plugin and theme they use?

I personally don’t like the idea of someone trying to make it appear that if someone else doesn’t pay for something they are taking advantage or stealing from someone who offers something for free. That just doesn’t work for me. And quite frankly, I spent five years using WordPress and trying hundreds of plugins before I became a contributor to different plugins.

It’s not about money all the time. Giving something back you know, like Pay It Forward type of thing. Some people just like doing things that benefit other people. And then some of us also offer a more advanced version of what we offer for free.

And the free version stays free for those who either can’t afford to purchase or just want to get to know the type of work we do before they invest their money into our project (which we hope ultimately enhances their project).

No, I don’t agree with you @maddavid888. Expecting people to pay for something all the time is counter productive to the advancement of something like WordPress.

I will take it for free and then give something back when I get familiar enough with it to have something to offer. I hope you will consider that as a payment rather than expecting that everyone should do as you suggest (or demand).. I don’t really know which it would be in your logic.

Kindly
??