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Pre-release and expired subscription

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    #76
    Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

    In fact I could see me setting up my development license on my main domain and use ports to showcase design concepts for customers, while once compete and sold - setup the limited lifetime and deploy. Next customer please, and I know what my costs are going in and also a possible future revenue stream when Alpha comes out with its next release - and we ALL KNOW Alpha will - they work harder on this than I think anyone could imagine. Like I said elsewhere on the forums I am not sure the Alpha team showers or eats...they are incredibly gifted and talented all of them.
    NWCOPRO: Nuisance Wildlife Control Software My Application: http://www.nwcopro.com "Without forgetting, we would have no memory at all...now what was I saying?"

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      #77
      Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

      So, what happens if Alpha's WEB servers verifying licenses become disconnected from the internet. Will Alpha Anywhere work for those with or without a perpetual license. A lightening strike on the building, a backhoe digging a trench, a building fire, car accident taking down a pole, anything can happen. What kind of redundancy exists? It would really stink to be shut down if Alpha's servers are off line and the software can not make a connection to the mother ship. Actually, along that line of thought, what if the software is being used just for an intranet network with no internet connections, I wonder if it will work then.
      Alpha 5 Version 11
      AA Build 2999, Build 4269, Current Build
      DBF's and MySql
      Desktop, Web on the Desktop and WEB

      Ron Anusiewicz

      Comment


        #78
        Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

        2-3 years ago, the license enforcement servers were changed at AS. I lost access to both the developer and the runtime for 3 days.

        The memory still sends chills through my spine.

        I couldn't get AS on the phone at all. Let's be honest, I don't think they have a very big staff, although they are a talented bunch.

        Finally, when I finally did get someone on the phone on the third day, they said there were only a few stranded customers left.

        It was when they had emailed us that they were changing the subscription servers to what they said was a more reliable system... I'm sure you all got that email if you were around back then.

        A license server issue is not a hypothetical concern, AS has had an unexpected license server issue before, and it seems to me a guaranteed certainty it will happen again.

        And who is to say who might buy AS in 5 years, perhaps a larger company, who points the domain name to their site, and drops all support for AA. On behalf of Lenny's request, I won't mention any software companies this has happened with, but there's a ton of examples. Where would we be then when everything goes offline one night, never to return?

        Not a possibility, you say? Alpha Software was sold to S***q**d just 16 years ago, and bought it back 3 years later (thankfully) by the previous owner (Again, avoiding nouns to avoid possible board rules...). The primary database product at that time received no development or support at all, and fell way behind.

        At this point, there are too many what if's in my mind. This is a fabulous product, but as someone pointed out, we keep recycling these concerns every year or two when the terms and pricing get altered. The pricing keeps going up, and up, and yet after 27 years of my use, I have yet to meet another random IT person who has even heard of the product line, and I've already lost job bids to that concern.

        Oh, well. I'm going to refrain from further frustrated expression. AS has the right to make their own rules.

        Comment


          #79
          Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

          Craig. I can only agree. Another company who decided to stop development on a product with a licensing server requirement did the decent thing.
          They sent perpetual license keys to all subscribers and closed the doors - ceased trading.
          I too have faced blank expressions when mentioning Alpha. Howerver, once people see what is possible quickly using DT, they are usually impressed. Mention Web and they start asking about servers, and databases. If you then mention DBF and Xbasic or HTML5 they ask about SQL and ASP which is more in their comfort zone.
          There is one main reason I don't use Alpha for Web stuff - too expensive. I could probably live with the WAS if it could be hosted anywhere on shared servers, but the pricing makes the whole lot uncompetitive.
          $500 for DT, RT, And 1 redistributable WAS is about right. Then next year, buy the next version. Continual income stream. Just like the old days and many people just want to dabble andc $500 is a small enough amount to allow an impulse purchase.
          People will pay lots of small amounts, but not one big amount.
          If Alpha need funds to expand, then there are better ways of getting them.
          See our Hybrid Option here;
          https://hybridapps.example-software.com/


          Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
          You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.

          Comment


            #80
            Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

            if they have separated the WAS and the developer and kept the server license perpetual as it was in version 11(developer was also perpetual in version 11), running without interruption by alpha, then it may be reasonable for developers. since the WAS is tied to the developer and if the customer wants certain improvements the programmer has a way of convincing the customer to spend money to get the improved capability. so the software developer is the one that needs the keep the license current to enable the new features or any improvements. the customer who has the completed product need not spend any money to keep the product working. expecting the customer to spend indefinitely is the part that will be difficult to sell.
            Last edited by GGandhi; 09-04-2016, 07:22 AM.
            thanks for reading

            gandhi

            version 11 3381 - 4096
            mysql backend
            http://www.alphawebprogramming.blogspot.com
            [email protected]
            Skype:[email protected]
            1 914 924 5171

            Comment


              #81
              Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

              if they have separated the WAS and the developer and kept the server license perpetual as it was in version 11(developer was also perpetual in version 11), running without interruption by alpha
              That's exactly where they need to be. Alas...
              Peter
              AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

              [email protected]
              https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


              Comment


                #82
                Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                Does anyone see a future where the server is simply free?
                Personally, I think k it should be. It's a great html server and might even attract a lot more developers who would by default be exposed the the real power of an a5w page and then spend that money on the development software...i would pay the exact same amount regardless... So alpha would lose nothing in terms of revenue, in other words same plan, no charge or licensing of the server. Simple.
                NWCOPRO: Nuisance Wildlife Control Software My Application: http://www.nwcopro.com "Without forgetting, we would have no memory at all...now what was I saying?"

                Comment


                  #83
                  Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                  Charles,

                  I would think the other way.

                  There are more servers than developers. If anything, developers should get the break.

                  Comment


                    #84
                    Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                    Originally posted by CharlesParker View Post
                    Does anyone see a future where the server is simply free?
                    ...no charge or licensing of the server. Simple.
                    Sure. IIS is free. Apache is free. People expect it to be free.
                    Peter
                    AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

                    [email protected]
                    https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


                    Comment


                      #85
                      Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                      So I think this is on topic - I have a set ot of screen shots to show you - when I noticed my clients site was a miss prematurely(today) - they say a picture is worth a thousand words - that's good as i'm speechless right now...


                      Problem - forbidden
                      1.png
                      Reason
                      2.png
                      Reality
                      4.png
                      Applied the current license again..
                      5.png
                      Outcome
                      6.png
                      Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
                      Albert Einstein, (attributed)
                      US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)

                      Comment


                        #86
                        Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                        so pete, this is the issue.
                        you have valid subscription and their server is not working properly and you and your customers pay the penalty.
                        no matter how much money you make out of alpha (200k or more) the bitter taste this leaves behind will definitely make you speechless.
                        this is not right.
                        thanks for reading

                        gandhi

                        version 11 3381 - 4096
                        mysql backend
                        http://www.alphawebprogramming.blogspot.com
                        [email protected]
                        Skype:[email protected]
                        1 914 924 5171

                        Comment


                          #87
                          Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                          Pete:

                          I am guessing this is an isolated case.

                          Now, close your eyes and imagine it was EVERYONE at the same time...

                          Imagine the potential for lawsuits based on lost revenue. They might sue Alpha, too.

                          And what impact would those suits have on AS and those license servers holding you hostage?

                          I am already investigating free alternatives. I'd rather use AA, but there is too much risk...

                          Comment


                            #88
                            Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                            Pete,

                            I'm a bit confused by the pictures though - is your server up now or not? Your last pic looks like the server is back up again after reapplying the license.

                            And your first picture of the server has no license key in it at all - so it should have been in demo mode.

                            I'm not saying you didn't have a problem - and I'm not apologizing for Alpha, but I'm also not panicking over something that apparently got solved in the space of a few minutes.

                            Comment


                              #89
                              Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                              The point here is that Alpha needs money from clients/customers/developers running AA servers. OK, But they should do it in a professional way.

                              They could do it easily (if they want) for example using AWS and then preconfigure amis for customers. Then you pay from EC2 ami usage (Windows server) and from software (AA server). For example m4.large EC2 instace should be something like 0,24 + 0,20 per hour. When ever server is running the AA server license is valid. AWS is good choice because you can run instances from different regions.

                              To make customers use AWS they should make installing AA servers to clients own machines little expensive lets say three years license 3000 (they should not sell one year licenses at all).

                              Here is example how this can be handled in aws marketplace. You can select server you need, just click and preconfigured server is ready to instant production/development use.

                              This way we can be sure that AWS servers run and Alpha can not harm with their licenses servers anymore. The problems is with clients installing AA servers to their own machines but now also they have alternative way to go.
                              Last edited by kkfin; 09-05-2016, 10:05 AM. Reason: link

                              Comment


                                #90
                                Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                                It went to demo mode - it was off the air - I applied the Serial number again and it restarted correctly.

                                First image was..1.png
                                Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
                                Albert Einstein, (attributed)
                                US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)

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