Cost of deployment

[betty]

I started working with Alpha on v9. Price was a big consideration for me.

Since then, Alpha has gone to the subscription pricing model; and initially I signed up for that. I've found that it was cost prohibitive for me at that time, so discontinued the subscription. Now I am getting 'deals' to renew my subscription - and am, again, giving that serious consideration. It's a stretch when I have no clients (or 1) using Alpha; but I reason that $1000/year for the developer license may be affordable if I am able to sell 1 application - even if all I do is break even.

Comparing the cost (before you ever do any coding) to host an alpha application vs a php application, it becomes cost prohibitive again. The price of the VPS is comparable between zebra host and other hosting companies. Most of my small business clients can afford that $60/month. But when I have to tell them that it is an additional $2000/year for the app server, there goes the deal.

I'm talking about small mom/pop clients - they might have 2 employees and they might be bringing in $100k/year. This is not an 'enterprise'.

How do the rest of you do it? If you do it? Or is Alpha just not the solution for a small mom/pop shop? If that's the case; is there another IDE you might recommend that may be comparable but not so expensive?

[betty]

Re: Cost of deployment

Waking up this morning, the answer is that, for now, I need to do the upgrade and keep paying the subscription fees because I do have 1 client using it (on an app that was built on v9) - and I need to support them even if I have to do that at a loss.

[GGandhi]

Re: Cost of deployment

as far as I know the subscription plan is for version 12, you said your application is built on v9. do you still need the subscription for that?

[betty]

Re: Cost of deployment

Don't need the subscription for v9 (I don't think). Do need the subscription for v12 (which is the current version that I am using). The client has requested modification of the application (new reports, etc). In my mind (maybe I'm wrong), I need to get them current.

[betty]

Re: Cost of deployment

I just need to think through this. Charge more.

[betty]

Re: Cost of deployment

Or go backward? There's a thought.

[DaveM]

Re: Cost of deployment

The hosting may be more affordable and maybe a little more work on your part at smarterasp.net or Arivxe.com
Clive is awful helpful though.

[GGandhi]

Re: Cost of deployment

version 12 is fully geared for mobile app development, then the web then the desktop, probably desktop in a remote corner. if you are using you app in web and desktop then won't you think version 9 should be enough, if you want javascript enabled grids etc., then you will need to go to 10.5 or 11.
only when the customer wants, needs mobile, I think, version 12 becomes an option.
that is my opinion. open for lot of criticism, I am sure.

[kkfin]

Re: Cost of deployment

Don't need the subscription for v9 (I don't think). Do need the subscription for v12 (which is the current version that I am using). The client has requested modification of the application (new reports, etc). In my mind (maybe I'm wrong), I need to get them current.

It does not help that you upgrade, the client has to also upgrade their server.
My advice is to use right tool for right job. Today Alpha Anywhere is The Top Platform for Mobile Enterprise App Development (title from alphasoftware.com).

[Davidk]

Re: Cost of deployment

version 12 is fully geared for mobile app development, then the web then the desktop, probably desktop in a remote corner. if you are using you app in web and desktop then won't you think version 9 should be enough, if you want javascript enabled grids etc., then you will need to go to 10.5 or 11.
only when the customer wants, needs mobile, I think, version 12 becomes an option.
that is my opinion. open for lot of criticism, I am sure.

Hey Gandhi... not criticism... just correction since this is not true at all. Version 12 is equally important for web and mobile development and with "web features" being added to the desktop environment as well.

[Mkpatil]

Re: Cost of deployment

Since the Alpha license is Perpetual, this is what I plan to do for my clients.
Buy the developer and the server WAS license one time for each client [say you pay $999 or regular price if there is no discount].
Develop the application within a year so that you still get the free upgrades for a year.
Then deploy the application on the server so that client can start using it.
If no changes are required let the client use the software as long as they want [Perpetual], if changes or bug fixes are required say after a year, use the "old" developer version to make changes that you already paid for. You may download that "old" version from alpha site or save a copy with you. The only problem is that after a year if bugs are found in that version, you may have to work around those bugs, since you no longer get free upgrades from Alpha.
If major changes are required or client wants to see latest features, then client needs to be aware that there is a cost for new features and you buy the license again and now save this copy for your future changes and for using corresponding version for the WAS server.

Repeat the above for all clients by paying say $999 onetime for each client.

Regards!

[Pat Bremkamp]

Re: Cost of deployment

Betty, this is pretty common. I bought the dos version of AlphaFour for $99 to get started, and over the years kept moving up. In version 10, I had about 10 clients each of whom had a site and an Alpha license, 4 sites of my own with licenses and licenses on 3 computers at home. Version 11, the prices started going up and that dropped to 4 clients, 1 site of my own and two home licenses. Now with 12, I have 1 client and I'm considering dropping my last site and 1 license at home.

Whole different target market and economics for the Alpha Anywhere product.

[lvasic]

Re: Cost of deployment

I would design my product as a SAAS product. I would license modules for the various businesses. A lot of users will use the same modules and reports. Custom modules can be added per user, this way you're not re-inventing the wheel every time you add a customer. This can all be done with security. This gives you one app, one database and one hosted server. I have a company table where all of the company data and logo is stored. When a user signs into his company all company data plus the Logo show. The user sees his company. You said these are small mom and pop type business that can't afford software... Maybe there's a niche market where 90% will use the same modules and you can custom the other 10%. This way you can get them up running right away as you build the custom module. Just a thought...

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Cost of deployment

I think mkpatil's post #11 explains it nicely. You don't need to pay in perpetuity - only if you need to upgrade to a new feature set. And Pat's post #12 should be a bit of a wake up call to Alpha.

[Pat Bremkamp]

Re: Cost of deployment

Peter,

I don't think this is any surprise to Alpha... no wake up needed. As I said, they are changing their traditional market.

Rereading my post, perhaps I sounded unhappy about the change. Actually, I'm quite happy. I have one client now, and he keeps me busy full time and even overflow work that I am subbing out to other programmers. For me, more programming which I love and less selling which I hate.

My only issue is trying to keep up with how fast Alpha is changing. As the (I think it was the ) rabbit said, "the faster I run the behinder I get"