December 5, 2006
Ben Smith on CodeGear
Yesterday, David I hosted a chat featuring Ben Smith, CodeGear's CEO.
The first CodeGear Community Chat hosted the CEO of the new company. You can read the chat transcript (only a fraction of the chat content) and download the audio on BDN. The same page provides also Ben's curricula. I listened to it, heard a few things I liked (listed below) and other I didn't like (for example, the apparent lack of a Linux strategy). Here are some highlights (I tried to quote as precisely as possible):
- CodeGear aim is to be the "largest independent developer tools company in the world"
- Delphi will be "including things that may not just be only on the windows platform" (a statement at odd with the fact there seems to be no specific plan for Linux... unless they are thinking Mac!)
- They really want to improve their tools, "not add a feature here and there and support the status quo" (looks like this is referring to past versions of Delphi...)
- There will be "a new product in Q1" (means first quarter 2007)
- "You cannot be the developer company if you don't support dynamic languages (and emerging languages)
- We are committed to the roadmaps we have, but might anticipate some features.
- A lot of our customers are still doing Win32 development... we need to focus on their success.
- Simplicity in the business
As Ben underlined "simplicity in the business" several times, I do have a few suggestions. First, make it simple to buy the product, sell directly and online whenever possible. Have a single price tag (the current 1 USD = 1 EUR equation is crap!). Simplify SKUs and sell plug-ins. Provide a simple flat, all-included, yearly subscription. Second, make it simple to activate them, reducing the hassle on legal owners, as pirates won't be scared anyway. Third, make it simple for partners to work with you. This hasn't been my experience in the past. Finally, make it simple for developers to find out how powerful your tools are and how many news features have been added in recent versions.
9 Comments
Ben Smith on CodeGear
Seems he's a no-nonsense guy, I hope he can bring the no-nonsense license agreement back. If they can prove they sold one extra copy of Delphi because of this new on line license jungle I rest my case. OTH I'm sure getting the business on line worldwide will increase sales.Comment by TDaniel on December 5, 15:18
Ben Smith on CodeGear
Please, just remove the activation, you know that warez sites will have a version of the software without activation "BEFORE" the official version is released. It's only a hassle for legit users.Comment by CodeGearer on December 5, 15:53
Ben Smith on CodeGear
I see no reason to remove activation. It's true warez site have copies, but without any form of activation illegal copies would be too easy. CodeGear needs to sell copies, not to give them away for free. Activation could be made friendlier - and they could check what codes are used too often or from very different geographical locations. But I do not mind too much about it - almost any software had it, why they should not? I agree with the plug-in model, but I am afraid it can be used to buy a cheap version and the use plug- ins from warez... They already had to block those trying to install Ent packages onto a pro one.Comment by Kent Morwath on December 5, 16:48
Ben Smith on CodeGear
Activation might work at the time the product is hot, but reality is that it is left alone (abandonware) when subsequent versions have come out. Borland sold me a perpetual or 99 year license, but they make it virtually impossible to enjoy/activate after a few years. Borland/Codegear simply lost my delphi registration of an older Delphi version. Why do I have to keep invoices and other proof of purchasing ? Why is a paying licensee obeying the agreement worse off then someone installing warez? The temptation is very big to actually buy the product but leave it unopened in the box and actually install the warez : no hazzle, no (re-)install problems, and probably if you are using the correct version/SKU no infringement.Comment by Peter T on December 6, 02:51
Ben Smith on CodeGear
Let's face it: piracy is a issue. Developer using pirated copies. Companies buying a single copy and using it on several machines for several developers. People selling pirated copies. As long as you do not sell the software you write perception is low. As long your software is sold - and pirated - you know what it means - and the missing revenues. I understand the issues about activation, and I hope CodeGear will help legitimate user to take full advantage of their copies, but would you let your house door without a keylock - just with a sign "please don't robber me" upon it? C'mon! Every pirated copy means less money CodeGear can invest in the next release. Don't complain when they are behind MS due to scarce resources then.Comment by Kent Morwath on December 7, 00:13
Activation and Piracy
I wrote "simple to activate" and stand by it. Removing activation/registration altogether, won't probably be a good idea. As I had a few bumps with the current process, I hope it can be simplified or improved from the point of view of the legitimate users.Comment by Marco Cantù [http://www.marcocantu.com] on December 7, 00:56
Activation /Ben Smith
I agree that activation must be simplified, and that our licenses of previous Delphi and other Borland products should not fall into the abyss. I too have had issues, and complained to Borland that they had no current license information on file, when in reality I had an architect edition with subscription service since D8.Comment by Larry Hengen on December 7, 08:29
Activation /Ben Smith
I agree that activation must be simplified, and that our licenses of previous Delphi and other Borland products should not fall into the abyss. I too have had issues, and complained to Borland that they had no current license information on file, when in reality I had an architect edition with subscription service since D8. In my mind, Ben is focused on growing CodeGear. Great! The problem is, they are already looking at Dynamic Languages, and other products, and I'm concerned they will do so at the detriment of their existing ones. Delphi has never been perfect. There have been lots of bugs and requests that have never been fixed or implemented. In fact, there are currently 128 outstanding Critical bugs in Quality Central for BDS2006. Then there is all the work on the product that could be done to make it better, and that has no direct monetary benefit. I for one, want Delphi to rule the Win32/64 and Linux markets, but this does not seem to be a priority. I think they should committ dedicated resources to 'quality managment'. Resources that go through reported issues and fix them, notifying affected parties of any work arounds, the status of their report when work has been conducted on it, and an estimate of when their issue will be reviewed. This would include documentation, additional components, examples...anything that makes the life of a developer easier, and helps make them a better developer. If its all about us...then show us!Comment by Larry Hengen on December 7, 09:07
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Ben Smith on CodeGear
Comment by on December 5, 13:39