What would you want catering to developers?

[deltacoder]

A friend of mine and I are thinking about starting a company that would cater certain services specifically to developers. Part of it is almost ready to launch - this current part is a software delivery system that allows independent developers to publish their software online with no flat fees, but instead just a low percentage of the sales.

We're looking for other things that the average developer might like, but would want different from what is normally offered - for instance, web hosting, but with CVS as an extra, et cetera.

Any suggestions, ideas, or requests you might have would be great! We're trying to make it so that more independent software can be released to the market as a whole.

Thanks for your time.

[igame3d]

I could use at least $12,000.
Have a kid to feed, rent to pay, you know the usual.

[Steven]

CVS, PHP, and MySQL are quite necessary, and not quite so necessary but very nice would be shell access (but not any sort of admin privileges, obviously)

And maybe some sort of web-based distribution (auto-updating and the like) - that could be great! I realize that it's not too hard to DIY, but it's a pain to reinvent the wheel every time...

And, how low is low?

[deltacoder]

I agree with you on the PHP/MYSQL/CVS :)

Right now, we're thinking 10% of sales.

Thanks for the suggestion of web content distribution/updating.

and roflmao @ igame3d :) i wish :)

[KenD]

Cheap reliable download hosting with lots of bandwidth.

KenD

[applekid]

FOOD! Wait a second, different catering. Nevermind...

Something for easy contact with each other, like a message board. E-mail gets tedious and isn't instant, IMing gets crowded if you talk with other people besides your development team, and message boards have easy posting of pictures and better than e-mailing tons of people at once. It's there, easy access, and kept private.

A small private FTP server to access files and builds.

[codemattic]

Originally posted by deltacoder
I agree with you on the PHP/MYSQL/CVS :)

Right now, we're thinking 10% of sales.

Thanks for the suggestion of web content distribution/updating.

and roflmao @ igame3d :) i wish :)

dont forget python and java servlets. You should make it easy to set up a bbs (like this one!) - and create email lists to keep in touch with customers - but most importantly...

are you handling payment transactions/registrations like kagi or eSellerate? If not - then there are tons of web hosts that offer all the above at cutrate prices (some free - check this site's news items) - how will you compete?

good luck, Codemattic.

[reubert]

Just an idea - As a beginner 6 months back, I had huge troubles finding relevant docs for beginner game coders on the mac. There's a lot of PC stuff, neHe, and.... ummm..... well iDev, which is still lacking in good tutorials which put me off initially.

Everything assumes prior knowledge at present. You could sell prior knowledge ;)

[deltacoder]

Originally posted by codemattic
dont forget python and java servlets. You should make it easy to set up a bbs (like this one!) - and create email lists to keep in touch with customers - but most importantly...

are you handling payment transactions/registrations like kagi or eSellerate? If not - then there are tons of web hosts that offer all the above at cutrate prices (some free - check this site's news items) - how will you compete?

good luck, Codemattic.

Originally posted by deltacoder
software delivery system that allows independent developers to publish their software online with no flat fees, but instead just a low percentage of the sales

the current system uses paypal to allow customers to purchase software, which we believe is one of the best solutions because more customers are likely to trust PayPal's security, being a big-name payment site.

Thanks again for everyone's comments.

[deltacoder]

Originally posted by reubert
Just an idea - As a beginner 6 months back, I had huge troubles finding relevant docs for beginner game coders on the mac. There's a lot of PC stuff, neHe, and.... ummm..... well iDev, which is still lacking in good tutorials which put me off initially.

Everything assumes prior knowledge at present. You could sell prior knowledge ;)

i agree that a knowledge base would be an excellent idea. i too am somewhat of a self-taught programmer, so i know what you've gone through :) however, this would probably be a free service on the side, as all knowledge of this type should be free :)

[reubert]

"however, this would probably be a free service on the side, as all knowledge of this type should be free"

great stuff :D

[GoodDoug]

Originally posted by deltacoder
the current system uses paypal to allow customers to purchase software, which we believe is one of the best solutions because more customers are likely to trust PayPal's security, being a big-name payment site.

Thanks again for everyone's comments.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! PayPal more trustworthy? I refuse to buy anything through PayPal. Better to go through eSellerate or set up your own merchant account.

[deltacoder]

from what I've seen, you're an exception.

[KenD]

Well, then I'm an exception too. I won't use PayPal for anything.

KenD

[Bachus]

Originally posted by deltacoder
from what I've seen, you're an exception.

Hardly.

http://www.paypalsucks.com/

PayPal is known for stealing their customers' money and just being a crappy service in general. In the long run it'll be better to set up your own credit card system and to go with someone like eSellerate (http://www.esellerate.net/) in the short run.

[Carlos Camacho]

I used PayPal myself, because of my location. But if I were running a company, I wouldn't. I would set up a merchant account or go through a gateway/authorizer. Any company that wants to "replace" Kagi, and use PayPal isn't "serious" IMHO.