todd@stiatl.UUCP (Todd Merriman) (05/31/89)
If you worked in a multi-platform C language development shop and could license a C function library (with source distribution) with 350 modules that compile under MSDOS (Microsoft C), VMS (VAX11-C), and Unix System V; what would you expect to pay? I am trying to price such a beast and would like to be fair. I have heard suggestions as high as $12,000 and as low as $250! ...!gatech!stiatl!todd Todd Merriman * 404-377-TOFU * Atlanta, GA
conan@vax1.acs.udel.EDU (Robert B Carroll) (05/31/89)
In article <4980@stiatl.UUCP> todd@stiatl.UUCP (Todd Merriman) writes: >If you worked in a multi-platform C language development shop and >could license a C function library (with source distribution) with 350 >modules that compile under MSDOS (Microsoft C), VMS (VAX11-C), and >Unix System V; what would you expect to pay? I am trying to price >such a beast and would like to be fair. I have heard suggestions as >high as $12,000 and as low as $250! > > ...!gatech!stiatl!todd > Todd Merriman * 404-377-TOFU * Atlanta, GA Price depends on: *) documentation of source(how much and how well) (this includes inline documentation as well as a programmers handbook) *) how complex the modules are *) how well written they are (non-portable constructs, fast, repetitive code ,memory efficient etc. etc.) *) how portable they are *) not to mention what you mean by a module (ie. 30 or 40 string functions in a module? or are they split up into 3 or 4 modules etc. etc. etc.) all of which are inter-related to each other in different ways. I know documentation(inline and otherwise) pretty well, so if thats bullshit, then i wouldn't buy it. I don't want to have to look at the code to learn how to pass arguements, side effects, return values, global changes, memory usage etc. etc. Think about this before you start pricing. Send email to: -- conan@vax1.acs.udel.edu OR conan@192.5.57.1 CONAN THE BARBARIAN of Cimmeria
zgel05@flyer.uucp (George E. Lehmann) (05/31/89)
In article <4980@stiatl.UUCP> todd@stiatl.UUCP (Todd Merriman) writes: >If you worked in a multi-platform C language development shop and >could license a C function library (with source distribution) with 350 >modules that compile under MSDOS (Microsoft C), VMS (VAX11-C), and >Unix System V; what would you expect to pay? I am trying to price >such a beast and would like to be fair. I have heard suggestions as >high as $12,000 and as low as $250! What you're asking is a marketing question, which needs several questions answered before you can proceed. 1) Is this product to be a self-sustaining profit center? Or are your intentions merely to recover some of the development cost? 2) Who makes up your intended marketplace? Professional software development groups within large corporations will pay much more for a package than will the average amateur. In fact, a low price will typically cause the large groups to shun a package as "it can't be worth much." On the other side of the coin, you can sell many times more at a low price than you can a high price. 3) What are you going to do about support? Charge an annual fee? Run an 800 line? No support? These factors must be considered when you set the price. Just a few thoughts... As to what I'd pay for such a package for my own developments, it would have to be something pretty spectacular before I'd consider it worth more than the price of the compiler. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- To live and not fly is not living... George Lehmann PP/ASEL/IA ...!uunet!apctrc!zgel05 Amoco Production Co. PO BOX 3385, Tulsa, Ok 74102 Voice:918-660-4066