[Ardour-Users] Could this solve Ardour's financial headache?

[Joe Hartley]

On Wed, 7 Jan 2009 18:47:55 -0000
"John Emmas" <johne53 at tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
> Flawed logic, I think - because anyone who only tests the "stable" versions
> isn't really a beta tester.  Beta testers would probably be the easiest
> category to deal with....  anyone who notches up a certain number of entries
> in mantis can apply to have their $35 refunded. 

I think the flawed logic is trying to get the people doing beta testing
to have to pony up dough to do it.

I see nothing but negative value in trying to charge for access to
the SVN.  People who are testing the development code should in no
way have to pay to do that valuable work.  I'd wager that the people
who are accessing the SVN and not testing/reporting bugs is pretty
darn small.  I can't see the returns on this even covering the 
overhead needed to maintain it.

Ultimately it's the people who use the program who are outside of
the development, testing and support community that has the critical
mass to provide enough money to cover development.  I think people
would be willing to donate to the cause, but it's a matter of getting
the word out there.  I'm sure there are a lot of users who have never
been to the website or been on a mailing list, and have no idea about
the subscription or donation links.

-- 
======================================================================
       Joe Hartley - UNIX/network Consultant - jh at brainiac.com
 Without deviation from the norm, "progress" is not possible. - FZappa