Hey all, I would like to start a topic where we (mostly by community-app-developers) can discuss a possible solution to the fact that Community App developers hardly get any real reward for there (sometimes very) hard work. Because, as i see it, Athom has always been willing to adapt and/or listen to there community, especially when a solution is: Handed to them, requiring hardly any further design of the solution. The solution is benificial to them and to Athom being financially strong. The (implemention of the) solution does not require any real investments by Athom (to be win back later). It improves there products and/or (community) Apps. So, i suggest that we as Community, try to come up with a solution matching any required criteria. And personally, i also have a “criteria”: reward should especially come from people who are not active on this forum. Because right now, when i get a donation, it is usually from someone very active on this Forum already. While there are many people out there using the apps that don’t even know about or come to the Forum. They only leave bad reviews. Look up a lot (not al ofc) of bad reviews and the posters cannot be found on the Forum by any way. And look up many good reviews and it turns out that most are (active) on this Topic. So, to start off, a very rough idea: A Community app should cost each user who installs it f.i. €0,50. € 0,10 goes to Athom for the overhead of the required features for this. The other €0,40 goes to the developer. Community apps should have a by developer setable tag wheter the app should be bought or not. If you have it off during a starting-period to get it growing, and you turn the paid-feature on, all already installed users will not have to pay. Only new installes. When you buy a Homey, you get a “giftcard” for f.i. €5,00 for community apps. These (gift)cards can be bought in the Athom Store. And now, i don’t have a good solution to the taxability of these payments: i guess, to activate the Paid-tag, the developer needs to sign some legal documents with Athom. But let’s discuss and (try to) come to a solution! German Discussion topic: Community Entwickler bezahlen? - :germany: Deutsch (German) / Off-Topic (DE) - Homey Community Forum

[image] Till: you must not misunderstand me. I thought it was an open discussion and I stated my point of view It is and thanks for the insights!

They should update there apps that has been made when they got paid for it. I see it like this: If they make an app and they ask money for it, they make a commitment to develop their apps including when updates arrive. If a developer don’t want to update there app, they have been paid for their services and someone else can maybe update there app or make a new app for sdk3. (And ask money for the app again). It’s a difficult discussion. But I do think there should be a system where developers can be paid for there work. I’m saying this as a user of Homey. I’m not a developer. Athom should really think about a system that could reward the developers.

Problem is that the developers live in a symbiosis with Athom. And vice versa. One payment is Okay from my point of view…a yearly or monthly payment ruled out. Nobody would accept that and change system with no or lower extra costs. The good think of Homey is, that it is easy to handle for beginners. HA is not. If HA would be as easy as Homey… it would be a very difficult market for any competitor. One could consider maybe to make yearly payment of e.g. EURO 25, which than will be distributed by a sharing key to developers. Leaves the question open what happens to apps which are discontinued?

[image] Till: One payment is Okay from my point of view…a yearly or monthly payment ruled out. Nobody would accept that and change system with no or lower extra costs. As a developer and user, i fully agree to that.

Hi all :slight_smile: My random out of brain concept is to let users pay if they WANT a month subscription of i dont know 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 or custom Euros and this pool of money will be automatically transferred and fair splittet(or per usage) to all installed apps, but this should not be a force to use this model. All based on free will.

I have started a similar discussion in the German forum. Since many of our Dutch developers can read German, there may be suggestions here as well. [image] Community Entwickler bezahlen? Off-Topic (DE) Im englischen Forum diskutieren gerade Community Entwickler, dass sie relativ wenig Spenden für ihre Arbeit bekommen. Das ist für manche wenig motivierend, die Apps auf dem neuesten Stand zu halten und ihre Zeit zu opfern. Es werden hier Vorschläge gemacht, die von einem jährlichen Abo Modell, bis zur Einmalzahlung reichen. Was haltet ihr prinzipiell davon, die Community Entwickler für ihre Apps zu bezahlen ? Wie könnte so etwas aussehen ? Welchen Preis würdet ihr dafür akzeptieren ? Würden d…

Here’s an idea… App store. Developers could add a price for their apps to be downloaded. The choice stays with the developer to add a cost for the app or not. Homey gets a share for hosting the platform. Devs get paid for their work. Benefits all. (Probably mentioned somewhere already, on mobile ATM with limited search capabilities :wink:)

Hello, Am I right, that this discussion started because one developer asked for a new Homey 2023, for updating and maintaining his App’s (“forced” or not) and not for personal use? (He doesn’t use Homey himself …). Emile said: SDKv2 apps won’t stop working on Homey Pro (Early 2019) or earlier. Even when restoring a backup they will be restored. Meaning the issue (SDKv3 updating) is heavily related, (only?) to the New Homey 2023. So I think Homey should become active and consider a (big) discount for the concerning developers when they “need” a New Homey 2023. And a more visible donation Paid-tag in the App’s, should do the rest. I am not a developer, but I do a lot of volunteer work in our local community (not Homey :wink:) for free, because I like to do so.

What sparked the discussion does not matter in my opinion. But this could be a chance to attract more developers and greater app diversity. An app store would provide incentive for people to code apps and maintain them. Homey could also monetize their platform bringing a more sustainable model outside of selling hardware. And the users benefit from both these things. Developers would still be able to choose the price point for the app. And if they want even provide the app for free. In general, we must recognize the efforts of the app developers that made homey the device it is today.

Now let’s look at it from another perspective. You’re a consumer that want’s to start with home automation. You look at different available options and one of them is Homey. You discover (if you do your due diligence) that after buying a Homey you have to download apps to get your devices connected to Homey. Some are free, but others require payment. For most in this community this seems reasonable, but if I was a customer comparing options I would add a minus to Homey. To me an App Store requiring a payment doesn’t sound like a good option, making the apps free and asking user to donate does. And remember you’re appreciating work done by donating, not getting the right to demand for features and updates.

[Discussion to Solution] How can community App builders be rewarded?

Developers

Undertaker October 19, 2022, 3:49am 26

I have started a similar discussion in the German forum. Since many of our Dutch developers can read German, there may be suggestions here as well.

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[Discussion to Solution] How can community App builders be rewarded?

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