Enable paywall for free folios
The social sharing feature is great; especially the ability to share to someone without an iPad.
Currently we cannot set a paywall for our magazines because they are free.
To be able to use social sharing to increase our download numbers would be just as useful to us as it is for retail folios. Bigger download numbers = happy advertisers, more advertisers and/or higher ad rates.
Please consider enabling the paywall for free folios.
thanks,
David
Short answer: Yes, use a different Product ID for each folio (or for each set of folio renditions).
Longer answer: It's confusing that there are three different types of Apple Product IDs:
(1) the app Product ID, which you can ignore
(2) subscription duration Product IDs for a paid app or a single Product ID for a free subscription app
(3) a Product ID for each retail folio
When you're setting up a free subscription app, you don't need to use iTunes to create a Product ID for individual folios, because your folios are free. You just need to set up a free subscription Product ID in iTunes Connect and specify that Product ID in the DPS App Builder. On the Adobe side, you use a different Product ID for different folios you publish, such as com.publisher.publication.2012October and com.publisher.publication.2012November. If you're creating renditions, you use the same Product ID for the different renditions and different Product IDs for different sets of renditions.
Similar Messages
-
We have a free app with a free subscription all set up and working properly, with one issue published so far. We are ready to publish the second issue. The app itself has a Product ID, and our Free Subscription in-app purchase as a different Product ID. I used the same Product ID for the first folio as the Free Subscription Product ID.
But today I read at http://adobe.ly/SsvLPN to "Note: Use different Product IDs for each separate folio in your app."
So, should I use a different Product ID from now on for each Folio we publish?Short answer: Yes, use a different Product ID for each folio (or for each set of folio renditions).
Longer answer: It's confusing that there are three different types of Apple Product IDs:
(1) the app Product ID, which you can ignore
(2) subscription duration Product IDs for a paid app or a single Product ID for a free subscription app
(3) a Product ID for each retail folio
When you're setting up a free subscription app, you don't need to use iTunes to create a Product ID for individual folios, because your folios are free. You just need to set up a free subscription Product ID in iTunes Connect and specify that Product ID in the DPS App Builder. On the Adobe side, you use a different Product ID for different folios you publish, such as com.publisher.publication.2012October and com.publisher.publication.2012November. If you're creating renditions, you use the same Product ID for the different renditions and different Product IDs for different sets of renditions. -
Custom store front for free folio
Hi there
I am actually looking into the DPS Configurator (we got DPS Entreprise license), and have only free folio.
1/ Issue is that the solio appear 0,98$. How can I set it up for free ?
2/ Is it possible to have a the same banner on top than the "entitlement banner/sing in banner" but to use this space for one of our own banner? I f yes how can it do that and delete the "sign in" options on top?
Thank youCustomizing the store or library is enterprise only.
-
Can I give a client a paid folio for free?
One of our multifolio apps has got interest from one of our other clients, and they would like to show it around various partners and internal staff etc.
We don't want them to have to pay for the folio, but we want to present it as the proper full version (not a developer version in Content Viewer).
We have a Professional DPS license - is there any way of allowing free downloads to certain parties? If not, what would you suggets as the best way to do what we want to do?
ThanksYou can't do this with a professional license, and even with an enterprise license you'd have to integrate with a custom direct entitlement server and do a bunch of engineering work. Your only real option is to share it and have them look at it in the Adobe Content Viewer.
Neil -
Distribute .folio files for free
Hello, I have one question: can I share a .folio files for free (for reading with Adobe Content viewer), without having any DPS license?
rvdiziner: As it has been pointed out by Bob Bringhurst
"When you use the digital publishing tools, there is no reason to use acrobat.com. It works for the time being, but it's not supported."
His quote is from the context of an error message discussion :http://forums.adobe.com/thread/859156?tstart=0
Using the DPS dashboard is the appropriate way to edit and organize your folio files (https://digitalpublishing.acrobat.com). If you read the official documentation is says nothing about going onto Acrobat.com workspace to edit your files --You do use your Acrobat.com signin as your inital folio builder signin and the content viewer signin. In some instances you can create problems by editing them within acrobat.com rather than the DPS dashboard. So its worth mentioning that its more of "workaround" rather than a "workflow". It is an amazing way to preview the product before purchasing it. -
I used the account administration tool to set a paywall limit of 2 for one of our publications.
When I go to test the results, it still allows me to view all the unprotected stories.
Do I need to rebuild the multiviewer?
Or does it take a while to go into effect?
Or am I missing something altogether?
The multiviewer was already built with all the social sharing features enabled and is working fine, but I am not hitting a paywall limit when testing after using the administration tool.
Any help would be appreciated.
DaveThanks Bob,
Yes all our magazines are free.
You say "With v22........."
Does that mean it might change to include free folios in a future release?
This feature is just as important to us as it is to a paid app.
We want to have our readers share stories with others who then go and download our app.
Guess I should figure out how to do a feature request.
Dave -
Fields in Sales Order for Free Goods
Hi,
I have free goods item TANN in Sales Order.
But when we go Item --> Purchase Order Data Screen for that Free Goods Item, all the fields are greyed out. We can't access those fields.
We are using 'Your reference' field for some other purpose and we need to access that field.
Is there anyway that we can activate those fields in the screen for Free Goods Item?
Thanks!Hi,
Generally it is not greyed out. Check with your abaper if they done some enhancement that the field should not be modified. Also check with T. Code SHD0 where you will find the list of fields which appear in T. Code VA01 indicating if they are suppressed,enabled,invisible. Also check if you are using a transaction variant for VA01 which does not allow you to modify these fields.
Please reward if helpful.
Thanks & Regards
Sadhu Kishore -
Item categories for Free of charge items
Hi Gururs,
In the standard SAP the Item categories AFNN,AGNN and TANN are defined. Can the free goods be determined in Inquiry and Quotation(in any sales document with document category other than C-i.e.Order). If not possible, then what is the purpose of defining AFNN and AGNN.
Thanks in advance
RaviHi Sankar,
I can confirm that a free goods determination cannot be enabled for any sales document category other than C. In some of the OSS notes, it is clearly stated that free goods is meant only for sales document category C.
However the purpose of AGNN, and AFNN are not known. When i checked the configuration, these 2 ICs have configuration which are different from TANN in some of the aspects, especially the pricing field, that itself says that AGNN and AFNN are not meant for Free goods.
However, I will confirm on the purpose of these ICs in sometime, as I am exploring that.
YOU CAN READ THE OSS NOTE 549505 ON FREE GOODS, WHICH CONFIRMS THIS. IF YOU WANT THE NOTES, LEMME KNOW UR EMAIL ID.
Reward if this helps.
Content added by Navaneetha -
Urgent clearing data in container for free text
I HAVE A CONTAINER FOR FREE TEXT.
I HAVE A CREATE BUTTON IN MY SCREEN EWHEN I PRESS CREATE IT ASKD FOR ID AND FREE TEXT THEN I SAVE AND IT GETS SAVED IN A ZTALE TABLE.
WHEN AFTER SAVING IT I GO TO INITIAL SCREEN AND PRESS CREATE AGAIN THEN IT ASKS FOR ID AND IN THE CONTAINER I SEE THE FPREVIOUS TEXT.
CAN YOU GUYS LET ME KNOW AS TO WHAT I NEED TO DO.
I TREID CLEARING AND REFRESHING MYTABLE WHICH I HAVE USED IN THE FOLLOWING CODE.
pbo
if editor is initial.
CREATE OBJECT TEXTEDIT_CUSTOM_CONTAINER
EXPORTING
CONTAINER_NAME = 'TEXTEDITOR1'
EXCEPTIONS
CNTL_ERROR = 1
CNTL_SYSTEM_ERROR = 2
CREATE_ERROR = 3
LIFETIME_ERROR = 4
LIFETIME_DYNPRO_DYNPRO_LINK = 5.
IF SY-SUBRC NE 0.
add your handling
ENDIF.
CREATE OBJECT EDITOR
EXPORTING
PARENT = TEXTEDIT_CUSTOM_CONTAINER
WORDWRAP_MODE = CL_GUI_TEXTEDIT=>WORDWRAP_AT_FIXED_POSITION
WORDWRAP_TO_LINEBREAK_MODE = CL_GUI_TEXTEDIT=>FALSE
EXCEPTIONS
OTHERS = 1.
refresh mytable.
call METHOD editor->SET_TOOLBAR_MODE
EXPORTING TOOLBAR_MODE = 0.
*call METHOD editor->SET_ENABLE
*EXPORTING ENABLE = ' '.
CALL METHOD editor->set_readonly_mode
EXPORTING
readonly_mode = 1.
ENDIF.
CLEAR MYTABLE.
FREE MYTABLE.
endif.
IF SY-SUBRC NE 0.
CALL FUNCTION 'POPUP_TO_INFORM'
EXPORTING
TITEL = V_REPID "--> program name
TXT2 = SPACE
TXT1 = 'Error in flush'.
ENDIF.
tHANKS
let me know
swathiFor example, this program works really well with saving long text using the SAVE_TEXT function. Here you need to create the object/id in SE75. For this program you enter the id on the right like 999999 and enter the text on the left, execute and the text is saved, now change the id to 999998 and hit enter, notice the text is blank, now enter 999999 again, notice the text for this id has come back, this is because the program uses READ_TEXT to retrieve the text.
report zrich_0001.
data:
dockingleft type ref to cl_gui_docking_container,
text_editor type ref to cl_gui_textedit,
repid type syrepid.
data: begin of header.
include structure thead.
data: end of header.
data: begin of lines occurs 0.
include structure tline.
data: end of lines.
data: textlines type table of tline-tdline,
wa_text type tline-tdline.
data: xthead type thead.
parameters: p_id(10) type c.
at selection-screen.
if p_id is initial.
message e001(00) with 'Enter an ID'.
endif.
at selection-screen output.
repid = sy-repid.
if dockingleft is initial.
create object dockingleft
exporting repid = repid
dynnr = sy-dynnr
side = dockingleft->dock_at_left
extension = 300.
create object text_editor
exporting
parent = dockingleft.
endif.
if p_id <> space.
xthead-tdobject = 'ZPT_DET'.
xthead-tdid = 'Z001'.
xthead-tdname = p_id.
clear lines. refresh lines.
call function 'READ_TEXT'
exporting
id = xthead-tdid
language = sy-langu
name = xthead-tdname
object = xthead-tdobject
tables
lines = lines
exceptions
id = 1
language = 2
name = 3
not_found = 4
object = 5
reference_check = 6
wrong_access_to_archive = 7
others = 8.
clear textlines.
loop at lines.
wa_text = lines-tdline.
append wa_text to textlines.
endloop.
endif.
call method text_editor->set_text_as_r3table
exporting
table = textlines
exceptions
others = 1.
start-of-selection.
call method text_editor->get_text_as_r3table
importing
table = textlines
exceptions
others = 1.
* Set SAPscript Header
clear header.
header-tdname = p_id . "Name
header-tdobject = 'ZPT_DET'. "Object
header-tdid = 'Z001'. "Id
header-tdspras = sy-langu.
* Move text from container to function module table
clear lines. refresh lines.
loop at textlines into wa_text .
lines-tdline = wa_text.
append lines .
endloop.
call function 'SAVE_TEXT'
exporting
client = sy-mandt
header = header
tables
lines = lines
exceptions
id = 1
language = 2
name = 3
object = 4
others = 5.
Yes, this is implemented using a selection screen, but the same principals apply and this can be easily converted to a dynpro application.
Regards,
Rich Heilman -
Script for Free Space in Datafiles
Hi
Got the below script from metalink [130866.1] to identify free space within a data file.Couple of questions
1)Is dba_Free_Space an exact indicator of how much space is available in a file.
2) What is the significance of using blocks in vs using bytes.
cursor c_freespace(v_file_id in number) is
select block_id, block_id+blocks max_block
from dba_free_space
where file_id = v_file_id
order by block_id desc;
Thanks in advance for you help.
Script for checking backwards for free space at end of file
REM Script is meant for Oracle version 9 and higher
REM -----------------------------------------------
set serveroutput on
exec dbms_output.enable(1000000);
declare
cursor c_dbfile is
select f.tablespace_name,f.file_name,f.file_id,f.blocks,t.block_size
from dba_data_files f,
dba_tablespaces t
where f.tablespace_name = t.tablespace_name
and t.status = 'ONLINE'
order by f.tablespace_name,f.file_id;
cursor c_freespace(v_file_id in number) is
select block_id, block_id+blocks max_block
from dba_free_space
where file_id = v_file_id
order by block_id desc;
/* variables to check settings/values */
dummy number;
checkval varchar2(10);
block_correction number;
/* running variable to show (possible) end-of-file */
file_min_block number;
/* variables to check if recycle_bin is on and if extent as checked is in ... */
recycle_bin boolean:=false;
extent_in_recycle_bin boolean;
/* exception handler needed for non-existing tables note:344940.1 */
sqlstr varchar2(100);
table_does_not_exist exception;
pragma exception_init(table_does_not_exist,-942);
begin
/* recyclebin is present in Oracle 10.2 and higher and might contain extent as checked */
begin
select value into checkval from v$parameter where name = 'recyclebin';
if checkval = 'on'
then
recycle_bin := true;
end if;
exception
when no_data_found
then
recycle_bin := false;
end;
/* main loop */
for c_file in c_dbfile
loop
/* initialization of loop variables */
dummy :=0;
extent_in_recycle_bin := false;
file_min_block := c_file.blocks;
begin
<<check_free>>
for c_free in c_freespace(c_file.file_id)
loop
/* if blocks is an uneven value there is a need to correct with -1 to compare with end-of-file which is even */
block_correction := (0-mod(c_free.max_block,2));
if file_min_block = c_free.max_block+block_correction
then
/* free extent is at end so file can be resized */
file_min_block := c_free.block_id;
else
/* no more free extent at end of file, file cannot be further resized */
exit check_free;
end if;
end loop;
end;
/* check if file can be resized, minimal size of file 16 blocks */
if (file_min_block = c_file.blocks) or (c_file.blocks <= 16)
then
dbms_output.put_line('Tablespace: '||c_file.tablespace_name||' Datafile: '||c_file.file_name);
dbms_output.put_line('cannot be resized no free extents found');
dbms_output.put_line('.');
else
/* file needs minimal no of blocks which does vary over versions */
if file_min_block < 16
then
file_min_block := 16;
end if;
dbms_output.put_line('Tablespace: '||c_file.tablespace_name||' Datafile: '||c_file.file_name);
dbms_output.put_line('current size: '||(c_file.blocks*c_file.block_size)/1024||'K'||' can be resized to: '||round((file_min_block*c_file.block_size)/1024)||'K (reduction of: '||round(((c_file.blocks-file_min_block)/c_file.blocks)*100,2)||' %)');
/* below is only true if recyclebin is on */
if recycle_bin
then
begin
sqlstr:='select distinct 1 from recyclebin$ where file#='||c_file.file_id;
execute immediate sqlstr into dummy;
if dummy > 0
then
dbms_output.put_line('Extents found in recyclebin for above file/tablespace');
dbms_output.put_line('Implying that purge of recyclebin might be needed in order to resize');
dbms_output.put_line('SQL> purge tablespace '||c_file.tablespace_name||';');
end if;
exception
when no_data_found
then null;
when table_does_not_exist
then null;
end;
end if;
dbms_output.put_line('SQL> alter database datafile '''||c_file.file_name||''' resize '||round((file_min_block*c_file.block_size)/1024)||'K;');
dbms_output.put_line('.');
end if;
end loop;
end;
Example output for Oracle version 9 and higher:
Tablespace: TEST Datafile: /oradata/v112/test01.dbf
cannot be resized no free extents found
Tablespace: UNDOTBS1 Datafile: /oradata/v112/undotbs01.dbf
current size: 9384960K can be resized to: 106496K (reduction of: 98.87 %)
SQL> alter database datafile '/oradata/v112/undotbs01.dbf' resize 106496K;
Tablespace: USERS Datafile: /oradata/v112/users01.dbf
current size: 328960K can be resized to: 117248K (reduction of: 64.36 %)
Extents found in recyclebin for above file/tablespace
Implying that purge of recyclebin might be needed in order to resize
SQL> purge tablespace USERS;
SQL> alter database datafile '/oradata/v112/users01.dbf' resize 117248KHi
Got the below script from metalink [130866.1] to identify free space within a data file.Couple of questions
1)Is dba_Free_Space an exact indicator of how much space is available in a file.
2) What is the significance of using blocks in vs using bytes.
cursor c_freespace(v_file_id in number) is
select block_id, block_id+blocks max_block
from dba_free_space
where file_id = v_file_id
order by block_id desc;
Thanks in advance for you help.
Script for checking backwards for free space at end of file
REM Script is meant for Oracle version 9 and higher
REM -----------------------------------------------
set serveroutput on
exec dbms_output.enable(1000000);
declare
cursor c_dbfile is
select f.tablespace_name,f.file_name,f.file_id,f.blocks,t.block_size
from dba_data_files f,
dba_tablespaces t
where f.tablespace_name = t.tablespace_name
and t.status = 'ONLINE'
order by f.tablespace_name,f.file_id;
cursor c_freespace(v_file_id in number) is
select block_id, block_id+blocks max_block
from dba_free_space
where file_id = v_file_id
order by block_id desc;
/* variables to check settings/values */
dummy number;
checkval varchar2(10);
block_correction number;
/* running variable to show (possible) end-of-file */
file_min_block number;
/* variables to check if recycle_bin is on and if extent as checked is in ... */
recycle_bin boolean:=false;
extent_in_recycle_bin boolean;
/* exception handler needed for non-existing tables note:344940.1 */
sqlstr varchar2(100);
table_does_not_exist exception;
pragma exception_init(table_does_not_exist,-942);
begin
/* recyclebin is present in Oracle 10.2 and higher and might contain extent as checked */
begin
select value into checkval from v$parameter where name = 'recyclebin';
if checkval = 'on'
then
recycle_bin := true;
end if;
exception
when no_data_found
then
recycle_bin := false;
end;
/* main loop */
for c_file in c_dbfile
loop
/* initialization of loop variables */
dummy :=0;
extent_in_recycle_bin := false;
file_min_block := c_file.blocks;
begin
<<check_free>>
for c_free in c_freespace(c_file.file_id)
loop
/* if blocks is an uneven value there is a need to correct with -1 to compare with end-of-file which is even */
block_correction := (0-mod(c_free.max_block,2));
if file_min_block = c_free.max_block+block_correction
then
/* free extent is at end so file can be resized */
file_min_block := c_free.block_id;
else
/* no more free extent at end of file, file cannot be further resized */
exit check_free;
end if;
end loop;
end;
/* check if file can be resized, minimal size of file 16 blocks */
if (file_min_block = c_file.blocks) or (c_file.blocks <= 16)
then
dbms_output.put_line('Tablespace: '||c_file.tablespace_name||' Datafile: '||c_file.file_name);
dbms_output.put_line('cannot be resized no free extents found');
dbms_output.put_line('.');
else
/* file needs minimal no of blocks which does vary over versions */
if file_min_block < 16
then
file_min_block := 16;
end if;
dbms_output.put_line('Tablespace: '||c_file.tablespace_name||' Datafile: '||c_file.file_name);
dbms_output.put_line('current size: '||(c_file.blocks*c_file.block_size)/1024||'K'||' can be resized to: '||round((file_min_block*c_file.block_size)/1024)||'K (reduction of: '||round(((c_file.blocks-file_min_block)/c_file.blocks)*100,2)||' %)');
/* below is only true if recyclebin is on */
if recycle_bin
then
begin
sqlstr:='select distinct 1 from recyclebin$ where file#='||c_file.file_id;
execute immediate sqlstr into dummy;
if dummy > 0
then
dbms_output.put_line('Extents found in recyclebin for above file/tablespace');
dbms_output.put_line('Implying that purge of recyclebin might be needed in order to resize');
dbms_output.put_line('SQL> purge tablespace '||c_file.tablespace_name||';');
end if;
exception
when no_data_found
then null;
when table_does_not_exist
then null;
end;
end if;
dbms_output.put_line('SQL> alter database datafile '''||c_file.file_name||''' resize '||round((file_min_block*c_file.block_size)/1024)||'K;');
dbms_output.put_line('.');
end if;
end loop;
end;
Example output for Oracle version 9 and higher:
Tablespace: TEST Datafile: /oradata/v112/test01.dbf
cannot be resized no free extents found
Tablespace: UNDOTBS1 Datafile: /oradata/v112/undotbs01.dbf
current size: 9384960K can be resized to: 106496K (reduction of: 98.87 %)
SQL> alter database datafile '/oradata/v112/undotbs01.dbf' resize 106496K;
Tablespace: USERS Datafile: /oradata/v112/users01.dbf
current size: 328960K can be resized to: 117248K (reduction of: 64.36 %)
Extents found in recyclebin for above file/tablespace
Implying that purge of recyclebin might be needed in order to resize
SQL> purge tablespace USERS;
SQL> alter database datafile '/oradata/v112/users01.dbf' resize 117248K -
How to publish Captivate (swf) projects for free
Hi Cap Users,
This is not really a question, more of a handy tip.
When I first started using Captivate I tried to find places where I could publish my projects for free. I've also seen lots of posts by instructional designers and students who want to get their projects 'out there' for little or no cost.
Here's a short vid that shows you how to publish .swf projects via Weebly.com. You'll need to create a weebly website first. It's all free and the the site builder elements are drag and drop, so you can have a simple site in place within minutes.
Weebly isn't set up for HTML5 as yet, but I'm sure that won't be far away.
Click this link to see a demonstration - saving your Cap file, uploading and publishing it.
Happy publishing!Ok, then I Publish the folio in folio producer like Public and Free and that's all, it's ok? Then when I want to sell this folio, back to the folio producer, change to Public and Minorist and in the Android Market build the in-app product, it's ok?
PD: sorry for my english -
Suggestions for using .folios in a classroom
Hi all,
We would like to use Indesign to create interactive .folio files in a classroom atmosphere. My hope was that students can work on their files and export as a .folio and just pass them around to each other on for viewing/review/testing.
The free acrobat account will only allow for one Folio that is not down-loadable. In other words you must log on to your adobe account via the Adobe Content Viewer App each to view your Folio. My hope is that each student will be able to actually download the final app onto their hand-held and have it work like any other app.
Can anyone provide any good suggestions on how they would go about using these tools in a classroom of about 30 students without paying for the 5000 folio package (it looks like that is the smallest version that they have), as our budget is not anywhere near enough to cover that expense.
Thanks for any input.The only free solution I can think of is to get each student to create their own unique Acrobat.com account. Then they can share their folios whith each other by using the Share dialogue box on the folio builder fly-out menu. Although you may have to invite each one into each workspace on Acrobat.com first though, I'm not sure.
-
My credit card was wrongfully charged when I downloaded theiTunes apication for free
Contact Apple at:
https://expresslane.apple.com/
Have you downloaded any apps on an iPad/iPhone for kids? If so you may have in-app purchases enabled for free games or similar, and they've racked up charges for you. -
Why Do People Make and Provide Software and Support for Free?
Hey all, I discovered Linux and open source software a little over 4 years ago now. It transformed the way I thought about software and using the computer. So now in my senior year of college I have chosen for open source software to be the subject of my thesis.
The topic of this thread is the research question of my thesis. But it is also question that I have been thinking about for the last couple years or so. Why do people decide to write software and then give it out for free for all to modify? The second has to do with forums like these. I have always wondered why people do help support on these forums for free when they can be making money doing the exact same thing. Below I will write 13 research questions that you guys can give me your answers or philosophy too.
1. How long have you been using Linux?
2. How did you learn/find out about Linux?
3. Why have you chosen Linux over other operating systems available?
4. Why did you choose to use your current distribution?
5. Do you still use any closed source programs that are not available for Linux?
6. Tell me the reasons that you contribute to the community?
7. What do you think motivates others to contribute to the community?
8. In your opinion, what reasons do you think others provide software to everyone for free?
9. In what ways do you feel contributing to the community could benefit someone's future/career?
10. What is it about contributing or programming that you enjoy most? Is there any aspects you dislike?
11. Are you a member of other non-software communities? Such as a church, voluntary organizations or charities?
12. Does your open source work spillover with any other areas of your life?
13. If you provide support on forums such as these, why do it for free?
You DO NOT have to answer all 13 of the questions above. Please just pick out the ones that you feel are most important or interesting to answer. If someone else says something that you think is interesting feel free to respond to them if you agree or disagree.
If anyone wants to take this discussion further with me than the forum, I will absolutely love too! Just please send me a private message on here and we can figure out further ways of contacting each other.
I plan on using your user names on this forum to identify people in my paper. If any of you are uncomfortable with me using your username in my paper, please let me know! I will be monitoring this thread on a day by day basis for the next two months or so, until my thesis is complete. If you guys have any other questions that pop up, please do not hesitate to ask! Thank you all in advance for responding!hockeyfighter09 wrote:1. How long have you been using Linux?
Roughly 3 years, with about 2 of those full-time. Tried out for 6 months a couple of years before that, but didn't stick.
hockeyfighter09 wrote:2. How did you learn/find out about Linux?
Older relatives/friends mentioned it in passing due to my interest in computers, was pointed to the (then-new) Ubuntu and actually given a CD (which I never used). Did read up a bit about it at the time, though.
hockeyfighter09 wrote:3. Why have you chosen Linux over other operating systems available?
Frustration with fixing Windows. Most of that came from my tinkering with it with a bunch of patches/hacks/cracks etc, necessitating a reformat every few months. Oh, and viruses would pop-up once in a while. Mac was always out of my budget (was a student, am still not done with my post-grad).
hockeyfighter09 wrote:4. Why did you choose to use your current distribution?
Ubuntu got quite frustrating from two aspects:-
1. 'Freeze' policy kept creating lousy bugs. I would have maybe 12 external ppas enabled and of course they wouldn't always play nice with each other, simply because the repos I had been so in awe of when first starting out didn't actually contain all that many useful programs. Used Mint for a while, same problem (now I understand it was the same base).
2. SNR of forums - When I first joined ubuntuforums it was like heaven-on-earth, so HELPFUL, so many replies almost instantly. It took me roughly 1 and a half months to notice that probably only 2 regular posters were worth listening to, the rest were trying to help with no knowledge to back them up.
So I tried Sidux, OpenSuse, Fedora, and finally read about Arch. Installed it side-by-side, and viola, it was fun! I like tinkering, basically, and Arch allows me to do it far more than Ubuntu/Windows (I class Ubuntu as similar to Windows by now) ever did.
hockeyfighter09 wrote:5. Do you still use any closed source programs that are not available for Linux?
Yes, some games through wine (not sure if that counts as 'available for Linux'. I do not boot into Windows at all, anymore (though its on my laptop).
hockeyfighter09 wrote:6. Tell me the reasons that you contribute to the community?
One of the best things I like about open-source is how most active projects have a community around them. So its not just software, but people working together (of course with heirarchies etc.), fits my Utopian view of how things 'should be(tm)'. I'm a sucker for Utopia, so I try to feed the community as far as possible.
hockeyfighter09 wrote:7. What do you think motivates others to contribute to the community?
A combination of 6. and substituting social deficiencies. Some come across as not actually having much of a social life (probably lack of those sharing nerdy interests in their area) and substituting that in online communities. This isn't really Linux specific, more internet-community specific.
hockeyfighter09 wrote:8. In your opinion, what reasons do you think others provide software to everyone for free?
Perspective of personal developer (one-man projects), I think its a mix of altruism (probably 20-30%), pride (50%) and commercial sensibility (the rest). Most of it is pride, the knowledge that many use my software.
For companies, as mentioned above, its very financially viable, especially in already-saturated markets.
hockeyfighter09 wrote:9. In what ways do you feel contributing to the community could benefit someone's future/career?
Not much, honestly. My career-line is education/engineering, so not much scope there. For someone in the computer sciences, of course there'd be more benefit, but not more than investing the same amount of time into part-time work to expand your portfolio. So for the INDIVIDUAL I believe participating in the community does not bring future/career benefits, we do it because we enjoy the community and want to see it succeed.
hockeyfighter09 wrote:10. What is it about contributing or programming that you enjoy most? Is there any aspects you dislike?
The sense of achievement, that what you do is useful to someone. The BIG dislike is when other members of the community don't feel the same way. There will always be members who are demanding (customer mentality) or abrasive (big tough guy mentality). Both are 'big city' mentalities with no place in the 'homely-little-town' community of Linux (that's how I see it anyway).
Oh, and noobs answering questions with no knowledge (something I've done before as well) are more annoying than noobs asking questions, personal opinion
hockeyfighter09 wrote:11. Are you a member of other non-software communities? Such as a church, voluntary organizations or charities?
I'm very active in my church (various leadership roles), and regularly help out at my fiance's NGO (mostly video work, ffmpeg and cinelerra stuff). A child sponsor and blood donor, etc. etc.
hockeyfighter09 wrote:12. Does your open source work spillover with any other areas of your life?
I don't 'work' on open-source, so a bit of a N/A here. What small patches I provide, or the moderating I do here, is just small contributions. Doesn't spill over to any other areas of my life, because computers are like that, compartmentalized away from the 'real world' (cue Matrix theme tune).
hockeyfighter09 wrote:13. If you provide support on forums such as these, why do it for free?
Like I said, in a small village community setting, people help and are helped for free. I do tech support for friends/relatives in RL for free, so on the forums, for very little time invested, why not?
In answer to litemotiv - yes control is MUCH more important than freedom. I've never really been taken by all of RMS' screaming and ranting. I'm an engineer by training, I want to know what's going on (to a reasonable degree) and control it. Philosophical discussions are interesting but ultimately a waste of time. -
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