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Ask HN: Can an open-source and paid Mac app be a sustainable business?

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Re: Ask HN: Can an open-source and paid Mac app be a sustainable business?

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Yeah, that is a good point. My fear is about those few who can fork and make it available for free for everyone.

You can use trademark to prevent someone from calling it the same name. Or perhaps open-source the core library while leaving the Mac specific code under proprietary copyright.

Yep, it got me thinking maybe I can open parts of the codebase that have less business value and see how it develops.

Re: Ask HN: Can an open-source and paid Mac app be a sustainable business?

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Oh cool! I have it from SetApp I believe. You could release it under a copyleft license like the GPL v3 and change the branding for the open source version with a generic logo, none of your trademarks, etc.

Oh wow! I hope you like it! :) One idea I just remembered is to open-source an iOS/iPadOS app first, and see how it develops from there.

Not a bad idea. I hope you do it.

Re: Ask HN: Can an open-source and paid Mac app be a sustainable business?

#13
post #12
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh wow! I hope you like it! :) One idea I just remembered is to open-source an iOS/iPadOS app first, and see how it develops from there.

Not a bad idea. I hope you do it.

Good - let's hope it won't be in far future :D
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