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Dabble DB shuts down on May 18, 2011

dabbledb.com

11–20 of 32 posts

Re: Dabble DB shuts down on May 18, 2011

#12
post #4

I get the feeling that dabble DB never truly solved the "excel being used as database" problem and that is why they didn't last. I still think spreadsheets work really well for storing data (if you don't have time/money to imnplement a RDMS), plus now with google docs and dropbox there are enough ways to sync the data with other users.

Uh... didn't DabbleDB also get acquired for their developers and put into maintenance mode?

Re: Dabble DB shuts down on May 18, 2011

#16
post #4

I get the feeling that dabble DB never truly solved the "excel being used as database" problem and that is why they didn't last. I still think spreadsheets work really well for storing data (if you don't have time/money to imnplement a RDMS), plus now with google docs and dropbox there are enough ways to sync the data with other users.

EditGrid is still around and free and unlike Google Spreadsheet's broken importXML function (see: http://goo.gl/fWYDi ) it has a web_xpath function that mostly works. Also worth noting DabbleDB is one of the (few?) relatively well-known projects implemented in Squeak/Seaside as discussed here: http://www.jarober.com/blog/blogView?showComments=true&t...

I am very glad they got Seaside out before the sale: it has really helped to revitalize Smalltalk.

Re: Dabble DB shuts down on May 18, 2011

#17

It would be better for startups in general if it was customary to open-source your solution if you shut down.

I can see how it would be better for you. How would this be better for the startups?

Good for the startup community by reducing early-adopter fear of startups going under.

Re: Dabble DB shuts down on May 18, 2011

#18
post #7

Can someone do a tldr of why Dabble is shutting down?

The team behind it was hired by Twitter. Not for the technology, it was purely a talent grab.

The choice to shut it down and bury the tech seems a weird route to take by Twitter. What could possibly be the upside if they were only interested in the talent anyway?!

Re: Dabble DB shuts down on May 18, 2011

#19

It would be better for startups in general if it was customary to open-source your solution if you shut down.

I can see how it would be better for you. How would this be better for the startups?

Yeah I agree with that previous comment (that I can't reply to for some reason).

I was talking with a potential client this morning about how he used to us Drop.io and built some systems based on it in lieu of the API calls he needed then Facebook acquired them.

It may be the case that the Facebook purchase in this case was about more than talent, but if every startup is only buying time until their big exit a general distrust amongst users may be the result.

Re: Dabble DB shuts down on May 18, 2011

#20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can see how it would be better for you. How would this be better for the startups?

Good for the startup community by reducing early-adopter fear of startups going under.

But possibly bad for the community in that it pretty much removes the possibility of getting bought by a company that wants your talent/customer base more than they want your product.
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