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Ask HN: Anyone making a living building desktop applications?

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Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living building desktop applications?

#211

Post by grujicd »

Melatonic wrote: post #207
grujicd wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We do have a maintenance option, but we don't push it that hard and it doesn't bring in significant revenue. This could be handled much better I'm sure. We also have major upgrades which do bring in some more cash since they're more expensive and more users buy them. But it's every 5-6 years. And it's still significantly lower than regular new licenses. I'm thinking about adding a Saas "Team" edition, which would off…

Do some type of integration with Azure AD so you do not have to worry about the security or any of that? Plus clients will be familiar with it and could use existing users in their infrastructure.

That's a good suggestion. But in reality we'd have to support both Azure AD and our own storage for users who are not using Azure AD. And possibly even on-premise version, which is additional complication.

It's beginning to look clear why it's an idea from few years ago but still not implemented.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living building desktop applications?

#213

Post by justsomehnguy »

scarface74 wrote: post #135
iffycan wrote: post #17

I work on a desktop budgeting application. I love that it's desktop-only (and so do the users)! It doesn't earn a living (yet), but it makes more than enough to cover expenses. [0] https://www.budgetwithbuckets.com

Why would I want to sit at my computer to manage my budget instead of being able to access it anywhere? I always have a “computer in my pocket”.

As a person who painstakingly used GnuCash for multiple years - no, no mobile app works good enough. It is always or too cumbersome, or too simplified.

And yes, it is almost always easier to punch in numbers on the desktop.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living building desktop applications?

#214

Post by semireg »

Melatonic wrote: post #208
semireg wrote: post #206

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which models, specifically? Tape are less supported by the roll-based models. However, Label LIVE can submit PDF-based jobs to any printer installed with a driver. So it might work if the manufacturer drivers work as one would expect (hint: they usually don’t… :()

I have a Dymo LabelWriter 450. Gonna start looking into it myself as well

Should work great. It’s a very popular printer with my users.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living building desktop applications?

#215

Post by ronyfadel »

wilbertliu wrote: post #196

Yes. I’m building https://getmumu.com and the revenue is still growing strong over time. And it’s been fun to make something that earns money yet people love the product.

35$ for 1 license? Sheesh, maybe I should raise my prices!

Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living building desktop applications?

#216

Post by jasondigitized »

semireg wrote: post #68

This is my 3rd (or is it 4th?) year of developing and selling Label LIVE, an electron app for designing and printing labels. Originally it only worked with USB thermal printers, but over the last few years it's grown into a multi-function image-rendering pipeline that integrates data import (via spreadsheet, CSV or API) with barcodes, text, image output. My app revenue eclipsed my iOS/NodeJS consulting in 2021 and I…

What has been the biggest technical challenge in developing the Electron app? You said you had to finesse some nodejs modules. Can you maybe elaborate. Just curious where the mudballs are for something like this.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living building desktop applications?

#217

Post by bachmeier »

semireg wrote: post #68

This is my 3rd (or is it 4th?) year of developing and selling Label LIVE, an electron app for designing and printing labels. Originally it only worked with USB thermal printers, but over the last few years it's grown into a multi-function image-rendering pipeline that integrates data import (via spreadsheet, CSV or API) with barcodes, text, image output. My app revenue eclipsed my iOS/NodeJS consulting in 2021 and I…

> I don't yet support Linux because out of thousands of users, only 2 people have emailed about Linux support (probably both from HN!).

That's certainly not the trend. Evernote has even released a Linux app after all these years. And for good reason - the Chromebook market. Hey is another.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living building desktop applications?

#218

Post by Melatonic »

semireg wrote: post #214
Melatonic wrote: post #208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a Dymo LabelWriter 450. Gonna start looking into it myself as well

Should work great. It’s a very popular printer with my users.

Bought it mainly for USPS labels but this looks cool!

Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living building desktop applications?

#219

Post by Melatonic »

grujicd wrote: post #211
Melatonic wrote: post #207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do some type of integration with Azure AD so you do not have to worry about the security or any of that? Plus clients will be familiar with it and could use existing users in their infrastructure.

That's a good suggestion. But in reality we'd have to support both Azure AD and our own storage for users who are not using Azure AD. And possibly even on-premise version, which is additional complication. It's beginning to look clear why it's an idea from few years ago but still not implemented.

I assumed with windows you were already integrating with on premise AD for user management which syncs nicely with Azure

Azure AD I meant just for user / rights management - not full azure for actual storage and everything.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living building desktop applications?

#220

Post by moonchrome »

MangoCoffee wrote: post #99
fxtentacle wrote: post #61

Yes and no. I'm an employee so it doesn't really matter, but my side-project desktop apps pay well enough that I could live off them if I go for a student lifestyle (no pricey events, no restaurants, cooking yourself, cleaning yourself). It was a long way. I started in the Pro Audio niche and initially supported Windows, Linux, Mac. Over time, I learned the hard way that supporting Apple's constantly changing OS is v…

what Microsoft fat client technology are you using? the current problem for me with Microsoft fat client is there are too much options and no clear one that Microsoft will support long term.

We're talking Microsoft here, they will probably be patching any crap they put out 10 years from now to maintain some enterprise app nobody knows how to update. Even when they gave up on Silverlight it was supported for almost 10 years afterwards.
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