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Grove.io shutting down

grove.io

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Re: Grove.io shutting down

#133
post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why should anyone create software just so you can have it for free? You're not entitled to open source software, or the goodwill of others. If they decided that they didn't want to continue running their product, they can choose to shut it down. This is exactly the same as Sparrow, TextMate, etc. None of these companies owe you anything to where they should be required, or even expected, to open source their work.

I don't demand anything of them, but they won't create a dependency where I previously had none and expect to be rewarded with money for it. I am making founders aware of this attitude so that they can 1. Realize that there's a problem 2. Distinguish themselves among their competitors by addressing this concern I'm not aiming to prescribe solutions, just describing the heuristics I presently rely on to determine if a…

Sentry is also open source, but for very different reasons than what you describe. I treat it like part of the business value, but that also means that many people can simply run their own, which means potential value lost (I wouldnt argue that there is value lost, but its not something that can be ignored).

Re: Grove.io shutting down

#134
post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't demand anything of them, but they won't create a dependency where I previously had none and expect to be rewarded with money for it. I am making founders aware of this attitude so that they can 1. Realize that there's a problem 2. Distinguish themselves among their competitors by addressing this concern I'm not aiming to prescribe solutions, just describing the heuristics I presently rely on to determine if a…

Sentry is also open source, but for very different reasons than what you describe. I treat it like part of the business value, but that also means that many people can simply run their own, which means potential value lost (I wouldnt argue that there is value lost, but its not something that can be ignored).

>Sentry is also open source, but for very different reasons than what you describe. I treat it like part of the business value, but that also means that many people can simply run their own

Then there's no issue in the hypothetical scenario I laid out.

I'm a Sentry user (of the hosted service) because it's open sourced. I wouldn't have given you a seconds notice otherwise and I doubt I'm alone in that.

Why be so defensive when you're clearly not in a position to be guilty of leaving all your customers up the creek?

Re: Grove.io shutting down

#135
post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's sarcasm mixed with caremad. I was a huge fan of Pownce, Motion, LeafyChat, Baconfile, Convore, and Grove. All failed. I was really hoping this one would work, but after seeing no improvements in a year, it became obvious it wouldn't. :(

Would like your opinion: do you think this is still a viable opportunity- serving this niche? (paid team chat) ..or is Campfire/HipChat/whatever-else-is-left "good enough" to make it not worthwhile?

Hosted IRC is an awkward place to be.

Those that don't give a fuck are using Campfire/HipChat.

Those that do give a fuck are usually hosting their own IRC.

Find a way to squeeze out both and you have a potentially nice business model. (Hosted IRC + nice web clients for paying customers?)

Re: Grove.io shutting down

#136
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe you touched on the solution. If you're a small startup, putting forward a statement that all the code will be open sourced if you shut down should increase the level of comfort your customers have in the product. What are the downsides I'm not thinking of? Companies that reuse code across multiple products, perhaps. Product A dies, but uses component Foo in Product B that still exists, and represents some kind…

The most obvious downside is that it creates perverse incentives -- potential customers benefit if you fail. It also telegraphs a lack of...I don't know what the word is. Tenacity? It's kind of like putting a bounty on your own head so that at least somebody can benefit if you die. You really want people to be invested in your survival. It also limits what you can do with your program. If your program uses code you d…

It's debatable customers benefit if a company fails and open sources their product. The customer, assuming they're willing and able to install it, misses out on any further upgrades (rare is the salvaged open source that goes anywhere) and support. Though I don't discount that there is _some_ benefit and that many customers might over-estimate that benefit.

Re: Grove.io shutting down

#138

Grove inspired me to make an open source alternative: Subway https://github.com/thedjpetersen/subway . And while it is far from perfect it is a start towards opening up IRC to teams.

This looks good. Does it keep history? I think one of the benefits of web-based systems like HipChat and Campfire is you can log in and see the previous conversation even if you weren't there.

Re: Grove.io shutting down

#139
What I don't understand is why they dont sell it on Sitepoint or somewhere. The app must surely have several hundred dollars a month in revenue at the very least. Someone would pay several thousand dollars for that.

Re: Grove.io shutting down

#140

This is disappointing. Grove.io was really awesome. IRC channels seem easy, but are (relatively) hard to get going: - Finding a server - Registering it properly - Explaining it to non-tech people The last one is way harder than you'd think. With Grove, you just send them a URL and it's easy. It's a shame they're shutting down. I stopped using because it was too expensive for a channel with a few friends (a channel wi…

I set Grove up for my distributed team but it didn't stick. I still think team-level chat is a problem worth solving, but nothing I've tried has gotten any real traction.

We've been using HipChat for several months now and have been quite happy with it. I'm using it to manage several remote contractors. The pricing is very reasonable. And it has an XMPP interface should you need it as well.
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