Show HN: Screenshots as a Service API, Free for Open Source

arjunkomath wrote: post #3

stephenr wrote: post #2

one question: why? wkhtmlto(image|pdf) is a thing, as is PhantomJS.

Because it easier using just a url rather than phantom JS or wkhtml.

One of the keys to B2B sales is considering the economics of risk.

From a business standpoint, I'd be concerned about taking a dependency on a web service with the business model I see here. Free for open-source means it will be harder for the company to make money and the harder it is for the company to make money the more likely it is to disappear. If the company disappears, a business taking a dependency on the service is in worse shape than if it bets on a slightly more difficult to implement alternative.

In addition, a large number of non-paying users creates a support load that requires resources that could be used to develop a paying customer base. This also makes it somewhat less likely that the business will be sustainable.

Good luck.

Re: Show HN: Screenshots as a Service API, Free for Open Source

#5

Post by arjunkomath » Sun, Dec 11, 2016, 4:41 PM UTC

brudgers wrote: post #4

arjunkomath wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because it easier using just a url rather than phantom JS or wkhtml.

One of the keys to B2B sales is considering the economics of risk. From a business standpoint, I'd be concerned about taking a dependency on a web service with the business model I see here. Free for open-source means it will be harder for the company to make money and the harder it is for the company to make money the more likely it is to disappear. If the company disappears, a business taking a dependency on the se…

It is a valid point and there are chances of that happening. As of now, I do not expect a huge load from open source projects, but only time can confirm that.

Thank you for the valuable feedback.