User-powered software

What if you need my software to do more?

That question facinates me and I've been thinking about possible solutions for a long time. You can ask me to implement a new feature, but that breaks down in two ways. First I don't have the time to implement most requests, and second if I add to many features my software gets bloated and harder to use.

So instead I've been evolving a process that I call user-powered software. The goal is remove myself as a gate keeper in the development process and give you the same power to change my software that I have. So if you need my software to do more and you can't convince me to do it, I still give you the resources that you'll need to add the feature yourself.

The current user-powered software process works like this:

Open Development Process

First I try to develop my software out in the open where you can see what I'm doing and make suggestions. Second if you decide to create your own scripts, plugins, or modifications I'll provide you with space on my website where you can share those creations with with other users. To support this open development I've created:

User Forums Each of my applications has an user forum where you can ask questions, and discus ways to make the application better.
Development Releases I try to develop my software out in the open. As soon as I have something useful to show I post a development release in my user forums with a download link. This allows interested users to try it out and provide feedback on it very early in the development cycle when it’s still easy for me to go back and make changes.
Project sharing If you have a Hog Bay Software related project such as a script, plugin, or application I'll provide you with project space on my website so that you can describe and share that project with other users.

Open Technology

I want to give you to have the same power to change my software that I have. To enable this all of my software is scriptable and built on an open source plugin architecture. As time allows I'll try to help you, and provide you with the necessary hocks, to modify my software to your needs.

Applescript Support Applescript gives power users a simple way to automate my applications and tailor them to specific tasks.
Plugin Architecture My open source Blocks plugin architecture allows programmers to add completely new features to my applications in a structured way.

Transparent Operation

The user-powered software process needs your participation and trust to be successful. To earn that trust Hog Bay Software operates in the open so you can understand how we work and help us work better in the future.

I used to have links in this section to my current sales numbers, web traffic, and different company processes. But it was hard to keep those things up to date. Sales come from many places, so it's hard to automate. Company processes keep changing, or at not well documented, so info was often incorrect. So Instead I'm going to try to boil that down the a few policies that I'll list here:

I'll share numbers I'll try to answer most questions that you have about my sales, traffic, ect. My intention is to help other people who are also interested in starting a shareware business, so send me an email if you have questions.
My software at discount If you have a good reason I'm happy to sell my software to you at discount or even give it to you for free in some cases. I also sell my software at discount on sites like MacPromo, MacZot when given the opportunity. In the end it helps me a lot more if you buy my software at full price from my site, but if you really need a discount I'm likely to accommodate you.
My software for "free" My biggest barrier to selling software is that most people have never heard about Hog Bay Software. Because of this reviews and word of mouth drive most of my business. To encourage reviews I'll offer a free review license to anyone with a blog or any other "voice" who decides to write a review. There are two conditions, it needs to be a real review. Be honest, say what is good and what is not so good. Also if you decide to accept the review license key you must note that somewhere in your review. To get a review license key you must send me an email with a link to the review and your full first and last names.