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Comment by jcelerier | Hacker News Reader

> You sign up for github, hackernews etc too.

but it doesn't cost a cent

So does a domain name, so did an SSL certificate, so does any payment provider, so do many many other things. Heck.. so is facebook, so is whatsapp. When it's about those "we" like to complain that there should be a paid version instead of a free version. It's just a load of bs.

The article is not even about distributing free applications. It's about paid applications.

I don't understand. of course it's a problem that DNS costs money, and of course it was a big problem than SSL cost money.

Distributing an OSS app requires neither a domain name nor an SSL certificate. And even if you shell out for these, they cost me vastly less than an Apple developer subscription. For somebody who develops OSS just for fun in their spare time, doesn’t make (nor expects to make) any money from it, and would rather spend time and other resources on interesting stuff, the 100 USD fee is essentially a no-go. I don’t mind paying for my hobby but (1) I’ve got more than one hobbies and I’m not rich, and (2) I’d like to perceive that the money I spend actually gives me something. For my purposes, an Apple developer subscription doesn’t feel like it is.

If you are distributing an OSS app, put it in HomeBrew. Done

There are thousands of OSS apps available on the Mac. None of them are signed. This includes many GUI apps like iTerm.

Most people who use OSS apps are already going to have HomeBrew regardless.

> "100 USD fee is essentially a no-go."

I simply fail to understand why people are so privileged to think $100 is no-go. Its not one time fee. Its yearly fee. and $100 is probably half of 1 month salary in many Asian countries.

> "Distributing an OSS app requires neither a domain name nor an SSL certificate"

One can just release app on homebrew or even github release and guess what they don't need domain name or certs. Yes github/homebrew paid that cost but OSS dev doesn't have to pay that much cost to release the opensource app.

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