> Now they are charging for something that was once free without really explaining any benefits?
It was free when they could afford it. Now it’s not, because they do indeed, need money. Why is that so wrong?
It was free when they could afford it. Now it’s not, because they do indeed, need money. Why is that so wrong?
Absolutely normal business strategy.
Now, the answer to that question exists. It's no longer free, which was the primary reason anyone just kept using it when (especially today) it doesn't offer much over alternatives.
Seems to me that a value-add tool makes sense to commercialize. It doesn’t provide a large array of features yet, but this funding will help with that.
If you don’t find it useful enough for the fee, clearly you’re better off with CLI or alternative GUIs.
I know for me I install it, let it do its setup, and then I do everything from the Docker CLI as if I was on a linux machine.
It has k8s built in if you want to add that also.
We are not talking about a tool here that needs a ton of functionality. But they have become (seemingly at least) the standard tool to have a more consistent Docker setup on Mac or Windows compared to where it will eventually be deployed (Linux). Once you have it setup you should be using the CLI.
I feel like they are severely overestimating the software, I am anticipating several open source alternatives to quickly become available since it wouldn't (or shouldn't) change your workflow at all to put in another alternative.
Edit: TBH I often forget docker desktop is sitting there until it starts asking me to update... so this is a perfect opportunity to replace it.
Of course, they’re not charging individuals, so I’m not sure why you’re complaining.
That is not because I am not using it, but I am indirectly using it by working with the Docker CLI.
What it does is very valuable, but it is a perfect candidate to be replaced by an open source alternative as long as I can continue to use the Docker CLI.
It is, however, much easier to say it of a service that has a history of flailing around about how and what they want money for than one that has a consistent history of not being surprising.
But honestly, we already knew this about Docker. They’ve always had issues trying to figure out their business plan.
On the other hand, we’re developers… so many of us like building our own tools. Why are there so many options for text editors? Depending on the type of tool, it might just be easier/fun to build your own tool.
It is possible to make money in FOSS, but you really have to get the business plan right from the beginning. It’s a hard business to be in.
If you haven’t read it, “Dreaming in Code” by Scott Rosenberg is a great story about just how hard it is to make a successful FOSS project, even for experienced teams. It details all of the ups and downs of the Chandler project from the early 2000’s.
IntelliJ and Visual Studio are doing perfectly well.
Maybe not every tiny little tool should be a subscription.
(yes, docker is a tiny tool compared to, say, linux, or kubernetes)