The assertion that this isn't a toll on development is not correct. If you develop software you need to test it against production boxes for compatibility. As soon as you want to test a program you need to pay Microsoft. Sure the development kit is free, but as soon as I want to test out some nifty functionality (and test for bugs) I have to pay $1000/year and $250 per application. MS could easily set up development versions of the servers and give developers free access to test against them. I really don't feel I should pay for testing against an automated system unless I'm putting a severe burden on that system (say a load test or calling for support).
If you actually read the article it doesn't state that the fee is for production code to use the servers. It is reasonable to charge for accessing servers in production environments, but charging developers for things they may never release publicly is a tax on development. How many "nifty" open source projects will never happen if .NET succeeds? Which open source project has this kind of money to spend for Microsoft programs? Jonathan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Avi Cherry" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 3:57 AM Subject: Re: [OT] Microsoft Sets Tolls for .Net Developers > At 2:41 PM -0700 10/24/01, Jon Stevens wrote: > >Why am I not surprised? > > > >The funny thing is that even in this down economy and with all the free > >(better?) alternatives that are out there, people will actually still pay > >for this stuff! > > > >We should put a paypal link on the Jakarta homepage and donate the money to > >AIDS research or some other worthy cause. > > (Disclaimer: I don't develop for Microsoft platforms. I barely know > anything about .Net. I'm personally rather unfond of Microsoft) > > Sorry, Jon, if you bothered to even read the story that you > referenced (http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-7629784.html) you > would know the headline [...the cost of signing up as a developer to > .Net Entry level is $1,000...] is simply untrue. These costs are to > have your applications listed on the .Net My Services. Basically, if > you want your application listed and hosted by Microsoft, this is the > fee that you have to pay. Anybody can download the .Net SDK and use > whatever tools they want to create .Net applications. This story has > been going around ALL of the 'usual sources' (slashdot, etc...). > Personally, I don't think I will touch .Net unless I get very > desperate, but I feel I need to set the record straight when I hear > people spread untruths like this, even when it's about something I > consider the 'opposition'. > > Avi --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
