Would SMF ever betray us?

[bigmo]

Children children !!!!!
I as the Supreme dictator in this place have decided the following

a. SMF ain't going nowhere
b. SMF will remain free for the foreseeable future
c. If they did charge, I'll pay.
d. I'm going to pay for charter membership
e. This subject is closed.
z. Enjoy free and friendly SMF

[Daniel D.]

I am not saying SMF has done anything wrong. It bothered me at first when I went to start another forum and SE was gone and SMF was still being born and totally new concept. I had donated funds to the development of SE and thought that was a waste.

Why? The team is the same, you could convert your SE to SMF etc. You can't judge about all (free) software projects because you know some which took a wrong way ... Your donations are great - a big thanks from the project leaders, but they were optional. No need to be angry about it - since you donated the future of it, too (SMF).

[[Unknown]]

Disappoint users, sell out to Bill Gates, discover the children now need college tuition paid after years of feedin' 'em Ramen noodles, be fired by a ruthless new management takeover, get sick and have to sell rights, etc.  All these things might always happen to anyone who produces this kind of open-source aka "free" product.  Nothing is ever guaranteed in life.

Most of those are actually *not* even possible because of some things we are putting in place (legally speaking.)

Glad you like it Bigmo .

-[Unknown]

[Alisha]

I am not saying SMF has done anything wrong. It bothered me at first when I went to start another forum and SE was gone and SMF was still being born and totally new concept. I had donated funds to the development of SE and thought that was a waste.

Why? The team is the same, you could convert your SE to SMF etc. You can't judge about all (free) software projects because you know some which took a wrong way ... Your donations are great - a big thanks from the project leaders, but they were optional. No need to be angry about it - since you donated the future of it, too (SMF).

Oh I am not Angry about it! Just stating my feelings on it.  I am not judging SMF as others or again I would not be here. I am just a little more cautious about it.  I do not recall when or exactly when, though I do recall I sent something to SE less than a couple months before it vanished into SMF.

Although you know as well as I do, the internet is NOT honest.  Just read Ms Axels topic where I seems she paid a third party for SMF.  I know this has nothing to do with the SMF Team and the SMF team has not control over this happening.   The only problem I had when I went to start that forum I had a choice to use SMF, or someone else's forum more complete than SMF at the time.  Why would I use SE when there was not future for it? SMF still wasn't there. So I had to look at others.

Yes, I agree that my small donation did goto SMF, because it was at the END of SE when I jumped on board from yabb.  Although, at that time, there was not way to see that SMF would be what it is today or even become anything but a dream.  There was a lot of talk and promises but thats what it was, nothing more at the time. Since then, you have lived up to those promises and plans 120% if not more.  I know that, I can see that, but how does someone else know that. Someone that is just now looking for a forum to use. 

Believe me I am not angry about it, nor and I even upset about it anymore.  Its just one of those things.

[Winters]

First of all, I do understand your concerns as what happened with IPB basically happened with another forum software (WBB), too.

However, the free vs. charter membership model seems to be working nicely and just as long as they are totally honest about what is available to each of the groups, I can live with that.

I like the topic but talking about pirateing it already before any downfall seems pre-mature.

Not at all, its a responce to what *I* would if they did betray us. After it happens there is nothing to talk about.

Well, you can't right a wrong by committing another one, now can you?

I am not saying SMF has done anything wrong. It bothered me at first when I went to start another forum and SE was gone and SMF was still being born and totally new concept. I had donated funds to the development of SE and thought that was a waste.

Why? The team is the same, you could convert your SE to SMF etc.

Well, at first it was a huge transition for us, too, so I am sympathetic. Maybe it could have been handled a bit more smoothly.

While I have never seen a Factual statement that SMF will NEVER be commercial software the TEAM does infer it.

Well, also the main developer (and major supporter) states it (link above), so I think we can remain optimistic.

[Peter Duggan]

if they did betray us

Hoping to make this my sole contribution to this topic, but must say that I'm struggling with the concept of 'they' in this context. So this is a community, 'we' (the team) are part of 'you' (the users) and we're fundamentally all in this together!

[Grudge]

SMF will always be free.

[Kerry Jones]

good to hear from the developers on the issue. I've already begun recommending some of my friends to use SMFs. I'm already using it for my city message board that I've created and my webhosting company that I'm constructing.

[Alisha]

good to hear from the developers on the issue. I've already begun recommending some of my friends to use SMFs. I'm already using it for my city message board that I've created and my webhosting company that I'm constructing.

Awesome... I currently have no concern of it going anywhere. I do have to agree that it is nice  to have some reassurance.

[Tristan Perry]

if they did betray us

Hoping to make this my sole contribution to this topic, but must say that I'm struggling with the concept of 'they' in this context. So this is a community, 'we' (the team) are part of 'you' (the users) and we're fundamentally all in this together!

So we'd be betraying ourselves?  j/k

I too am glad to see that SMF will remain free, although I would pay if it went pay-only.

[Omar Bazavilvazo]

Glad some of you would pay for SMF even if it costs money, but, as stated by many people, all SMF staff works for free, and since almost all staff would leave if SMF went paid, this won't happen.... ever

You can sleep without worrying about this

[Alisha]

Glad some of you would pay for SMF even if it costs money, but, as stated by many people, all SMF staff works for free, and since almost all staff would leave if SMF went paid, this won't happen.... ever

You can sleep without worrying about this

Its not that its not WORTH paying for, I would pay for IPB IF they had not LIED in the beginning and started out saying it was and would be free.  Same as SMF, if it was intended to become a commercial forums, I would still be here and when the time came buy it.  SMF once its fully developed into its prime will be of a commercial grade.  I just do not like the deception of "yeah we are FREE help us make this" then POOF now I have all your hard work, I am going to make money off of it.  Thats not ethical.

[[Unknown]]

Good thing we're not doing that.

-[Unknown]

[Jeff Lewis]

Glad some of you would pay for SMF even if it costs money,

Which is all fine and dandy but....SMF will always be free We're in a lengthy legal process to ensure it remains free and in the hands of the users. We're hoping it's around for a LONG time.

As someone mentioned, there is a Charter Member option but it's not for everyone. However, those that support the project are really appreciated and help leave that feeling (to the developers and project managers) that everyone wants to give back to a community which is what SMF is. It's not just a software project, it's a community of users and that's important.

[Adin]

IPB was worth paying for ?

They had like the slowest bugfixing i ever saw.

[Pause]

(to the developers and project managers )

Hey, it gives the feeling to the rest of us as well 

[Sys_ZERO]

I dont think SMF won't ever betray us...

IPB.. Matt made a personal promise my friend saying that it will always be free... and remain free....

My friend owns:

invisionpower.net
          "          .org
          "          .info

He used to point them to the Invision Site but he stopped...

IPB is stupid ... After 1hr InvisionPower.com being active, My friend "raced" Invision to register to domains... He got Dozens of calls but nothing happened coz it was HIS(my friend's) domains... I was laughing my head off..

[[Unknown]]

Think what you will.  Invision wasn't putting measures in place like we are.

-[Unknown]

[Sys_ZERO]

Think what you will.  Invision wasn't putting measures in place like we are.

-[Unknown]

Totally Agree...

And Invision has <nerfed by Jeff> little SQL injection expliot which is fun...

But come on,, SMF has more features and it's free... Invision has <nerfed by Jeff> designs,.. etc...

SMF: A+++++++++


THANKS

[helenbpd]

Think what you will.  Invision wasn't putting measures in place like we are.

-[Unknown]

< spiked iron gates, packs of snarling Dobermans, thumbscrews, leather-clad jackbooted thugs ... >