Programming Quote by Eric S. Raymond
““If (as is generally accepted) over 75% of a typical software project’s life-cycle costs will be in maintenance and debugging and extensions, then the common price policy of charging a high fixed purchase price and relatively low or zero support fees is bound to lead to results that serve all parties poorly. Consumers lose because, even though software is a service industry, the incentives in the factory model all work against a vendor’s offering competent service. If the vendor’s money comes from selling bits, most effort will go into making bits and shoving them out the door; the help desk, not a profit center, will become a dumping ground for the least effective employees and get only enough resources to avoid actively alienating a critical number of customers.””
About This Quote
High upfront software prices with low support lead to poor maintenance, harming customers and vendors alike.
In simple terms: Expensive software with little support hurts everyone.
Key Takeaway
Reconsider software pricing models.
Themes
software economics
maintenance
customer service
pricing
Mood
analytical
concerned
Type
business
critical
When to use this quote
- software companies
- IT managers
- consumers
Key Concepts
service model
maintenance cost
Practical Applications
- adopt subscription or support fees
- align incentives with quality
Questions to Reflect On
- How should software be priced for fairness?
- What support structures improve maintenance?
A Different Perspective
Higher prices may deter adoption.
