The concept of free software (Freeware). What are shareware and freeware programs

1. Free software

The site is dedicated to free software (Freeware), but what does "free" actually mean? Many people label various software products as Freeware, but, more often than not, these applications are just so labeled. Although they may indeed be free, such products may not be classified as Freeware.

This article is intended to clarify some important points and eliminate any confusion regarding terminology.

He also recommends reading the article “Why Freeware?” to understand the original meaning and purpose of freeware. software.

2. Truly free software

Among all the different categories of free software, only two can be called truly free or Freeware:

• Freeware with closed code (personal property) - these programs can be downloaded and used as you wish, as much as convenient and wherever convenient. The source code of such programs is not available and the programs themselves cannot be modified.
• Freeware and open source- these programs can also be downloaded and used anywhere, anytime and in any way. The source code is in the public domain and you can, with some restrictions, modify it and redistribute it.

3. Software with caveats and limitations

There are several general categories of software that are also called free, but with different caveats and restrictions. Such applications can be downloaded and installed for free. However, they contain various indirect ways of generating profit for the developer. In a sense, they are not truly free products and should be called "pseudo-free". The following explanations will help you decide whether such applications are truly free:

• Shareware (shareware) is an old category that originally had a completely different meaning than it does today. Going back to the days of DOS, this was one of the methods for individual developers to sell their product, which was to free giveaway(that's where "Share" comes from). You could try these programs completely free of charge. And if you liked the product and continued to use it, then you had to pay for it. Otherwise, you should have uninstalled the programs. It was an honest selling system that was abused by many people.
  Nowadays, the term "Shareware" implies "shareware" and is often applied to Trialware (see below) or Freemium (see below). Shareware has never been free, but some people confuse "shareware" with freeware products with stricter restrictions.
• Freemium (limited free version)- many applications have a good free version for personal use and a better commercial version. Such products may have significantly limited functionality compared to the commercial version, or may offer additional functionality in the commercial version. Due to the fact that such products come with a license regulating its use, strictly speaking, it cannot be called Freemium free version.
  Another subtype of Freemium are free versions, most of the functions of which become available when making payments. For example, systems that provide some operations for free and withdraw funds from your account for performing others.
• Donationware (maintenance through donations) is software that the developer asks for donations to maintain. If everything related to donations is limited to a request on the developer’s website, then such programs are close to the concept of truly free software. However, sometimes requests for voluntary donations permeate the program. And if such reminders are constant, then such applications are closer to the next category.
• Nagware (payment requests)- this is software that displays a request (message, reminder, etc.) about the need for some kind of payment, every time it is used. Sometimes, such requests begin to appear only after the trial period has expired. You can close the message or wait until the reminder dialog disappears, depending on the type of request, and calmly continue using the program. But such requests will appear constantly. In a sense, Nagware implies a fee to get rid of unnecessary things in the program.
• Registerware (registration required) is the first of the gray categories of free programs. In order to download or activate the program, you must provide an email address. Subsequently, on specified addresses You may receive news and other mailings, even banal spam.
• Trialware or Demoware (trial or demo versions)- software that you can use for free for a short period of time. When the trial period expires, programs automatically either stop running or are limited in available features. You'll often see download links for this type of software that say "free download" without any details. In the case of this category, payment is required to continue use after termination trial period. Such programs are most easily confused with free ones, since purchase reminders usually occur “after” and not “during” the trial period.
• Crippleware (lack of features)- software with a free version, in which some, or even most, useful and necessary functions are disabled. Payment is required to get all features. Unlike Freemium, Crippleware focuses on lack of features rather than expansion. In other words, the lack of important capabilities will pose additional obstacles to normal everyday use. An abstract example is the lack of search in an application used to edit a large list of items.

Note: It is worth understanding that programs of all these categories can be useful and indispensable, under certain conditions. Also, one should not conclude that the presence of restrictions is always a serious drawback. However, it is necessary to understand that such programs, strictly speaking, are not free and open source.

4. Software with intrusive or potentially unwanted features

Developers are constantly looking for ways to make money from software and this is quite normal, because developers are people. How far they go is another matter. Users may find some of these paths quite offensive and undesirable. It's about the gray area between freeware and malware. This area is highly controversial and its discussion is beyond the scope of this article. However, there are two categories worth knowing about.

Adware- software that is free but shows intrusive advertisements, while using the program. Basically, programs in this category differ in the aggressiveness of their methods. In many apps, ads aren't very distracting and are fairly easy to ignore. However, there are also programs where advertisements are more intrusive, even to the point of using various psychological effects (surprise, etc.). The concept of tolerance in this category is very vague.

A subtype of Adware are also programs that display advertisements on your computer even when you are not using it. Of course, this subtype fits the definition of malware more closely, but, as already mentioned, this is a gray area.

Foistware or bundleware- a category of programs that associates itself with various toolbars and other programs. Usually, we're talking about about the installer, which, in addition to the program itself, will install a set of unnecessary and potentially unwanted programs on your computer if you are not careful and attentive when checking and checking the boxes on each installer screen.

Note: Care and accuracy will always be a good practice, even if it is not a gray area. Finding out that you spent 20 minutes installing a program in the wrong place is not the best result.

Unfortunately, some large sites only provide programs with their own installers, which add a number of potentially unwanted programs to the programs. Therefore, we advise you, first of all, to always check the availability of programs on the developer’s websites. If the developer does not have a website, or the site is not accessible, or the developer provides a link to large sites with their own installers, then you should look towards sites without their own installers (quite often, programs can be found on several file storage sites).

Note: Sometimes so-called “installation managers” (and similar names) act as their own installers, which install the program only if the manager has been installed on the computer. Thus, in addition to a set of extra programs, you will have one more extra program.

5.?

As you've probably already noticed, the area that can be called free is quite complex and varied. And, you, as a reader, may be wondering what software is covered on Ida-Freewares. The main criterion is that the program must be free to use and provide real value to users (quality, range of functions, etc.). In the event that the program has value, but also contains various functions and restrictions specific to the gray zone, the decision to include it is made by the site administration on an individual basis.

Despite the fact that the administration takes various measures to cut off low-quality free software, it is necessary to understand that the final responsibility lies with the user. The developer may change the policy for providing their product (for example, links that previously provided a high-quality free product may now provide a highly limited or trial version). Large software portals that store copies of programs may, from a certain period, decide to include their own installer. There can be many reasons, so always be guided by common sense

Social surveys have shown that many PC users have a rather poor understanding of the difference between shareware and freeware licenses, and the choice between them often confuses many. In this article I will try to explain the difference between these types of licenses.

A set of programs and instructions for a computer that is responsible for performing required tasks is known as software. The software has undergone many changes since its inception. There are currently three types of programs available for downloading from the Internet: shareware, freeware and open source.

So, let's talk about each of these types in order to understand their essence. Perhaps this article will help you test your software knowledge.

Shareware

Bob Wallace was the first to coin the term shareware. This term originated even before the advent of personal computers from IBM. Shareware is proprietary software that is provided to users absolutely free for a trial period. The functionality of such programs is usually limited, i.e. in fact, users are not provided with the full version of the software product. Such programs are available for download from many websites, test disks, and CD supplements for many popular magazines. The phrases “trial period” or “free trial period” are directly related to shareware programs. Now such programs are compatible with all computer platforms.

The point of such testing programs is to provide it to a wide range of buyers. The potential buyer gets the right to try software, and then decide whether to pay for the full version. Many "shareware" have no restrictions in functionality, but have a limitation on the time of use.

At the end of the trial period, the program stops working and in order for it to work again, you must pay for the full version. During the trial period, technical support, updates, and supporting documentation are not available to buyers of shareware programs. All this becomes available after payment full version. If you use a shareware program, you cannot make copies of it and distribute it to friends and colleagues while it is in the trial period, which usually lasts from 10 to 60 days. There are also programs with a limit on the number of starts.

The author of a shareware program can make it free to use and develop it through donations. Such programs remain protected by law.
The source code of shareware is usually not available, so that no one else can make their own programs based on it.

Freeware

Andrew Fluegelman is the one who coined the term “freeware”. He was the father of a communications program called PC-Talk. He wanted to distribute his program, but he wanted to do it in a non-traditional way.

Freeware is usually fully functional software that is available in an unlimited number of copies for an unlimited time. These programs are distributed absolutely free of charge. They can also be proprietary and their price, in this case, is set to zero.

One way or another, the author of such a program can retain the rights, for example, to copy, distribute or use the software to create new ones based on it. Also, such programs may have a license that restricts its use. This means that the program will be subject to restrictions on areas of use. For example, the use of the program can be: personal, scientific, commercial and non-commercial, as well as combined. I'm sure you've come across programs whose license says "free for personal, non-commercial use." This would be an example of free software.

If software is freeware, it does not necessarily mean that it is open source and unrestricted, so a distinction must be made between freeware and free software. The Free Software Foundation has even asked software authors to avoid using the word freeware in free software to avoid causing confusion. In fact, freeware differs from free software in that it may have some restrictions on its use.

I hope that after reading this article, you understand the difference between shareware and freeware. To learn more, you should read the materials on the topic “Main Types of Software.”

Shareware) - a type of software determined by the characteristics of the distribution of such programs.

Story

Historically, the word denoted programs that were freely distributed by third parties (for example, through FidoNet, in collections of programs on CDs) and containing a request to pay money to the author of the program. However, over time, the meaning has changed and when speaking about shareware, they increasingly began to mean not free distribution (which in our time may not exist - the program can only be accessed from the manufacturer’s website) but the techniques used by the authors of shareware programs in order to entice the user pay for the program they received for free (but not free).

Now shareware is also most often understood as a type, method or method of distributing proprietary software on the market (that is, on the way to the end user), in which the tester is offered a limited functionality (non-fully functional or demo version), validity period (trial version, from the English. trial- trial) or a version with a built-in blocker reminder (NAG) about the need to pay for using the program. The license may also prohibit commercial or professional (non-test) use. Sometimes an unregistered program stops running after some time (for example, 30 days). Sometimes some functions become unavailable. Sometimes the functionality remains in full, but the user is occasionally shown a reminder that he is using an unregistered version.

An article on the GNU Project website describes shareware as proprietary software. This does not prevent some programs with restrictive functions from being distributed under the GNU GPL along with their source code, but opinions about their freedom differ.

The main way shareware programs are distributed is through software directories or advertising on search engines.

Types of shareware

Adware

The user is provided with a fully functional program, but when using it, the user is forced to watch advertising; As a rule, the need to watch advertising can be disabled by purchasing a paid license;

Demoware

A demo version of commercial software, distributed free of charge and having certain functionality limitations compared to the main version. The most popular types of restrictions:

• Limiting the operating time of the program (trialware), the number of starts, the number of levels (in games).
• Block access to important functions, such as saving a file.
• Addition additional information to saved files, such as captions in image and video editing programs.

In accordance with the license, after the end of the test period you must purchase or remove the program. After purchasing the program, the user receives a code that removes restrictions, or a separate full version of the program. Demoware also includes prototypes of programs that do not have real functionality, but only demonstrate how the program will work in the future. They serve to demonstrate the program concept to customers or investors.

Crippleware

Commercial software with deliberately limited features designed to attract potential buyers full version.

Donationware

A licensing model in which the user is provided with fully functioning software with the option of donating to the developer. The donation amount can be fixed or set by the user based on the individual's perceived value of the software.

Nagware

A computer software licensing model that uses an intrusive reminder to register the program for a fee. This is usually done in the form of a pop-up message when the user launches the program, or periodically while using the application. This message may appear as a window that obscures part of the screen, or as a message box that you can quickly close. Some nagware programs leave a message for a certain period of time, forcing the user to wait before continuing with the program.

The goal is usually for the user to become so dissatisfied with the messages that they will register or purchase a program to get rid of the messages.

Freemium

• A program in which some additional functionality is added for a fee
• freemium games are called free-to-play
• programs that are fully functional for only a period of time limited period after installation, after which they either stop working altogether or constantly issue intrusive notifications about the need to purchase a paid license (nagware)

Shareware registration

By paying for free software with limited functionality, the user usually receives a license key or code that allows him to enter the program, turn off notifications, or gain access to the full functionality of the software. Some pirated websites publish license codes for popular shareware programs, leading to an arms race between the developer and the pirates, with the developer banning the pirated codes and the pirates trying to find or create new ones. Some conditional free programs completely rely on the user's honesty and do not require a password. Some of them simply require you to check the "I paid" box to turn off registration notifications.

Shareware in Russia

Russia ranks second in the world in terms of revenue from sales of shareware programs from independent manufacturers. Many such programs were created in Russia and sold in the USA, Germany and other countries. This is a small but actively developing export of high-tech products.

Many of the products created in Russia do not have a Russian-language interface. The reason is considered to be the extensive volume of copyright violations of owners of the rights to sell software, the use of cracks and the poverty of the population, which makes it impossible for Russian users pay for software. This forces developers to refuse to distribute such programs in Russia and engage in sales in other countries. Some Russian shareware producers allow free non-commercial use of their applications by users from Russia or CIS countries. However, in Lately The situation is changing and many applications are starting to be sold in Russia. This is due to an increase in the level of well-being of citizens, the emergence of a convenient payment system via SMS payments, as well as periodic inspections of legal entities for the use of counterfeit software.

Criticism

In the 1980s and early to mid-1990s, shareware was a successful way for small developers to distribute software to widely distribute a product to users, some of whom might buy the product. After the Internet became popular, the term began to be used by commercial startups offering commercial software in the form of non-functional or limited demo versions. As a result, in the early 21st century, the term shareware began to be used much less frequently, and was replaced by the terms demo or trial software.

Another type of shareware distribution popular in the mobile space is marketplaces App Store. There, users can get shareware with support advertising banners, and often its paid version without advertising and with more functionality.

Sources

• Dictionaries and encyclopedias on Academician [Electronic resource]: Shareware / Access date: 12/24/2016. - Access mode: http://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/ruwiki/54123
• Programki.net [Electronic resource]: Types of software licenses / Access date: 12/24/2016. - Access mode: http://programki.net/license.php
• Wikipedia [Electronic resource]: Shareware / Access date: 12/28/2016. - Access mode:

"Sharavara"

Everyone who buys disks with collections of programs, who visits the Internet, who moves in a circle of users like himself, probably knows what shareware is.

However, despite such wide popularity of the subject, from the very scarce Russian-language literature on the issue of "shareware" it is possible to squeeze out only this interpretation: "shareware software - UBPO." In our opinion, this explanation is good only to confuse the reader and his language as much as possible. In all other respects it is unacceptable.

The meaning of shareware in Russian is quite adequately conveyed by the translation of another epithet of this type of program - “trial”. In the sense that you can try these programs for free, and then think about whether to buy or not to buy. In parties, it is customary not to distort phonetics unnecessarily and not to spoil the content: “sharavara”.

We will operate with the original term shareware, especially since its origin and fate, as will be explained below, are very unusual.

So, shareware... What makes this type of software different? A set of remarkable properties that contrast these programs with commercially distributed packages:

• a shareware program can be obtained for free, either at the price of the media, or at the price of download traffic from a WWW site or from a BBS (Bulletin Board System);
• the program can be tested and verified for free (sometimes for a specified period or with restrictions on certain capabilities, for example, the composition of functions);
• the price of registering shareware, that is, obtaining the rights and actual composition for a full-fledged program, as a rule, does not exceed $50 (maximum $100);

What attracted you mass attention to shareware these days? Firstly, shareware has become a real “consumer product” in the rapidly developing Internet. But not only.

Shareware and the ways it lives on the Internet provide the basis not only for trade and distribution, but also for economically useful activities of programmers. And how! By bringing creators of intellectual products beyond national borders, beyond geography, beyond the surrounding technological, intellectual and social environment… How can it be? The authors of this topic will try not only to answer the question posed, but also offer practical recommendations- how to do it.

Let's start ab ovo...

Founding Fathers

Long before the first personal computers appeared, professional programmers, united in interest groups and connected through BBS, were exchanging programs of their own making. Such programs were called public domain programs - which can be translated with some stretch as “programs common use".

No one thought about whose property they were, no one tried to sell these programs. And no one would even think of paying for them: these programs were not considered a commercial product. On the contrary, the authors and users of these programs strongly emphasized their contrast to commercial products.

As a rule, the environment for the distribution and application of such programs was narrow, and the authors did not intend to provide them with any support or even development.

The second important circumstance was that in these same circles there was an active exchange of pirated copies of commercial programs and systems. This only means that the breeding ground for shareware (however, this term appeared later) existed from the very beginning.

As legend has it, in 1982, two American programmers, Andrew Fluegleman and Jim Knopf, also known as Jim Button, wrote application programs for their newly purchased IBM PCs. Flyuglman wrote the PC-Talk communications package, and “Button” wrote the small PC-File DBMS. With no intention of trading these products in the first place, the programmers simply gave them away to distribution networks for homemade and pirated products. Thus, everyone was allowed to freely copy these programs.

However - an important point! - the documentation attached in the form of files to these programs contained a wish: persons interested in the development and maintenance of these programs can, showing good will, send small cash reward to the authors.

It was then that Flüglman came up with the epithet “freeware” for his program. But he didn’t stop there and, as history has shown, he made a mistake: he registered the word as a trademark tied to PC-Talk. After this, no one could use the word “freeware” in relation to software products without Flüglman’s sanctions. You can, of course, think about the consequences of Flüglman’s act from the point of view of the formation of concepts and social progress. But, as it turned out, the author of PC-Talk failed for completely different reasons.

As was typical in public domain software, PC-Talk was distributed along with the source code, and soon Flüglman completely lost control over his creation: more and more “improved” versions of his PC-Talk were developed, developed by other programmers. Eventually, Flueglman lost interest in PC-Talk and stopped maintaining it.

But “Button” was much more successful: it did not distribute the source code, but ensured the development and maintenance of the program. Thus, he managed to expand the PC-File business into a million-dollar enterprise.

A year after the events described, another programmer, Bob Wallace, using the same distribution model, released his own program - word processor PC-Write. Behind short term and Wallace proved that shareware could be a very successful business.

Of course, among the users of the first personal computers there were a great many other small programs and utilities, but it turned out that these three applications, due to their particular popularity, formed the idea of ​​​​shareware programs as high-quality and inexpensive products. It was they who designated the environment in which many now live successful programs(and many more unsuccessful ones).

Words and meanings

In 1984, one of the luminaries of the shareware movement, Nelson Ford, who founded the PsL (Public software Library) system in 1982 www.pslweb.com), announced on the pages of a certain popular computer publication (now defunct) a competition for best name for the discussed method of distribution and the programs of this type themselves.

You cannot use "freeware" - this word was registered to Flyuglman. As an alternative, “user supported software” was sometimes used, but it did not catch on: the phrase is long and ambiguous. After a short election, the word "was recognized as the best" shareware" - this is how Wallace characterized his PC-Write editor. Ford asked Wallace: does he require exclusive rights to this word. Wallace replied: no, he is not seeking any rights. And he explained that he saw this word itself in some an old computer magazine - from those times when no one thought about any PCs.

This is how the term “shareware” won. After some time, the PC-Talk program fell out of use, the term "freeware", attached to it as a registered trademark, lost this specific meaning and began to denote a type of program for which no payment is required at all.

Freeware (and sometimes even shareware!) is often mistakenly classified as public domain software. In fact, only a small part of freeware is classified as public domain software, and shareware is not classified at all. Since copyright is an integral part of the author’s rights and an attribute of any distributed software, one should find a direct indication from the author that his program belongs to the public domain, that is, that the program is alienated from the author and is common property. As for freeware, these are programs for which you do not need to pay, but the copyright for which remains the property of the author. It follows from this that the author continues to control the fate of the program - to the point that he can transfer it to the status of shareware and even a commercial product.

Experiences: technology and marketing

Initially, freeware/shareware programs were distributed in groups for free - transferred on floppy disks or downloaded from free BBSs. However, the number of programs that needed to be tested, analyzed and organized grew. At the same time, the staff of professionals involved in the work increased, and the volumes of traffic through the BBS, which was by no means free, increased. These circumstances forced administrators of archives and BBS sysops to begin collecting money from users to pay overhead costs.

In early 1982, the HAL-PC user group (Houston Area League of PC Users, www.hal-pc.org). It was there that testing methods for distributing shareware programs took place. By the way, HAL-PC is now a thriving community of more than 12 thousand members - perhaps the largest interest group in the world - with its own offices, libraries, journals, conferences, etc.

Around the same time, another event occurred that influenced the development of the shareware concept. Californian Richard Peterson, having received a free copy of a library of programs from a local user group, advertised in a popular computer publication: he was offering copies of this library - but for $6 per floppy disk!

Members of the user group, of course, were outraged and characterized these actions as an attempt to take money for air. Others, those who did not participate in interest groups and/or could not work with BBS, supported Peterson, and, what is important, not only and not so much morally. The PC-SIG (Special Interest Group) company founded by Peterson became the first example of a successful business in the mass distribution of shareware.

The very principle that everyone should pay for “free” software acts like a red rag to a bull for free-spirited veteran professionals raised in the “pre-personal computer” era. Some of the respected program authors, especially the old-school ones (including Jim "Button" himself), do not allow their products to be "resold" on a commercial basis.

But today such an attitude is rather the exception. There are a great many other programs on the shareware market, produced by less romantically minded authors, which provides the basis for the prosperity of shareware providers. And the programmers themselves are not poor either. The main thing is to understand a simple fact: the authors themselves will never find the buyers that professional suppliers find and serve.

In the late 1980s, the shareware market was dominated by large collector-distributors such as Public Brand Software, PsL, Software Labs and Reasonable Solutions, and other large catalog distributors. But just at that time, like mushrooms after the rain, small software dealers began to appear - hundreds, if not thousands. Even without having professional knowledge and experience, with a couple hundred dollars of seed capital, each of these early-stage companies is trying to buy (or borrow) software from someone, print a “catalog,” and start selling those programs to others.

This process is still going on. Most of these “shareware sellers” operate at computer exhibitions and flea markets.

Shareware as an industry

The barbaric practices of thousands of small, fast-money vendors are clearly defined by their public cries of "Snatch up the free software!" On the one hand, all this is done at the expense of the authors, who are in sweet dreams that someone will buy their products and the seller will pay the due royalties. On the other hand, buyers attracted by the “free cheese” are frightened to discover that they still have to pay for the goods they receive: in order to register the programs.

The documentation accompanying shareware often testifies to the authors' belief that all users are swindlers and thieves, thinking only about how to use the program for free. And the authors, of course, try to solve these problems with their own methods. Many of them prepare for distribution versions of shareware that are crippled to such an extent that users cannot not only test them, but even understand their purpose. Another part of the authors simply lose interest and stop supporting programs - immediately after the first inadequate response. In any case, buyers still have the right to pay money to anyone - anyone they trust. Or don’t pay, which is what the majority does. Fortunately, there are also many who do pay.

Since 1985, attempts have been made to establish an organization of shareware professionals whose task would be to solve the problems described above. In April 1987, a conference was held in Houston, Texas, attended by leading figures in the shareware field. Participants included Wallace of PC-Write fame, Tom Smith of the popular ProComm communications package, Jim "Button" with PC-File, and numerous shareware companies such as PC-SIG and Public Brand Software. , BBS system administrators.

It was at that conference that an organization of shareware industry participants was founded - the non-profit corporation ASP (Association of Shareware Professionals), and "Knopka" was elected as the first chairman of the board. ASP is headquartered in Muskegon, Michigan. During the eleven years of its existence, the ASP changed its “constitution” (bylaws) nine times. The ASP Board of Directors has met online continuously since its inception - perhaps a world record. As of December 1997, there were 405 companies in the ASP. Thanks to the activity of the participants, ASP's activities were very successful and played an exceptional role in the development of civilized shareware practices.

Immediately after the establishment of the ASP, its members adopted something of a moral code. Among its main provisions were the following obligations: not to release “castrated” versions of shareware on the market, not to insult or provoke users (including in the text of the documentation), to provide the minimum required level of product support, and to guarantee a refund. The "ASP" logo placed on the program was supposed to be a guarantee of quality and reliability for buyers. In addition, in controversial situations, both the user and the seller could turn to an arbitrator - an elected official of the ASP.

ASP tried to protect the shareware business as an industrial activity: that is, to ensure that private individuals who do not want to join the organization and take actions that are contrary to its interests would not be able to operate effectively (if at all). In one such case, ASP stopped PC-SIG's attempt to trademark the word "shareware." There are cases when the ASP introduced changes to bills before they were adopted by the US Congress.

ASP continually monitors and penalizes vendors who mislead customers by claiming that their software is completely free. In general, only those suppliers who comply with the rules of fair disclosure of information about shareware and respect the rights of authors can become members of ASP.

Among other benefits and opportunities for ASP members are the exchange of information on a professional forum in the CompuServe system, the provision free resources WWW on ASP site ( www.asp-shareware.com), free subscription to monthly information collections, special channels for sending programs to sellers and to BBS.

In addition to ASP, there are other professional associations of programmers and shareware traders. For example, there is such a “celebratory” organization as the Shareware Industry Awards Foundation ( www.sic.com), which does nothing but award awards to the best shareware programs every year.

Vita Nova

Older online systems, such as AOL, CompuServe or Prodigy, did not pay much attention to the distribution of shareware. In the 1980s, modems were slow and rates for online information services were high. It was much easier and cheaper to take programs on floppy disks or download them from local BBSs - of course, if there were any in the area at all.

The subsequent spread of high-speed modems and the reduction of tariffs for Internet access in the early 90s catalyzed the development of shareware systems: they became one of the most widespread and popular resources on the Internet.

(Although, it should be noted, the growing volumes of installation files do not allow Internet visitors to experience the joy to the fullest: currently, downloadable modules of 5, 10 and even 20 MB are not at all uncommon.)

And so it turned out that when former sellers of shareware on disks and paid BBS tried to set up their not at all free stores on the Internet, they discovered that the place was already taken by popular sites that easily sell the same programs and do not require payment for access. Few of the veterans survived...

Online shareware sales will inevitably increase. The opportunity to immediately pay for the product, receive a registration key or a registered version is too attractive for customers - without delays or waiting postal item. Having experienced the taste of instant purchase, the customer is forever tied to the technology - he will never again want to wait for the arrival of regular mail.

Shareware today

Without touching questions modern technology shareware for programmers, which are covered in great detail in subsequent articles on the topic, we want to give a quick overview of this sector of the software market. Otherwise, it is completely unclear whether there is any point in doing this at all.

Let's say it straight away and frankly: there is no accurate data on the shareware market. There are only hints that its volumes are estimated at amounts ranging from 500 million to 6 billion dollars per year. These estimates stem from the fact that shareware accounts for up to 5% of the total volume of programs sold annually (but no more!). This assessment is generally accepted (although no argument could be found anywhere). Let me note that in the preliminary IDC report on the results of 1997, the volume of the global market for retail sales of packages software was estimated at $122 billion.

Unfortunately, it is still completely unclear how to increase the shareware share in general composition market. The authority Jim “Button” said about this in the late 80s - early 90s:

After four years in the shareware business, everyone can consider themselves established in this market. This happens when everyone who accesses your software warehouse knows about it in advance. This means that now sales will not grow on their own! Now it is impossible to grow faster than the entire industry is growing, that is, the entire market is expanding.

Therefore, if you look around, you can find that, say, 90% of all software consumers will not approach your shareware at all, and in retaliation you can consider them “asocial elements” (indeed, they are outside your social environment). They buy programs from retail sales, or they don’t buy it at all, but use copies taken from somewhere unknown. And shareware will never penetrate this market, which is much larger than the shareware market.

Years have passed. The situation has changed since then, but accurate statistics are still not available. The original opposition between shareware and commercial programs, which the founding fathers so zealously preached, seems to have played a cruel joke - this environment has remained inaccessible to industrial methods of market statistics. What is clear is that the shareware market is expanding, since Internet visitors are active consumers of this product.

Now many shareware distributors independently collect market data - fortunately, organizing the collection of such data on WWW sites is not at all difficult. Here, for example, are some figures about shareware accumulated on the website of the InterCommerce company, which collects statistics on various aspects of online commerce.

Of the 1.5 thousand respondents, 62.2% said that they registered shareware. 25% responded that they registered such programs 3-5 times. The main source of programs is the Internet (54.7% of respondents), followed by BBS (15.6%). Only 4.5% of respondents named shareware disks as the source. 36% of respondents believe that the registration fee for a shareware program should be 10-20 dollars. 18.7% agree to register the program for 20-30 dollars. Only 0.5% are willing to pay more than $70.

Amazingly, in practice, 5.7% paid $60-$100 to register a single program, and 1.7% paid more than $100. Among the motives for purchasing shareware, two dominate: the desire to purchase a fully functional product (31.2%) and to provide financial support to the authors (23.3%). Interestingly, 0.5% answered: “I have sold so many copies of this program that I can already afford the registered version myself.” 73.5% believe that paying for registration means further development and product support.

On the other hand, 85.1% of respondents admitted that they use unregistered shareware, and 27.5%, while using such programs, never registered them at all. The main reason for non-registration (as respondents want to present) is the high price.

But the most successful products shareware (or respondents considered them as such): PKZip (26.5%), Netscape browsers (24.5%), "Doom" (20.5%), McAfee Virus Utilities (3.5%).

Some insight into the shareware market and its participants is provided by the charts, which we publish with the kind permission of Jay Biondo, head of Biondo Software ( www.bsoftware.com), on whose website statistics are collected.

Concluding this essay, we note, of course: “think for yourself, decide for yourself.” But: the shareware mechanisms that have been proven and continue to evolve have amazing flexibility - this is the key to their future, and perhaps yours.

The article is not intended for professional software developers, but for users of these products. Its goal is to help users navigate the world of software.

Nobody argues anymore that there are currently a large number of programs on the Internet, both good and bad. At the same time, many people know that programs that are downloaded from the Internet are free (freeware), shareware (shareware) and paid (commercialcc). However, not many people know about such exotic options as Postcardware, Careware, Homepageware. These and other types of programs will be discussed further.

Freeware
Free software. You don't have to pay for them. The idea that most of them are written by students who find it difficult to accept payment for them, who are simply learning such a fascinating craft as programming, is erroneous. A lot of serious companies have written, are writing and, I hope, will write freeware programs. The fact is that freeware is an excellent tool for promoting new technologies and products. For example, everyone knows about the file format PDF. Acrobat program Reader, which is designed to read such files, is distributed free of charge. Thus, users have a free opportunity to view PDF files, and developers have the need to create them, which is not a free pleasure. Adobe therefore makes money from PDF. Everyone is also familiar with the ICQ communication program. This is a popular free product that has a very strong position compared to paid programs. Some shareware programs are becoming free. The well-known Winamp multimedia player was originally a $10 shareware program. However, after winamp.com began to attract a large number of visitors, developers, receiving substantial income from advertising, decided to make their product free, further increasing its popularity and their wallets.

Shareware
"Shareware software." Such a long name is inconvenient to pronounce as often as developers often do. Therefore, in my social circle, the Russian-language version of this type of program is “sharovary”. Another name for this type of software is more officially used - “trial”. The main advantage of shareware is “try before you buy”. The user is provided with a product with certain restrictions until he purchases it. Limitations can be functional (not all features are available) and/or temporary (most often the program runs for 30 days or a certain number of starts). At this time, the user can test the program and master its capabilities. If the user decides that he needs this program, he must register by paying the author a certain amount - otherwise he must stop using the program and remove it from his computer. This type of software is very user friendly. After all, when purchasing a program in a store, you can only read about its capabilities, but you cannot be sure that it is right for you or will not conflict with other applications that are already installed on your computer. All these advantages do not come at the expense of technical support. The user can get advice regarding the operation of the program through email(e-mail) or by phone. Payment for the program can be made by anyone in a convenient way: by using electronic currency, bank transfer, postal order, credit card, check, etc. Also, if there is a good reason, the money can be returned. Many users trust programs sold in “boxed” versions more. They are accustomed to the fact that such programs are backed by a large and reliable supplier and qualified service. technical support. This is just a myth. The future belongs to shareware - there is no doubt about it.

Public domain software
Very similar to freeware - programs of this type are also distributed free of charge. However, unlike freeware, where the author of the program has all the rights to the program, in the case of a public domain he does not have these rights. The program is distributed along with the source code, and the author waives his rights. The main idea was to develop the program in the future. However, due to the fact that the program was “drawn”, anyone could slightly modify the code, compile it and distribute it as a paid one. For this reason, such programs are simply not found at present.

Open Source
Development of the public domain software concept, which takes into account the errors of the previous version. The program, as before, is distributed free of charge along with the source code. However, the author no longer waives his rights. There is a system of license requirements for a software product called The Open Source Definition (OSD), which is presented on the website. Must be included with the program source. Modified software must be distributed under the same terms as the original product. The author of the original product even has the right to demand that the source code of his program be distributed without changes, but complete with appropriate modifying patches (patches).

Commercialcc
Commercial type of software, i.e. distributed for a fee. Payment must be made immediately upon receipt of a copy of the software on a licensed disk or floppy disk in original packaging (often such programs are called “boxed”). Using such a program without paying in advance is illegal. Consumers don't want to buy a pig in a poke, so many companies provide demo videos or versions of the program with limited functionality. Some commercial programs are also distributed as shareware, but their cost is much cheaper. After all, the manufacturer is freed from the costs of packaging, printing the user manual, commissions, etc.

Adware
This category includes programs that display advertisements to the user during their operation - most often graphic banners measuring 468x60 pixels. Adware combines freeware and shareware. On the one hand, the user is not obliged to pay for the program and can use it for as long as he wants, on the other hand, he has an incentive to pay for the program, because in this case he will get rid of this damned banner that has been annoying him for so long. This type has received the greatest development in programs that work on the Internet, because it is from there that the new advertisement. For example, browsers, download managers and dialers. The programs listed above are the most popular - you have probably already met them. However, there are much more interesting types of programs that I should definitely tell you about.

Donationware
Such software is also distributed free of charge, but the program developer indicates in the license agreement that if the user likes the program, he can (but is not obligated) to send a monetary reward. Sometimes the amount is indicated specifically, and sometimes it is written “as much as anyone can.” There is even the following phrase: “Send me enough money to buy a case of beer!” For such cases, they even came up with a separate term: “beerware” (from English beer). Unfortunately, as practice shows, users react very sluggishly to such requests and very rarely send money. This type of software attracted authors at a time when it was extremely difficult for individual programmers to independently accept payments from users. Today there are a large number of registrars who take care of all the hassle of accepting payments, so the donationware method is extremely rare.

Postcardware (or Cardware)
An exotic way of distributing programs in which the author asks users to register by sending him a postcard. This method will not bring money to the author - only a collection of postcards with views of various corners of the globe.

Homepageware
This is a very nasty type of program. Somewhat similar to adware: you are also not required to pay for registration, however, every time you launch the program, your home page will become the program page. This type of program is not common due to the barbaric attitude towards users.

Careware
A very exotic way. IN license agreement The program says that the user should stop complaining about life for an hour, day or week and say words of encouragement to someone.