Not all software needs to be for-profit.

Simple utility stuff I believe should fit in this category. Things like a text editor.

The profit comes from elsewhere, larger more complex systems.

Of course someone can TRY to profit off a text editor, but unless it solves complex enough problems (like a full blown IDE, but even then...).

The issue is there is intense demand for it, and ALSO easy supply. If someone attempts a profit driving rugpull, another will pop up in it's place.

I am still using Dendron because it meets my needs, but I'm always half tempted to replace it, and I'm fairly confident I could come up with something that meets my own needs in a day or two, and it would likely also be valuable to countless others. I just keep assuming that someone else will spend that day or two, and my pain points with Dendron are not that bad for me to spend the time.

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bryanhogan 22 days ago | parent | next [-]

A text editor with good UX is quite complex, I think it's hard to argue otherwise.

Most text-editors by large corporations don't even pass this bar.

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thegagne 22 days ago | parent | next [-]

How many text editors have you paid for, versus how many have you used for free?

I do think there is room for a few good paid text editors in the world, but most people won't pay directly for them, though they might use them if they are bundled ala Google Docs / O365 Word.

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bryanhogan 22 days ago | parent [-]

I have paid for Obsidian and Samsung Notes as part of buying a Samsung phone.

I also paid for a few more, e.g. Notion, but I think it's better to focus on: There's definitely value in good text editors.

They can greatly enhance your experience with a system, e.g. if Samsung Notes was amazing I'd be much more likely to stick to using a Samsung phone.

	▲	thegagne 22 days ago \| parent [-]
		Sure, but I would say you are an outlier in paying for those things. Most people use what's immediately available, others might search for something better that's free, and very few will go pay for something. That last category of people are also now likely to go create something themselves with AI, but don't really want to or can't start a business from it, so they may add it to the pile of free software others can use. Not everyone HAS to profit from their work, though I do think those who make it their passion might benefit from finding a way to do that.

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msh 22 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Emacs and vi(m) have always been free.

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arde 22 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Hello, fellow Dendron user. I haven't found good-enough alternatives either.

	▲	thegagne 22 days ago \| parent [-]
		Hm, maybe we should go make one. I am not a power user for Dendron, I mostly just use it for journaling, keeping track of who is who and what is what, and organizing architecture / ideas before they find a home somewhere else. Mostly a journal. I do like that it’s in VS Code and I can leverage those tools and now, AI, to help. The main functionality I use is the new daily journal from template feature. Do you use more surface area from it? What is the most useful features for you?