Validation, often. Stars and installs make self-worth integer go up, etc.

Greed, sometimes. Gotta get those usercounts high to get acquihired / to sell out / to flip on the paid subs for formerly free features.

I can’t remember the word for “prosocial through lowering cost to zero” is but sometimes that too.

> I can’t remember the word for “prosocial through lowering cost to zero” is but sometimes that too.

Wiktionary:

Benevolent, altruistic, unselfish, beneficent, philanthropic, selfless

This works for a while. Then you - the programmer - grow up.

Wise customers know this.