Encouraging donations for module-development

[Silmarillion]

Hi all

I've played around with a small idea to encourage donations for development of modules otherwise not donated to... But I would like some opinions whether too intrusive, or ok.
Imagine an extra tab in the admin furthest to the right, simply containing a text like "A lot of time and effort went and is still going into this module. Please consider contributing a small donation if you use it for commercial puporses (or if you just would like to). The paypal-link below can be used"
Or something like this. And a button saying "Hide this tab" which hides it without further questions. The tab could even reappear after version updates to remind users of the possibility.
This should of course only be implemented on modules of a certain level of development, not for versions not working at all or very early in development. And of course not on core-modules, that goes without saying...

Would you get angry as a user seeing this or is it descrete enough to be ok? Of course most users will simply hide the tab, but some will perhaps make a small 5-10$-ish donation.

Any thoughts about this idea?

An extension could be that donating more that for instance 20$ would giving you an opportunity to have a link and email on that page in the upcoming versions... This would not take effort from the developer.

Best regards
Morten/Silmarillion

[carasmo]

Yes! I would use it and on that page, it pulls from the repository, the list of people who donated so far, time that went into it, and the estimated commercial value of said module, along with the contact information for the person to contact to modify the module. All this information is to convey the value of the module so that people donate and feel compelled to do so or at least feel guilty. I know I do. In lusher times, I've used CMSMS to build many, many sites since 06 and one is still running smoothly without a single upgrade and issue. It's a bad ass package. I did donate in the past, but it was a paltry amount. So now, with each job, I'm going to figure out a set donation to give to CMSMS because, after all, if you were using expression engine, you'd pay $300.00 per install.

In the last week I have spent 150.00 + 50.00 + 75.00 + 50.00 and another 100.00 (on Monday) to make upgrades for the good of all to the cgfeedback, cgsmartimage, and next week for the cgblog. $50.00 was a donation to get answers from the developer of those modules so I didn't have to waste my time asking for stuff that was nuts and impossible. Many of the things I had asked for have been feature requests and complaints, but unless the guy can eat food and cover head with roof, you gotta pay him for his brains and time.

Now in the next month, I will write up some tutorials so that people will know about these rocking new features or enhanced features in these modules.

[andriesinfoserv]

i expected a donation link to be on the help page for a module in admin and think it should be there. Further improvements to forge or some other way for users to get a better idea about how actively a module is being developed and to fund specific features/set goals w timelines and show results without searching the forums and developers web pages would also be welcome. like ubuntu brainstorm but tied to modules with voting, donations and resulting development/goals reached. core version compatability shown as well.

[Duketown]

Hi,

As a developer I would be thrilled to see one or more of my modules awarded with donations. Donations would certainly encourage me to build other modules, extend current modules, release modules that I've now laying around but take time to get up to date with the current core version.
In a number of cases I've used other modules and forked them. I would be easier motivated to donate the developers of those modules.

Duketown

[uniqu3]

Further improvements to forge or some other way for users to get a better idea about how actively a module is being developed and to fund specific features/set goals w timelines and show results without searching the forums and developers web pages would also be welcome. like ubuntu brainstorm but tied to modules with voting, donations and resulting development/goals reached. core version compatability shown as well.

That is what i mentioned already few times. I know this would also mean tons of work and complete rewamp of Forge but best way to get Modules developement going and motivate Developers, drive Users to show appreciation is to add things like "Donate", "Buy a Feature", "Vote for Feature", "Collect Feature Request Donation" in the Forge.
Adding a tab in Backend would in my opinion result in waste of time to add that tab as 98% of user will simply disable it.
There are few modules having "Donate" button in Help area, i don't think it is used very offten.

Edit: I would even go as far as some other OS Systems, adding Commercial area to Forge. So there would be a basic module, if you want to extend it you can buy additional plugins for that module and extend it to the size you need it.
I think that is easier for user to pay for example 19.90$ for an extension then paying 500$ for custom developement.

[Foaly*]

To my mind, a commercial area in the forge would tremendously reduce the target group of cms made simple.

"Donate", "Buy a Feature", "Vote for Feature", "Collect Feature Request Donation" sound pretty good!