Critique my startup - licensekey.net

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=313442

by maxklein • 18 years ago

12 30 18 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Hi folks. Well, after a lot of work, I think it's time that I put my http://licensekey.net in front of hacker news so I can get some early feedback.

(For now, it's hi-def screenshots, the servers can't handle the load, and I want to get a phased sign-up. The product itself is written in Python/Django)

What I'm trying to do is create a tool that will allow independent software developers successfully market and sell their software to end users. Most software developers do not have the time or inclination to comb through detailed analytics to market their software, they cannot be bothered to do detailed timelines or planning, so my software presents a neat interface from which the marketing as well as planning of their software products can be managed.

The frontpage gives you an instant overview of how all your products are performing.

The networking tab allows a social network between the affiliates, the end-users and the developer of the software.

I'm trying to partner with someone who has a proper server infrastructure, so if anyone is interested in this, or has tips on how I can go about this efficiently, send me an email at maximusklein@gmail.com.

So, please give me some feedback on the app. I'm flexible in cutting or adding features to the app, or doing things differently. I'm trying to make a full featured and USEFUL application, so if you belong to my target market, and there is something you wish you could have in an application like this, then do tell me!

Thanks!

shafqat2• 18 years ago

I'm not in your target market, so take what I say with a grain of salt. It seems like you're trying to do too much in one go. You should try to keep the main thing, the main thing. You said it was a to help developers sell/license their product. I think that is a fantastic tool and great market.

But your software seems to do a bit of everything. Why does it have to do project management, keep track of contacts and all sorts of other stuff. Why cant you just make it help track sales and licenses etc. That would be a compelling product, but right now there seems to be too much. So much that I just got overloaded and left the page. If you had two or three targeted tabs, I would have been a lot more interested.

Either way, great start and good luck!!

maxklein9• 18 years ago

You're right, absolutely right. I know that there are too many features, but I built this thing first and foremost for myself. And I've always wanted the featureset that is now added to the web app, because it's really helpful for selling my own software. I added those features, not because I thought someone would like them, but because I wanted them for myself.

What feature do you think could be cut out? Maybe an outside perspective will make me see it differently.

shafqat2• 18 years ago

I don't really want to give you an opinion that could screw up your product! As mentioned, I am not in your target market so that question is probably better directed at someone who is.

IMO, just stick to the sales/licensing/tracking.

But if you built the featureset because they are all important to you as a user, than maybe you're on to something.

terpua• 18 years ago

I would focus just on the mailing list and build that feature into a full product for developers (both desktop and web).

Current mailers are too complicated and generally don't have any APIs for instance to tie my customer db to a mailing list.

emmett• 18 years ago

I would second the "this has a lot of features for a first cut" sentiment. On the other hand, if you've already written them, the cost isn't too high as long as your most impressive feature is in front.

As for deployment...you can get a perfectly serviceable dedicated host for $100 a month. Buy it, and start slow launching your service. You don't need to wait for help.

If you want to turn this into a startup, you should think about looking for a cofounder (and giving them 50% equity).

utnick3• 18 years ago

Well I am in your target market, I currently use e-junkie.com to sell a shareware app.

I can't really tell from the screenshots, but is this a full featured shopping cart and affiliate manager like e-junkie or is this only for analytics?

maxklein9• 18 years ago

It's not a shopping cart at all - it's a product manager. You can use any shopping cart/sales gateway you want and it integrates into licensekey.net, allowing you a central location to control everything. There are many different affiliate networks and so on around, and this tool just allows you manage your affiliates, but does not act as a direct affiliate manager.

Rather, the tool acts as the central organisation point for your products.

utnick3• 18 years ago

I think it would be much easier to sell your service if you included shopping cart/sales gateway functionality.

That way you could bill yourself as ejunkie with more features.

tom_rath4• 18 years ago

I'm in your target market, but I do not have any need for the features you're offering. Have you worked with independent software developers to identify the need you're satisfying with your product? For my own case, at least, it's not that we've not the time or inclination to create detailed timelines or project plans, it's that we would find such things less than useless since we're frequently changing plans to better satisfy emerging user requirements.

To use a tortured analogy, large companies are like container ships plodding along a pre-defined course [they know exactly where they're going to be four weeks from now] whereas smaller developers are on the scale of Leif Erickson [we're headed 'thataway', hope to find something really valuable in the process, but realize we're going to have to change course every day to adapt to the winds, current and coastline we're discovering if we've any hope of surviving this adventure]. If you're enabling large-company planning processes for independent developers, there may be a mis-match in your marketing.

If you've not yet sat down with some small software companies to find out just what they would find helpful, I'd suggest you do so before proceeding further. You don't want to find yourself creating the perfect product for a non-existent need -- that way leads to madness.

maxklein9• 18 years ago

I'm an ISV myself, and I created it based on my needs. If you take a look at the planning tab, you'll see that it's not how you think it is.

It's simple:

1. You add a deadline by which time you expect some particular featureset to be completed (for example, the user interface) 2. The you add a bunch of features to that deadline (like toolbar, about box, etc). 3. You have a series of tasks for each feature that need to be completed like a standard todo list

Normal planning does not work for ISVs. But the approach above works (for me at least), because it allows you structure the way you approach your coding. It's not about traditional planning in any sense, it just a way of organising your todo lists in a manner that fits with the way that ISVs approach their products.

tom_rath4• 18 years ago

So, the product is another to do list? Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't see how this would benefit us any more than another to do list.

Have you been designing this product to match the requirements of an existing software company which is selling product today, or are you trying to match the requirements you think you will have once your planned product sells?

siong1987• 18 years ago

Your web app is cool at least it has all the proper functions. But, I am definitely not in your market. Why don't you try to use scalable web server like amazon or Google App Engine since you are writing it on Django? Google App Engine has very well support for Django web app. Anyway, all the best to you. If you have any problem, you can definitely email me - siong1987 (at) hotmail (dot) com.

habs3• 18 years ago

I like the idea....But can't say im a fan of the name. But i'll be interested to see what it's like when released.

maxklein9• 18 years ago

What turns you off about the name?

habs3• 18 years ago

I dont think I would have easily found the site in a goog query. licensekey.net....makes me think of license keys :P

I don't mean to be negative, I think it's a great idea and I'll be keeping a close eye on it when it comes out. Personally, I think that names can be some of the hardest things for hackers to think of...they always turn out crap (Django ?!)

lemonysnicket• 18 years ago

is the product ready?

if not, great way to get iterative feedback before building product/feature set that nobody wants.

nreece• 18 years ago

Btw, also try posting on the joelonsoftware.com forums. You'll find a lot of ISV's for feedback, and potential customers there.

Critique my startup - licensekey.net

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