Hi Steve,
Thank you, I have got my Flowcode V11 license.
Under Flowcode V11 License it is mentioned as "Software Assurance Until 2026-10-23"
kindly help me understand what it means to my license.
-S_V
.
Flowcode V11 license
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S_VE
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Steve-Matrix
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Re: Flowcode V11 license
Thanks for the question.
Just like previous versions of Flowcode, when you purchase Flowcode you receive a perpetual licence to use it forever. During a major release (e.g. v9 or v10) we provide free updates for the software which often includes new features, new components, bug fixes, etc. And when a new major version is released, you are charged to upgrade to the new version - often with a discount (e.g. 40% when coming from v10 -> v11).
Our new Software Assurance scheme formalises this process to some extent. When you purchase v11, you will receive 12 months of Software Assurance, which means that any updates (large and small) are free for you during this period. Towards the end of this 12 month period, you will have the option to extend this Software Assurance for a further 12 months.
Our development team have been very keen to implement a scheme like this because we can now release new features and improvements to Flowcode quicker without holding them back for a new major release. For example, the new 2d panel zoom feature was developed well over a year ago, but we chose to keep that feature for v11.
Here are some more details:
Current delivery model and its problems
We release a major version of Flowcode every few years. This new version needs new features to entice users to upgrade to the new version. Improvements and fixes often need to wait for this new major release - sometimes more than 18 months. A better experience for users would be to have continuous improvement of Flowcode. This would also have the benefits for Matrix of a more relaxed release process and a more even and predictable revenue stream.
Software Assurance - how does it work?
Just like the current licensing system, users will purchase the new version of Flowcode (again, with a discount if coming from v9 or v10). This provides a perpetual licence for that particular version of Flowcode, along with a Software Assurance licence for any upgrades to Flowcode for the following 12 months. After 12 months (and every subsequent year), users will be asked to renew their licence by paying an ongoing software assurance fee (35%). This provides access to free upgrades for the following 12 months.
If a user drops off this Software Assurance scheme, they will still be allowed to use Flowcode in perpetuity. However, they will no longer receive updates to the core package and will also receive limited updates to components, etc.
If they want to rejoin the Software Assurance scheme, they will need to repurchase a licence for Flowcode.
What are the benefits?
For a loyal user who consistently purchases new versions, the overall cost difference is not too different. Bug fixes and quality improvements should be released quicker (rather than waiting for major new version).
For the user who does not upgrade there is no real change: they get to keep the software as it was when the purchase was made with the updates for the 12 months after purchase date.
Overall, the development of Flowcode can be better geared towards improving existing aspects of Flowcode rather than developing major new features.
Just like previous versions of Flowcode, when you purchase Flowcode you receive a perpetual licence to use it forever. During a major release (e.g. v9 or v10) we provide free updates for the software which often includes new features, new components, bug fixes, etc. And when a new major version is released, you are charged to upgrade to the new version - often with a discount (e.g. 40% when coming from v10 -> v11).
Our new Software Assurance scheme formalises this process to some extent. When you purchase v11, you will receive 12 months of Software Assurance, which means that any updates (large and small) are free for you during this period. Towards the end of this 12 month period, you will have the option to extend this Software Assurance for a further 12 months.
Our development team have been very keen to implement a scheme like this because we can now release new features and improvements to Flowcode quicker without holding them back for a new major release. For example, the new 2d panel zoom feature was developed well over a year ago, but we chose to keep that feature for v11.
Here are some more details:
Current delivery model and its problems
We release a major version of Flowcode every few years. This new version needs new features to entice users to upgrade to the new version. Improvements and fixes often need to wait for this new major release - sometimes more than 18 months. A better experience for users would be to have continuous improvement of Flowcode. This would also have the benefits for Matrix of a more relaxed release process and a more even and predictable revenue stream.
Software Assurance - how does it work?
Just like the current licensing system, users will purchase the new version of Flowcode (again, with a discount if coming from v9 or v10). This provides a perpetual licence for that particular version of Flowcode, along with a Software Assurance licence for any upgrades to Flowcode for the following 12 months. After 12 months (and every subsequent year), users will be asked to renew their licence by paying an ongoing software assurance fee (35%). This provides access to free upgrades for the following 12 months.
If a user drops off this Software Assurance scheme, they will still be allowed to use Flowcode in perpetuity. However, they will no longer receive updates to the core package and will also receive limited updates to components, etc.
If they want to rejoin the Software Assurance scheme, they will need to repurchase a licence for Flowcode.
What are the benefits?
For a loyal user who consistently purchases new versions, the overall cost difference is not too different. Bug fixes and quality improvements should be released quicker (rather than waiting for major new version).
For the user who does not upgrade there is no real change: they get to keep the software as it was when the purchase was made with the updates for the 12 months after purchase date.
Overall, the development of Flowcode can be better geared towards improving existing aspects of Flowcode rather than developing major new features.
Re: Flowcode V11 license
Hi Steve,
This is a bit worrying from a hobbyist point of view, perhaps a bit more clarity?
Flowcode itself is free for hobbyists but what happens if you buy the chip packs. What would the situation be for bug fixes rather than improvements in these?
Regards,
Bob
This is a bit worrying from a hobbyist point of view, perhaps a bit more clarity?
Flowcode itself is free for hobbyists but what happens if you buy the chip packs. What would the situation be for bug fixes rather than improvements in these?
Regards,
Bob
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Steve-Matrix
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Re: Flowcode V11 license
Thanks for your question, Bob. You raise an important issue that we are aware of and we have plans to address it. Although it's difficult to be specific as to the situations where a new feature, bugfix or improvement will be available for all users (and not just those up to date with Software Assurance).
The first thing to note is that any chip-pack purchased has a perpetual licence and the devices available to you now will continue to be available even without paying the annual Software Assurance payment.
It is also very important that the experience for a paying customer is better than the experience for a free user. And any user up-to-date with Software Assurance should have a better experience that one who is not.
New chips for a particular chip-pack and new features for an existing chip will only be available to users who are up-to-date with Software Assurance. There may be exceptions to this, but I expect these to be rare. If a chip file has a bugfix then we may offer this to all users on a case-by-case basis. If there is a simple workaround then it's likely an updated file will be available only for up-to-date users, but a significant bug that has no workaround will possibly be made available for all users.
There will be a similar approach for core features and components.
A good comparison might be to consider what happens now with users of older versions of Flowcode. We know many users are still using Flowcode v8 and earlier (I've recently helped a user get their Flowcode v5 working on a new PC!). We offer very little support to these customers and there have been no updates or bugfixes for them for a considerable time. Future fixes for v9 are very unlikely, and updates for v10 will gradually reduce over time now v11 is our current version.
For those users to get fixes, they have eventually needed to pay to update their version of Flowcode. Or they don't pay and stay on an outdated version of the software. The Software Assurance scheme doesn't change this approach significantly.
The first thing to note is that any chip-pack purchased has a perpetual licence and the devices available to you now will continue to be available even without paying the annual Software Assurance payment.
It is also very important that the experience for a paying customer is better than the experience for a free user. And any user up-to-date with Software Assurance should have a better experience that one who is not.
New chips for a particular chip-pack and new features for an existing chip will only be available to users who are up-to-date with Software Assurance. There may be exceptions to this, but I expect these to be rare. If a chip file has a bugfix then we may offer this to all users on a case-by-case basis. If there is a simple workaround then it's likely an updated file will be available only for up-to-date users, but a significant bug that has no workaround will possibly be made available for all users.
There will be a similar approach for core features and components.
A good comparison might be to consider what happens now with users of older versions of Flowcode. We know many users are still using Flowcode v8 and earlier (I've recently helped a user get their Flowcode v5 working on a new PC!). We offer very little support to these customers and there have been no updates or bugfixes for them for a considerable time. Future fixes for v9 are very unlikely, and updates for v10 will gradually reduce over time now v11 is our current version.
For those users to get fixes, they have eventually needed to pay to update their version of Flowcode. Or they don't pay and stay on an outdated version of the software. The Software Assurance scheme doesn't change this approach significantly.