i am currently creating a cms with cakephp. I am contemplating whether to make it open source or not. Please guys, how do i ever profit if my app is opensource ? What are other advantages. Or is it just better to fix a price tag on it? Or make it free and mumble the core code to avoid soft theft?

*experienced contributions please*

You dont make profit from opensource. Thats why its opensource(FREE!). You have given them(users) to use, edit and re-distribute your product. However there are a few workarounds. You can make your software opensource at first but upgrades are offered at a small price. Also, you can make a lil bit from your software's pluggins. The most popular way is donation!. You just do you work well and trust me, you would feel like you are paid weekly from the donations you would receive.

However, I must still warn you dat making you project opensource means you aren't expecting any profit from it. In essence, you are only happy with the fact that people are enjoying your service!

The joy of most open source developer is when they see people using their application.
You can make money from your open source when they ask for a customized version of your application or you can use it to market your product or yourself.
SANJUMA
2MQ

Fayimora:

In essence, you are only happy with the fact that people are enjoying your service!

You can try one of:

[list]
[li]Selling your services (help and support) to corporations that use your software, or[/li]
[li]Selling the help manual for the software[/li]
[/list]

There could be other ways related to the above you could try as well.

I just made an opensource framework too. I have already started using it though. To document and upload the thing hard small. . . . .for these same reasons

netghost:

But i will do it sha, i have already registered the website = www.dhtmlframework.com - and i have used it to develop a couple of sites like
www.9jasentfromheaven.com and www.profjohnobafunwa.com

*dhtml:

I just made an opensource framework too. I have already started using it though. To document and upload the thing hard small. . . . .for these same reasonsBut i will do it sha, i have already registered the website = www.dhtmlframework.com - and i have used it to develop a couple of sites like
www.9jasentfromheaven.com and www.profjohnobafunwa.com

I think i saw a demo you posted on webmasters section, not sure tho, lol and i expected you to be using a better host. Are you really enjoying the limited space and bandwidth you have the very few features? I can show you something better, pm me if ur interested so we dont derail this thread!

@dhtml
was it a framework u rolled out?
I mean something that does not already have a cms?

*dhtml:

I just made an opensource framework too. I have already started using it though. To document and upload the thing hard small. . . . .for these same reasonsBut i will do it sha, i have already registered the website = www.dhtmlframework.com - and i have used it to develop a couple of sites like
www.9jasentfromheaven.com and www.profjohnobafunwa.com

nice

Fayimora:

I think i saw a demo you posted on webmasters section, not sure tho, lol and i expected you to be using a better host. Are you really enjoying the limited space and bandwidth you have the very few features? I can show you something better, pm me if your interested so we dont derail this thread!

I will upgrade in time. For now, i am just starting the whole thing. Thanks anyway

Thatdave:

@dhtml
was it a framework u rolled out?
I mean something that does not already have a cms?

It is a framework, but it is highly extensible. You can develop custom templates, modules, plugins, components and stuffs.

I created all the necessary cms modules into the framework from the start, so that on installation - the framework has a
very good backend and is somewhat similar to drupal (in terms of functionality). If you have researched enough, you will
find out that drupal is classified as both a FRAMEWORK and a CMS - some people even call it a CONTENT MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK.

My framework falls into that category too. Some people argue that if a framework has a frontend and backend that it is classified as
cms - but even wikipedia does not agree with that. Joomla on the order hand is classified as purely cms. Although it has a very good
API.

That not withstanding, my framework has its own unique features and it is highly extensible. I am already trying to work out the documentation.

Hmmmm creating documentation is stress if you did PHPDOC on each classes and module your stress can be saved by just using PHP Documentation Generator i used it to generate Joomla Doc,but if there's no PHPDOC on urs, omo u go write am yourself be that cuz na only u understand the code.

Put adverts in the code! Most people wouldn't even bother removing it.

E be like say i go write am myself o. ~And mobinga is corecta too