HACKER Q&A
📣 sebastianconcpt

Ways to Monetize an IDE Project?


I'm working in the IDE that I want to use but I want to explore if it has business potential.

The issue about IDE's is that they are meant to deliver you the experience of the full development cycle without interruptions: snippet, code run, debug, organize code.

As the language isn't mainstream, the audience is a niche market which should be a plus.

I'm making it because all IDEs for this niche have a mix of incredibly good and impossibly lame UX in their GUIs. My project is an attempt to remove the bad parts improving UX and aesthetics in its way.

But I'm really not sure if a business it's possible at all, ideas?


  👤 togaen Accepted Answer ✓
Try selling it. If people buy it, there’s a business there. That’s really the only way to find out.

👤 8organicbits
Sure, there's a number of paid IDEs and text editors out there. You may be able to follow in their steps, use similar pricing models, etc.

👤 sebastianconcpt
I wonder if it would make sense to try something like per seat license based for business and to be like MIT for personal use?