micro isv from vision to reality

[...]... the Vision : The two big take-aways from this chapter are how we got to a place where micro- ISVs can be successful and how you can find a problem worth solving as your micro- ISV s first product I’ll also cover who thought up this mouthful of a term, micro- ISV, and seven rules for avoiding much micro- ISV pain Chapter 2, “Developing the Micro- ISV Way”: Once you’ve found the right idea, it’s time to get... we are just way too cool to stoop down to, but you little people feel free to enjoy yourselves Just remember to use NET!” It’s like that other term, legacy, that Microsoft uses to refer to all non-Microsoft software So when they refer to Google, say, as a legacy search engine, they are trying to imply that Google is merely “an old, crappy search engine that you’re still using by historical accident,... look at what developer and ISV resources are out there that you can benefit from Interestingly enough, several of those resources come from Microsoft, and whether you love or loath Microsoft, you can’t afford to ignore them Chapter 7, “What Happens Next?”: That’s going to be largely up to you But in this chapter you’ll hear from 25 micro and not-so -micro ISVs about how their stories have turned out so... micro- ISV Chapter 5, “Focusing on the Customer”: Now we get to the start of your micro- ISV show— your customers In this chapter, I cover a systematic way of defining, finding, and marketing to your customers I’ll also cover some of the other ways you interface with your customers: email (wholesale and retail), customer support (a micro- ISV must get right), and how to set up and run a robust discussion... a term coined at Microsoft to cover everyone else in the software industry it had not acquired, partnered with, or driven out of business.7 In actuality, the I in micro- ISV really means Internet, since it’s the Internet that makes micro- ISVs possible, not Microsoft I’ll have a lot more to say about micro- ISVs, a whole book in fact, but the last point I want to make before getting to the part of this... chapter you really want to read (how to start your micro- ISV) is that a few years ago, we hit a point of discontinuity Although today’s micro- ISV can trace its roots back to when shareware was born more than 20 years ago, micro- ISVs are more than that For starters, with the laudable exception of people and companies under the open source banner, self-funded start-ups don’t merely hope to get paid—they do... moderator for the Business of Software forum at Joel on Software (http://discuss joelonsoftware.com/?biz), a longtime haunt and great information source for people starting micro- ISVs Q Tell me about SourceGear—did it start as a micro- ISV? A First of all, I would have to confess that calling us a micro- ISV was not quite accurate—although I coined that term, I’ve never succeeded at running a micro- ISV. .. quite confident from memory that the article was changed at the last minute—I had another term for micro- ISV The day before I submitted it to my editors, I decided I didn’t like the term and changed it to micro- ISV instead But I don’t remember what the other term was! Q What has been the response to that article? A The overwhelming response has been positive I get mail almost every day from somebody... bigger advantage for us It’s like trying to sell car repairs to people who know how to repair cars—they want to know Q OK, by the way, how big is SourceGear now? A A little under 20 employees Q Any advice for anyone starting a micro- ISV now? A One thing I would say is that it’s worth the journey Eric’s article gave this new type of business a name: micro- ISV A micro- ISV is the following: Self-funded: This... together for them to start their own, wildly successful micro- ISV I’m assuming you already know how to code: in fact, this is one of those rare Apress books without a single line of code! What I’m guessing you’re looking for is really current, Internetcentric information about how to go from the desire to be your own boss, how to define what you want to work on, and exactly how best to code a solution . class="bi x0 y0 w0 h0" alt="" Micro- ISV From Vision to Reality ■■■ Bob Walsh Walsh_6013Front.fm Page i Wednesday, December 7, 2005 11:13 AM Micro- ISV: From Vision to Reality Copyright © 2006 by. way too cool to stoop down to, but you little people feel free to enjoy yourselves. Just remember to use .NET!” It’s like that other term, legacy, that Microsoft uses to refer to all non-Microsoft. charge too little, you’re going to make $40. If you charge too much, you’re going to make $0. If you expect to make any more than that, you’re going to be really disappointed and you’re going to