The decision to make Big White Duck stacks free for all users was an easy one for me. I do not want a stacks business, in fact, I do not want a computer software business. Over the years I have had enough of that and found a more civilised existence.
The idea for "buy me a coffee donations" came about as a hopeful way to cover the costs of providing the stacks and services. I should be clear here that I do not include my time in this, just the costs of running the service in a professional manner as you would expect. Doing things for free is greatly rewarding but paying to give someone something is not quite so satisfying.
I am extremely grateful for each and every donation
I would like to say a personal thank you to everyone who has or will donate. Each time I receive a donation it represents more than money, it is a recognition that you have found something useful and worthwhile.
The true value of free products
In the early days of Big White Duck, many people wrote to me asking if the stacks were "for real". Equally many people considered a free product of intrinsically less practical worth than a paid one. This was born out by the relatively small number of users at the time.
As time has passed and people have gained a trust in both the stacks and the support offered this situation has changed markedly. People now choose to use the stacks not because they are free but because they are useful and fulfil a requirement.
The value of any product is the benefit that it brings to the consumer. A large part of this in the stacks market is the confidence that the products will be both supported and improved. Because of your fantastic feedback and ideas, constant improvement has been easy. This both keeps me interested and provides you with the tools that may not be commercially viable from a traditional business.