The Nick Hodges Podcast

I have just listened to latest podcast over at the Startup Success Podcast, with our very own Nick Hodges as the guest. I have to say it was rather disappointing. I guess for someone who laps up every mention of Delphi on the web (does the web sometimes seem very small to you?), these kind of things are always disappointing, because you never learn anything you don't already know. The disappointing thing though was every (well the really juicy ones at least) question was answered with a "I can't say more than that" or "I can't confirm when" etc etc I'm not trying to criticize Nick. While to a long time Delphi developer like myself, at first sight, Nick seems to have a dream job, if I really think about it, I'd have to say he's got a really difficult job. He's kind of stuck in the middle. The public face of Delphi, with his hands tied behind his back.

I was particularly waiting for his answer to a question I had suggested on Bob's Facebook page. The one about Embarcadero's Bizspark equivalent. I've blogged about this before, and I've since had a change of heart. It's more of a softening of stance really. Yes I'd like access to Delphi for a paltry sum, but Embarcadero are in the business of making money, not making me happy. I still think they seriously need to find some way to attract new developers, but doing a Bizspark equivalent, is just not going to work for Embarcadero. Even so, Nick didn't really answer that question either.

I have a suggestion for Embarcadero. A cut price Delphi, call it Turbo Delphi if you will, with a bare minimum of components. Just enough to get you started. Basic database access, a button, and edit box etc etc. Then have an ITunes like shop front for selling individual components(singles) or packs of components (albums). Somehow marry those components to a single licence. Buying all the components individually would cost more than buying the full product, but at least it allows users a lower entry cost, and who wants all 2321 components anyway? The store could be expanded to third party offerings. Could it work? Or would people just buy the cut price version and use freeware components? If they did, would it be a bad thing?

Do you want to ask Nick Hodges a question?

If anyone is interested in asking Nick Hodges a question, Bob Walsh of 47 hats fame will be interviewing him on Friday. Go here to suggest a question or two? Most of the questions so far are the usual fare (Where’s 64-bit support?), but since most of the readers of the Business of Software forum are probably not Delphi developers, it may be a interesting to see what those on the outside think. It’s also an opportunity to ask some intelligent questions that perhaps encourage a few non-Delphi users to migrate.

I know, I know. One post I’m bemoaning the state of the Delphi world, and my next I’m trying to drum up support. What can I say, Delphi is in my blood.

The Hypothetical just became Categorical

My last post was about Microsoft’s Bizspark program. When I started that post, it’s entire premise was built on the hypothesis that I would want to start a Micro ISV. As I wrote more and more of it, I kept saying to myself, why not? Give it a go? You’ve got no excuse now.

Now don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t just the cost of Delphi that kept the idea just that, an idea. There are other things, but the fear of failure is a really strong deterrent. I guess that fear is still there, but if I do fail, I won’t have spent a few thousand Dollars/Euros/Pounds setting up my development environment.

I’ve got a few ideas for products. Some of them pretty good. I figure whatever I do, I’ll be learning, and that’s always a good thing. So I signed up for Bizspark. I thought I’d have to go through hoops. I thought it would be hard. In fact it was really easy. I just found a partner willing to back me, and I’m in, I’m now a Bizspark member.

I’m slipping slowly away from my Pascal roots. It does hurt, but I have to follow my head and not my heart. At work we are moving away from Delphi, I’ve got to keep up, and start thinking more like a .NET developer, and less like a Delphi one.

A few of the comments to my previous post, said forget licenses, use a pirate copy of Delphi 2009. Well, that just doesn’t feel right to me. Ironically though, Codegear get no money from those pirates, but they get no money from those of us who just can’t afford the price of their product either. Nobody wins.

I’m sure I’ll be using Delphi for a few more years to come (First smile since the start of this post). It’s what I’m paid to do. But the decision has been made at work. Sooner or later I’ll be doing C# full time.

Bizspark – Where’s Embarcadero’s equivalent?

Let’s imagine a hypothetical situation. It’s hypothetical because I’m just speculating, but it’s one that could happen, and I’m sure happens all the time.

Right, I’m a Delphi developer. I’ve been working 9-5 for the boss for a long time. I have had a great idea for a product, and would like to try and develop that product independently, and market it. Being a Delphi developer, I naturally would like to develop that product in Delphi. Makes sense. Ok, so what do I need? I have a pc (or 3), so I now need the IDE. Ok so what are my options? I’d like the latest, and greatest. No point in making my mouth water with features such as Generics and Anonymous methods and expect me to settle for less. So  I go to the Codegear (UK) website, and check out the prices. WOW. £979 excluding VAT (currently 15%). I may be able to get a better deal somewhere, but it’s not going to be much cheaper. My product idea is great and all that, but you never know. I need to keep my costs down, and £979 (don’t forget the VAT) is a lot of money for something which may or may not succeed. There’s no such thing as a free lunch you say!

Well maybe there is. Let’s look at the competition. In particular Microsoft. Microsoft have what they call Bizspark. Basically, they’ll give you a whole load of their products, for free if you are a startup. If your revenues are less than a million dollars a year, and you’ve been in business for less than three years that is. Well, if my product starts making a million a year, then I wouldn’t mind paying £979, but right now that’s a little too much. So if I choose to use C# instead of Delphi, I can save myself £979. Actually it’s a lot more than that, because not only do I get Visual Studio, but I also get a whole lot more than that. In fact it will cost me a simple $100 after 3 years. I’ll have tried my product idea with little or no risk, and Microsoft have gained a developer for a cost of $100 to them. By giving me thousands of dollars worth of software for a measly $100, they haven’t lost any sales, because I would never have bought them in the first place.

I mean forget Bizspark. If I really want I can go and download Visual C# Express, and use SQL Server Express as my backend. That’s more than enough for my product. What has Codegear to offer? Turbo Delphi? That’s Delphi 2005 I think. Whatever it is, it’s not Delphi 2009. What about Prism? Do they have a Delphi Prism Express? Nope, not that I can see. Not much of a decision really, is it? I’m a Delphi developer, but C# holds absolutely no fears for me. Codegear have just lost another developer. More importantly, maybe my product idea is a success. Maybe in a year’s time I need to employ a few developers. Codegear have just lost a few more developers. Ok, my product is now really successful. I can afford the £979 for each of my 10 developers. Am I going to switch? Somehow I doubt it?

So Delphi, which used to be the obvious choice for your one man startups, is no longer a viable option. It has always been expensive, but when compared to the opposition, it was still value for money. It no longer is. How much of Codegear’s sales are Delphi 2005/2006/2007 shops upgrading to the latest, and how much are new developers? Or old developers branching out? My guess is that it’s very close to 100% Delphi shops looking to go to the latest offering.

If by some chance, Codegear do have some Bizspark equivalent, well done, but if that’s the case, then it’s very well hidden. I appreciate that Microsoft can afford to give away their products. Can Codegear afford not too?