What about some limited but cheeper Pro Version in 2026?

General
1

Hi,

I think XOJO has some reason why they changed the payable Versions in 2025.

Perhaps they recheck, overthink that in beginning of 2026 when they have enough data what have been sold since the changes?

I would think an new SemiPro Version - like Pro version but with the limit of XYZ code lines would help that non commercial hobbyists could by an SemiPro again.

I would pay up to 249€ for such an SemiPro Version - limited only in the (XOJO counts the code lines) number of code lines (perhaps a few thousands – I don’t know how many code lines show an complex, commercial program).

An other, or added to the code lines limitation for such a cheeper Semipro Version could be to limit the target to max. 2 targets. For me target Mac Desktop and Android would be enough. Other could take Mac and Win or Mac and Web for example.

What do you think?

2

How about B4X ?
XCode
Android Studio
MS Visual Studio
Delphi Community Version

But please not license like print 5 pdf pages a day

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3

I think you’re going to be very disappointed.

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4

Code lines is an interesting metric but not one that would interest many people. There’s no way to know ahead of time, for example, how many lines of code a project might entail, so there would be no way to know if that version was right for the scenario. And suddenly bumping up against it in the middle of a project works be a very frustrating experience.

I would prefer an a-la-carte approach for certain features. I have no need for database support, so I’d be happy to unclick that checkbox to save money.

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5

the current split desktop/web/mobile is ok.
database is somehow basic need.
what could be split more is
macOS / Windows / Linux (we already had and this licenses are gone)
iOS / Android

6

For you, perhaps, but not for everyone - hence my suggestion that it be broken out as a purchasable option. First-time users especially may not need that feature and could be lured onto the platform at a lower rate.

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7

I don’t like the price change but who does?

I really think it’s not fair to make ConsoleApplications only available to Pro license holders though. That feels like a mistake.

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8

This!

I was lured back to Xojo, after being absent for a while, because I decided I only wanted to do macOS apps - and the Lite license was the hook. After a while I then upgraded to the Desktop license, not because I needed it, but to support my new-found favourite tool.

As retirement approaches next year (and a lower income), my plan was to drop back to Lite.

Not anymore - I’m learning Swift and making much faster progress than I thought. And I’m really happy about that. Even though I still have a valid Xojo Desktop license, I haven’t opened the IDE in months now.

What a mistake, on the part of Xojo Inc., to throw out the Lite license.

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9

Not to mention, inspire (or enforce) clever discipline as well.

10

Of course incase of code lines limit (to a few thousand) XOJO shouldn’t count comment lines - should no problem for Xojo to do that kind of counting.

11

What about ineffective lines? Like

#if false
  Do a thing
#endif

This won’t cause a compile error because it’ll never be compiled, so it’s effectively a comment.

What about the lines of code that Xojo adds as it transforms your project into something usable by the compiler? It’s still pure Xojo code.

What about the line continuation character?

Counting lines for the purposes of licensing is a minefield of edge cases, and shouldn’t be considered.

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12

Whatever we think of that as a business decision, Xojo doesn’t want to sell an inexpensive version any more.

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13

Who want a limited version to develop his/her application(s) ?
Not me.

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14

As you may recall, once upon a time it used to be included with desktop… and it should be now IMO.

  • Karen
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15

Fwiw it’s how PureBasic’s demo works, it’s fully functional and can compile executables but it’s limited to x number of lines of code.

.

If Xojo no longer seems to offer good value to you maybe it’s time to look elsewhere :thinking:

16

They have needs that the entry level version is not enough to fulfill (I suppose). So any other price… you understand, no need to explain more.

“All we need is cash”

PS: you can view the original (Beatles cover) @ You Tube from where I borrowed the sentence.

17

And that’s kind of dumb, but could be considered ok in the 80’s.

A CLI only app is the most basic mode a compiler / IDE can produce something. Name some language whose compiler is able to produce a CLI app and GUI app, and I can’t remember one, even PAID, that can’t produce a CLI app FOR FREE. Maybe Xojo is alone in this business model. What I think they could do is to offer CLI for ALL, but no remote DBs below PRO? As the current prices are kind of prohibitive to many, it’s time to put CLI on all them as all competitors does since forever.

18

Personally I think it’s a reasonable idea for a demo version ( but not for a lite version ).

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19

The current model “fully functional in debug mode” is very effective for demo.

But Xojo killed lite and said “it’s gone, we won’t retract that decision” after several complaints, so…

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20

As long as Xojo doesn’t change the pricing model again on their own, we don’t need to submit any further suggestions. If Xojo determines that the new model isn’t working, they’ll adjust it based on their previous metrics. However, they certainly won’t adjust it because a few people complain about it in the forum…

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