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David @ buzztouch
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03/08/16 01:55 PM (8 years ago)

BT Update

Hi Gang, This post is long overdue and there's isn't anyway I can answer everyone's questions. I won't try one at a time. But, I will try to provide a broad sense of WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING WITH BT! I'll do what I can to overlook the negative (lots of negative remarks recently) and try to stay positive. On one hand I have lots and LOTS to say, on the other, not so much. It's obvious that BT hasn't progressed, hasn't moved ahead, hasn't done anything great, and hasn't delivered on some promises (and goals) it hoped to. I've said this before. As one person put it, "it's awesome the way it is anyway." I tend to disagree but heck, great! Some opinions, the way I see it... --BT should be free. We all did much much better when BT was a free. --BT can't be free. It costs money to keep this thing going, lots of money. Think Facebook "can't afford to keep Parse going" - imagine that. --BT supporters (folks that help keep BT alive financially) don't seem to think their getting their "money's worth" - go figure. Some do, most do not. Anything above free is too expensive online it seems. --There are FAR fewer paying supporters than most folks think. Far fewer. --David and (insert a few names here) cannot subsidize the site like he / they once did. The days of grow grow grow, which somehow justified the cash hemorrhage, isn't in the cards anymore. --The mobile development landscape has changed 1,000 times since BT's inception. The environment, situation, hardware, software, dev community, etc. it's all very very different now. Said another way, it was much easier to help somebody make apps in 2009. --David has far more professional obligations than most folks realize. It's called paying the bills. You just can't imagine how many projects I'm involved with. Yes, these commitments take me away from BT. Harsh reality. --BT IS NOT GOING AWAY. With that being said, it's time to make some decisions. The iOS Core, the Android Core, and countless other things need updating. Badly. The backend continues to need me nightly. Hours and hours of hum drum, all invisible, all valueless. Plugins and all sorts of other things will break the moment both Cores are updated, made useful in modern mobile devices, and delivered in your control panels. BT Central never materialized for that reason. It's been "nearly done" for over a year. If nobody cared about moving ahead and not updating any apps, all would be well. If nobody had clients that asked for "this and that" seemingly everyday, all would be well. If everyone started over, starting today, all would be well. We can't. None of us can. Well, some may be able to hit the reset button most of us can't. Most of us have legacy code and apps to support while also promising to support the latest devices. Not easy. I still dream of delivering a bad ass BT Central that pumps out amazing HTML5, iOS and Android projects. And it will eventually. If I knew exactly when you would be the first to know. It's extraordinarily difficult to engineer, create, innovate for NEW and OLD gadgets. Much harder than I ever imagined. And, trying to do that while ALSO working 80 hours a week on non BT bill-paying projects. No way. I hate admitting that, it's just true. More than anything I just wanted the gang to know that I'm knee deep in jobs and have been for awhile and wish more than anything that I could hang out on the site all day. I'll save you all the personal drama (record breaking difficulties for more than a year now) and leave it at that. Continue as a BT supporter if you choose. Lots of peeps would appreciate it. Stop supporting BT altogether if you choose, your BT buddies will miss you. So will I. Either way, I hope you stay stoked on mobile, continue to lead the way in the circles you run, and keep a keen eye out for the next best thing since sliced bread. Peace. David
 
MacApple
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03/08/16 01:57 PM (8 years ago)
With you brother! As a good man once said, good to see your name!
 
MadRod
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03/08/16 02:07 PM (8 years ago)
I'm with you man. Stay safe.
 
Grateful
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03/08/16 02:20 PM (8 years ago)
Thanks for the update. Best to you and glad to hear Buzztouch is not going away.
 
AlanMac
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03/08/16 02:22 PM (8 years ago)
Hi David Always good to hear from you. Sounds like you have a lot on your plate and you are doing everything on your own. What can we do to help?
 
Calypso Kid
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03/08/16 02:26 PM (8 years ago)
I'm still in 100%. No rush man. Slow and steady. Don't worry about the nay Sayers. If they were that good, they'd know how to code without BT. We non-pros still need you. Stay well Dave
 
epicweb
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03/08/16 02:27 PM (8 years ago)
David, There is no doubt that you're a good dude and mean well. My guess is that's why many have stayed around but unfortunately that only goes so far when you move from a free platform to a paid one. I'm not trying to be negative but the simple fact is that BT is a business (paying supporters) and BT has not lived up to the promises you communicated numerous times. This is my feedback on why I didn't renew my membership and my guess as to why FAR fewer are paying supporters. Question: Why would you want to overlook the negative feedback? Constructive negative feedback, no matter how hard to hear, is a opportunity for us all. I noticed you said decisions need to be made... "The iOS Core, the Android Core, and countless other things need updated." Do you have any next steps or timelines on when we could see decisions on these items? Help.. I want to be a paying supporter of BT again.
 
deletedaccount
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03/08/16 02:37 PM (8 years ago)
It's been a while! I believe in you!
 
Uelsimon
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03/08/16 02:49 PM (8 years ago)
@David, there are a number of us who have 'enough' dev skills can contribute along the way . is there a way for us to help? Maybe splitting up some of the core components into segments on a github, and folks can try to update/translate to swift or whatever bit by bit? once those have been vetted...u can merge it back in...and we update this as a community? this way we could help carry some of the load. just a thought! €
 
SmugWimp
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03/08/16 02:51 PM (8 years ago)
Always good to hear from you, David. We're still here, because we knew you were still here. Just buried in code. Understandable. Let us know if there is anything we can do. Cheers! -- Smug
 
benedettoapp
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03/08/16 03:44 PM (8 years ago)
I was under the impression that you were working 100% buzztouch, and that was the reason of the price increase so you could pay the bills with buzztouch. I guess i was wrong. I don't mind the price, but i would like things to move forward, even if slowly, but keep us up to date to know that something is going on, and this is one of your projects that people pay, so maybe out of the 80H weekly you do, dedicate 5 or 10 to buzztouch. Reading your last post actually took away hope for me. I would be able to reset. I don't need to update apps live, (actually i see that as a negative thing) so if as you said all would be well, why don't you give us a choice? You have received offers to help you through github, even if i personally wouldn't be able to do much i still think it's a good idea, think about it, and let people help you. I will support you as long as i can, but if nothing changes sooner or later i will stop.
 
crazy android
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03/08/16 10:52 PM (8 years ago)
Im with you and BT been there from start!!!!
 
GoNorthWest
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03/08/16 11:31 PM (8 years ago)
I'm all in, all the time! Mark
 
FunkyMonkey
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03/09/16 01:42 AM (8 years ago)
Great to hear from you David, I love buzztouch and you improving it in any way is great, Even when the new prices arrived you are still ridiculously cheap, the naysayers need to look at other platforms and compare prices, they dont even come close to what you and the community offer, Good luck with it all, I cant offer any code help as im not a coder, but safe to say whenever and whatever changes you make , im with the buzztouch crew. Sean
 
fusionsch
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03/09/16 02:27 AM (8 years ago)
Hey David, thanks for the news! Maybe naysayers don't realize how complicated BT is on your side... and how much they receive for 45 cents per day... On my side, I'm still happy with what I get! Keep on rocking and keep on keeping me able to develop apps under the motto 'I hate code'... Your devoted code-dumb follower Jack
 
Higgey
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03/09/16 03:06 AM (8 years ago)
Hi David, Thanks for the update. I still consider BT to be great value and I'm in for the long haul and I appreciate that you do a great deal for us. Best wishes from a wet and cold UK! John
 
ridgerock
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03/09/16 06:52 AM (8 years ago)
You have supporters here. We will forever be grateful for Buzztouch.
 
LA
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03/09/16 06:56 AM (8 years ago)
I'm always stoked! LA
 
Susan Metoxen
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03/09/16 02:21 PM (8 years ago)
David, we will always appreciate all you have done for us. You are still our hero, our code warrior, and you always will be. Thanks for all you have done for us!
 
Arubaman
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03/09/16 02:57 PM (8 years ago)
Good to hear from you, thanks for the status.
 
jvalley
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03/09/16 06:16 PM (8 years ago)
Thanks for the update.. Even though i have been dormant for a bit. I still will always pay no matter what since i am a full supporter.
 
sarahk
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03/09/16 09:21 PM (8 years ago)
I freaked when I saw that notification on the screen. Better slow and steady than not at all. There's such a huge market for BT but it's hard when things are changing so rapidly.
 
CMCOFFEE
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03/09/16 09:23 PM (8 years ago)
Im fine with buzztouch with or without the update. I have some cool apps Ive made using the buzztouch software. Apps that cant be made with any other 'app builder'. I guess it would be frustrating for those who are not tech savvy and/or know how to write code. Buzztouch for me is a easy way to manage all of my apps and different 'screens'. What other app builders can let you easily add payment gateways, games, can be database driven, etc? Buzztouch is amazing just how it is now. I appreciate the buzztouch software and community
 
RonBo
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03/09/16 09:31 PM (8 years ago)
I'm in, and am patient enough to wait for the good things that will come. I'm just still bummed out that I didn't take the long walk for pizza and see the crazy dancing....
 
Niraj
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03/09/16 10:07 PM (8 years ago)
You've learned a lot about yourself in the past several years. And you are still here with us! Keep on truckin ... :-) -- Niraj
 
feraco
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03/10/16 11:43 AM (8 years ago)
Agree he is our coding hero!!!
 
mysterysolver
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03/10/16 01:45 PM (8 years ago)
Im with you David !
 
DougJoseph
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03/10/16 03:24 PM (8 years ago)
I am new to mobile apps but not new to coding, and I see BT as a great value, even in its current state. I agree with all the positive comments above, and feel the same way. If I get even one app published for myself or a client, using this tool, at this price, it is well worth it. If others feel different, I suggest they shop around a while and see what other platforms are charging. By the way, I do now have that one app published on iOS (and it's running on devices as old as 5.1.1, i.e. 1st generation iPad), and I only need some help with BT (self hosted) Android "GCN" Push Notifications to get the Android version of the app published. Thank you. I literally could not have done it without BT.
 
DougJoseph
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03/10/16 03:25 PM (8 years ago)
PS: I now have two clients and dependable promises for three more clients. These are churches for whom I am building iOS and Android apps.
 
ictguy
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03/10/16 05:46 PM (8 years ago)
+1 I'm still in. I might not be as active these days but still have lots of apps that are powered by BT and a self hosted control panel. Thanks David :)
 
aussiedra
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03/10/16 10:55 PM (8 years ago)
From December 2010 We still here ! Alot more to come !
 
Kaybee
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03/10/16 11:01 PM (8 years ago)
As always D, support you 100%. A man has got to do what man has got to do. You need to take care of yourself and your family first. Buzztouch still has tremendous value for its users, now is the time for long standing forum contributors to support yo in the forum with support for Nuub's. For those that somehow think they can find a better value solution anywhere else, go for it. I am staying right here and I CAN wait till David is ready to do his thing, while I wait I will be selling Apps and making a decent income out of it. To me Buzztouch is way more than a development platform, sing it with me "We are Family" David you have our support, no need to justify any of your decisions to me. Kristen
 
mysps
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03/11/16 01:36 AM (8 years ago)
Without a doubt in more than ever!
 
buzzbt
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03/14/16 01:31 AM (8 years ago)
leaders always makes a difference buddy, keep making the difference you are wonderful time traveler we are with you, Kindly best regards:))
 
ianJamesPiano
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03/14/16 04:51 PM (8 years ago)
Have patience Iron Lotus.
 
freesoftwarewiz
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03/15/16 10:32 AM (8 years ago)
For security reasons on the project that suddenly came up, I have been "offline" for a full month. Over 5,000 emails in my inbox, but the notice for this stood out. :-) As a self-employed father of 6 for 30+ years, I understand your predicament David, all to well. The projects verses the income sources, and other assorted distractions. As you said, there is literally no time to do both, BT and "other" projects. Result: gridlock. I believe in the BT concept (I used the same approach in several products the past 10 years - "plugging in" what you need to "build" software). I have been a paying supporter since the beginning - paying far more than anyone else in the group I know of, though I have not used it nearly to the level I had planned, because frankly, it DOES need updating badly. badly. And I am NOT crazy about the plans you mentioned before about drastically changing the self-host option - that is the one idea I disagree with in your over-all vision (mostly because it would severely hamper my own productivity with BT). That you have, as yet, not solved this no-time quandary, and there have been no updates, so I have used BT very little in the past months, does NOT mean I have any intention of jumping ship, or stopping payments. :-) Till you get a handle on all this, I will continue to support and bide my time with BT. Doing most of my stuff in LiveCode till then. I would offer that there are solutions to your quandary. Several in fact - I have used them all, at one point or another, in my long career of self-employment. I am not going to post all that here - would become more of a book than a post! - but will respond to direct queries. Just shout! Joe C.
 
AppOne
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03/17/16 11:27 AM (8 years ago)
Buzztouch and the BT family are awesome!
 
MacApple
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03/17/16 12:03 PM (8 years ago)
No family like the BT family. Good sentiments above.
 
thegibcoyote
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03/20/16 08:36 AM (8 years ago)
Supporting you all the way and just renewed my subscription on the new plan. Anything to help this move forward. Always appreciate your help. Start afresh, dont worry on whats already built....I am sure community will understand and can rebuild apps again based on new platform. Sometimes easier to start afresh than try and patch things up.....Technology is evolving very quickly....and so will BT. Well done all those running BT and making it a reality. regards Alan
 
Absentia
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03/20/16 01:01 PM (8 years ago)
Awesome news! I was actually wondering the other day if I should disconnect my apps from the control panel so that they don't all go dark if David should decide to close the Buzztouch doors. It's encouraging to read that you are still so passionate about Buzztouch. I am back to going full time with app development for the last couple of weeks and for the foreseeable future, so hopefully I'll get the chance to post here much more often than I have been
 

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