Hello all, Im new to Buzztouch and wanted to ask a quick question. I have a couple of ideas for some apps, i think i should be able to do them in Buzztouch (well i hope so) BUT i kinda just wanted to see if i self host, the API key, for a couple of apps, do i need to pay $30 a month for it or can i self host for free? Thanks in advance... Troy

Hi Troy, Welcome to buzztouch! Self hosting does indeed cost the $30/month, no matter how many apps you create. If you're only going to do a couple, I would think the basic account me be OK for a bit? Mark

I have to agree with Mark on this. What I did was get a feel of buzztouch, learned alot, then i went self hosted. So play around a bit, watch the video tutorials, theres alot of great guides in the forums, and when your ready to self host i recommend it

Agreed- self hosting opens the doors to a huge range of possibilities, but you do need a basic understanding of the BuzzTouch system to be able to set it up etc and make sure everything is working fine. As Ceerup and Mark said, definitely get a feel of BT natively here first, and of course the BTU videos contain a wealth of informative-goodness. If you're creating apps for others (ie building apps for clients) and they want to manage the app themselves, then self hosting is a must. // J

Getting a free account with Buzztouch to test the waters is OK. But depending on your financial situation it may not be a wise move. You'll invest much more in time so $30/month may not be a consideration. Self-hosting has many advantages over using another's server whether Buzztouch's or one of the various persons that offer the service. If you're certain you wish to develop app I would skip right into self-hosting. If you create an app in Buzztouch.com you won't be able to move it to your server. Time is money. To invest a considerable amount of time to save a few dollars may not be a wise investment. Each person has a unique situation, so I won't presume to tell you what to do, just suggest you make an informed decision. Either way you'll have an account with Buzztouch to so you'll be able to use both. Just don't be penny wide and pound foolish. Other than playing with Buzztouch and testing features I don't recommend creating apps other than on your own server. But sometimes $30 per month can be a very high price, for others lost time may be a higher price. Fred

That's definitely true Fred, you don't want to have to transfer everything over... //J

@Fred he can always move his config file to dropbox

@ceerup, he could, but that ain't too friendly for a new BT user.

@ceerup, that is true, but not necessarily the best solution. Sometimes the better solution is to start self-hosted. Especially if you're iOS given the plugins available at BuzztouchMods.com A few more plugins are coming out very soon. It'd be a shame not to be able to easily use them. Fred

if hes good with coding, sure self hosting is the best bet

I started out by experimenting with the BT hosted free account and learning the ropes - I see that as time invested. I have gone to self hosted now, but having the BT hosted account was a great way to start.

Another thing to keep in mind here is that if you go self-hosted, YOU are responsible for maintaining your BT server. So, you need to be comfortable with things like FTP, Linux, PHP, mySQL, or know how to use the control panels for those things with your web host. Or, know somebody who is comfortable with all that who can help you out! Mark

As everyone else here says: free is the best way to go for starters - I wouldn't recommend diving into self hosted until you get familiar with buzztouch, xcode, eclipse, code signing, all that good stuff. When and IF you ever decide to go self hosting, you can check out the thread link below to avoid things like FTP, MYSQL, things that @GoNorthWest mentioned you'll need to be comforatble with. (It's always good to know, but not the best option for those who don't have that kind of time to invest in learning those things). https://www.buzztouchmods.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=8 Cheers, and best of luck! David buzztouchmods.com

Thanks everyone for the replies - i guess i will have a look at the free version first before i invest too much in Buzztouch - the hard part is i know what i want/need from my app(s) & the basic package doesn't give that to me..... Thanks again everyone! Troy