On Fri, May 08, 2015 at 08:44:08PM -0300, Gez wrote:
El vie, 08-05-2015 a las 16:19 +0000, C R escribió:
If your primary goal is to expand user base, then yes, supporting the os's that most of the planet uses, is a necessary first step.
I wonder if there is a real benefit on just expanding the userbase, if that doesn't come with an expansion in the developer-base. A large userbase can only benefit the project if there's a way to convert that userbase in some sort of cash flow to support full-time paid development.
For that reason, I don't think that having a large userbase should be among the goals of any free software project. The goal should be achieving technical excellence and giving users powerful tools alone. If you have that and the program happens to be both free of charge as free as in speech, putting no restrictions about how you can use and modify it, it won't be difficult to attract a large userbase.
I've been of similar mind to this. Value is gained by the project not from use but from contributions.
That said, now that we have a donation system set up, it is likely that expanding the userbase will result in cash flow. We just have to ensure there's a reliable way to convert $$ to development.
Why not hunting the people doing awesome art with Inkscape and ask them about their needs to take decisions about the direction of the project instead? Defining an audience, trying to create the best tool for that audience.
Maybe... we really have no shortage of requests for changes. It's an interesting idea though to identify high profile users.
Bryce