Alternative Plugin Repository

[Ismayil Khayredinov]

What I have gathered so far:

1. Dhrup has a domain and a concept for the Plugin Repo. Lacks time to
build the functionality
2. Vazco is in the process of re-factoring their Repo plugin to extend
its functionality. Offering other plugins to enhance the functionality
around the Repo.
3. Team Webgalli is launching a public repo in a few days.

Let's combine the effort and make it successful.

Here are some thoughts I have shared with Dhrup:

I like the approach of having everyone chip in a little. Looking at my
theme for example, by now I would have made over 4000 usd if everyone
chipped in 1$. The problem however why should people trust the plugin
when downloading it. I think for the new site, there should be a
stricter review policy, to ensure that all plugins are operational/bug
free.

I think the iTunes store model works really well, and applying it to
this shop somehow makes sense. People don't think much before paying
1euro, but they do care for 5.

One thing we could consider is building Elgg installation packages
with sets of plugins for various purposes. E.g. we could create
collections for schools, ecommerce, business community etc. That way
we could prepackage some plugins and share revenue.

We should have some price margin to position ourselves as an
affordable shop for elgg plugins, as well as clear review policy. One
thing we could probably do is build this community as a co-op model,
and maybe even have a peer-review possibilities. Whereas, even though
our codes are not GPL, we could still share them with each other
through an SVN repo or something, and help each other by posting fixes/
patches, and giving suggestions on how to improve the code.

It would be great to keep this in an open-source main, with all the
principles in mind.

[Ismayil Khayredinov]

Agree, there is lots to do before we even get to pricing and such. But on this notion of profit I think the site itself should be non-for-profit - we generate commission that covers expenses associated with running the site (domains, servers, pr etc) and the rest should be donated to the Elgg Foundation. I think that would be appropriate and in line with the discussion we are having on the Elgg Community.

I think for this to work we should distribute the task, so that everyone can do some reasearch in a certain medium. I could probably start by looking into some guidelines that exist on WordPress, Joomla, JobberBase and others to see what of that we could use.




On 05.05.2011 17:58, SocialWeb Team wrote:

I think we have to be united. If we decide to do this, we have to
think about servers, domain, PR, etc. We have to spend money and time
to make this work.

We have to decide of a secure payment engine. Paypal might work for
some, but for us it will not work at all, because of paypal
restrictions in my country. We need to set up a skype meeting with the
members of this group to discuss further details like requirements to
sell, verification of compatibility, having an admin for the
repository that verifies authenticity of the seller/plugin, etc.

Before considering prices, there's a long list of details that need to
take care of. Also, what if a new developer wants to sell its plugins?
or a company? Are we gonna take a cut of the sale?

--

Ismayil Khayredinov
freelance professional
events • web services • translations

ismayil.k...@gmail.com
ismayil.khayredinov
00 420 724 384 468

[Michał Zacher]

I think the most important is clear situation of who is responsible
for what. We all can create a site although I think the best idea
would be to pass management of the site to Elgg Foundation. If they
want to introduce commisions for keeping the servers alive, it's their
choice. This way website will be independent of particular developers
and would be a community value.

Website would require some ground rules as well. It can't be a place
to put spam. It should be protected from poor quality plugins as well,
best with independent reviews of Elgg.org members.

If we want to make this idea a success, I think cooperation with
Curverider is a key. There were a few approaches of creating fully
independent plugin markets in the past, they all didn't work.


On 5 Maj, 14:52, Ismayil Khayredinov <ismayil.khayredi...@gmail.com>
wrote:

[Dhrup]

Some thoughts...

This 'venture' should become very much a 'teamwork' styled approach.
So no one individual's own elgg-based site is made prominent. So - for
example - just because the Repository Team will be hosted on my server
does not mean that I "own the Repository". It should exist for
everyone's benefit and use; and also to propel Elgg along - while
giving all a chance to grab their "piece of the action" - whether a
person is looking for $0 free PlugIns or to earn a few $$.

My basic idea has been to exhibit PlugIns and Themes as tagged as
being of different license "Types" ->
1) The most basic is GPL $0 Free
2) Next level is Paid PRO 1
3) Next level is Paid PRO 2
4) Next level is Paid fully Commercial

Developers should be encouraged and given support to upload PlugIns
for any *range of levels,
e.g.
1-2, 1-3 etc.

There should be some form of a support and discussion forum to enable
healthy discussions on particular and general PlugIn chat-chat.

The 'Repository Team' should not necessarily handle or manage a
'payment gateway' - developers should leave links to their own sites
here buyers can go to to obtain a $PlugIn. The 'Repository Team '
should *not collect a commission % $ for PlugIn sales. The option to
support the Team thru any donations should be the choice of Vendor
developers and the general customer-base.

This is my general basic idea of a "A free-er Open Source World...,
Imagination.., Motivation.., Freedom for Enterprise..."

The 'Repository Team' should be like a *consortium" of Elgg
developers ;)

[Dhrup]

Mikhal -

u r forgetting two small important facts -
CurveRider is out of the picture since they got rid of the Elgg.Org
sometime after HedgeHogs investor bought out CurveRider.
HegdeHogs is in the business of making money - not for us ;)

Elgg Foundation - I do not believe will get too much involved in a
commercialization effort based on Elgg - b/c Elgg being what it is
- it does not make sense for Elgg Org/ Foundation to present
themselves as 'commercial" in any way..

Mos of the other points you have said are quite very valid. Also
please mix and match the points I just posted.

[Cash Costello]

Guys,

If you are going to do this, do it the right way. There are plenty of
models. See

http://www.binpress.com/
http://wpplugins.com/
http://themeforest.net/

(As an aside, it looks like you could host the plugins on binpress and
allow them to handle the hosting/selling for a commission. Thought it
does look like it is more developer to developer focused.)

I cannot speak for the Elgg Foundation, but I really, really doubt
that managing a site like this would fit in the foundation's purpose.

Cash

[Mike (vazco)]

Cash, if Foundation couldn't manage similar website, is it at least
possible to:
a) treat such website as approved by Foundation, eg. by placing a link
to this website on Elgg.org's repository
b) create a discussion group for this site on Elgg.org
c) use single sign on mechanism with Elgg.org

On 6 Maj, 14:27, Cash Costello <cash.coste...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Guys,
>
> If you are going to do this, do it the right way. There are plenty of
> models. See
>

> http://www.binpress.com/http://wpplugins.com/http://themeforest.net/

[Team Webgalli]

Hell friends,
We just released a common plugin repo for Non gpl plugins for Elgg @
http://elggstore.com. We would like to receive your feedbacks on this.
Anybody can register and only approved developers can upload their
plugins for sale. The payment system included is Paypal for the users
to purchase and the developers can withdraw the fund through Paypal,
Western union or Bank account (only in India)
Regards,
Team Webgalli

[Shouvik Mukherjee]

I have registered quite some tine back; but, haven't received any
activation mail yet. :-(

[Team Webgalli]

As usual, may be in your spam folder?

Regards,
Team Webgalli

[Shouvik Mukherjee]

Uha ... sorry, I forgot to check the most obvious solution! My bad! Thanks for the manual activation!