Discussion: Plugin Prices

[CSquared]

The prices that plugins are being contracted and marketed for, specifically on MCM, are very inconsistent. You have some developers selling large plugins for $30 others for $100. I was wondering what's causing the disparity.

I think several factors should play into the cost of a plugin. The less skill the programmer has the less it should cost. The less time it takes to make, the less it should cost. This means that less skill and more time should even out to around the same as more skill and less time.

Since the function skill*time should even out between developers, that can't be what's causing the inconsistencies. I think the problem lies with a large group of inexperienced devs (not claiming to be experienced my self) under-valuing their work to get an edge over the more established devs. I've not seen a large problem with devs over-valuing their work, but I would be interested in receiving examples.

A second problem I see with the pricing in the community is for retail plugins. All of them are extremely over valued. Most are more than the average indie game on steam and nearly all are more than the average app on the app store. The demand is obviously high enough to constitute these prices, which makes me question the maturity and education of many server owners who choose to buy retail plugins.

 

[CSquared]

The purpose of this thread is to give developers an oppurtunity to be transparent with how they calculate their pricing. It also is a chance for the server owner and dev community to discuss the problem of inconsistency in plugin pricing.

 

[CSquared]

We charge less because of two reasons:

• We code it in Skript
• We are trying to help out smaller servers with a small budget

I can only find your build prices.

 

[DataPools]

I think it's just how people rate their work, based on time and effort. Some things are more difficult and take more effort based on the person.

 

[CSquared]

Small Projects: $5-$10
Medium Projects: $10-$30
Large Projects: $30+

Official thread for plugin development is coming soon.

Do you determine "Small, Medium, and Large" by the time it takes to make or the complexity of the project?

 

[DataPools]

Small Projects: $5-$10
Medium Projects: $10-$30
Large Projects: $30+

Official thread for plugin development is coming soon.

How do you know what exactly constitutes a "medium" or "large" project? I have always found it hard to classify plugins into arbitrary categories. Complexity is relative on the developer

 

[CSquared]

I think it's just how people rate their work, based on time and effort. Some things are more difficult and take more effort based on the person.

The problem with that is that by making something cost more based on difficulty or effort you raise price as skill level lowers (per developer ofc) which I think is unethical.

 

[DataPools]

I don't think it should be based off effort. It should be based on complexity. If it is really hard to make, then it should be price A. If it is easier, price B. No matter who codes it.

Who defines complexity? I have worked with both amateur and incredibly skilled developers. Complexity is relative on the person.

The "/hello" command giving 3 permissions and status effects maybe seem trivial to certain people and "complex" to others.

 

[CSquared]

I don't think it should be based off effort. It should be based on complexity. If it is really hard to make, then it should be price A. If it is easier, price B. No matter who codes it.

complexity/skill = difficulty && difficulty*time=effort so as complexity increases effort increases.

 

[kampai]

I just think that some plugin developers dont understand what making plugins are actually worth.

I see many developers try to fork up $20 for a plugin that I could easily make for $5, they're either greedy or dont know how to make an efficient plugin so it takes them longer then it should to make it

 

[Dltedacc]

Who defines Complexity? I have worked with both amateur and incredibly skilled developers. Complexity is relative on the person.

The "/hello" command giving 3 permissions and status effects maybe seem trivial to certain people and "complex" to others.

complexity/skill = difficulty && difficulty*time=effort so as complexity increases effort increases.

I just think that some plugin developers dont understand what making plugins are actually worth.

I see many developers try to fork up $20 for a plugin that I could easily make for $5, they're either greedy or dont know how to make an efficient plugin so it takes them longer then it should to make it

This is the breakdown of how a plugin should cost: (In my opinion)

• Developer Skill
• Time to complete
• Effort

I take back what I said earlier as it did not make much sense.

 

[Tyler]

You have some developers selling large plugins for $30 others for $100. I was wondering what's causing the disparity.

Because not every developer is the same person.

Do you determine "Small, Medium, and Large" by the time it takes to make or the complexity of the project?

I determine small, medium, or large the same way those words are used to compare anything -- the size. If I'm writing a 600 line plugin it's going to be larger and cost more than a 50 line plugin.

 

[CSquared]

I just think that some plugin developers dont understand what making plugins are actually worth.

I see many developers try to fork up $20 for a plugin that I could easily make for $5, they're either greedy or dont know how to make an efficient plugin so it takes them longer then it should to make it

Agreed, I think a possible solution would be for known developers to share how they price their plugins so we could set a sort of standard.

 

[Dltedacc]

Because not every developer is the same person.


I determine small, medium, or large the same way those words are used to compare anything -- the size. If I'm writing a 600 line plugin it's going to be larger and cost more than a 50 line plugin.

But what if the 600 lines is very easy to make? Something very simple.

 

[Tyler]

I see many developers try to fork up $20 for a plugin that I could easily make for $5, they're either greedy or dont know how to make an efficient plugin so it takes them longer then it should to make it

Plugins take time and effort to make, so regardless of how long it takes, you are paying for their time. In my opinion if anyone has a problem with the pricing of a developers plugins because you think it is "simple" and doesn't take long, you should go learn java and make it yourself.

 

[CSquared]

Because not every developer is the same person.


I determine small, medium, or large the same way those words are used to compare anything -- the size. If I'm writing a 600 line plugin it's going to be larger and cost more than a 50 line plugin.

Isn't the goal to write less code to complete a single goal though?

 

[Tyler]

But what if the 600 lines is very easy to make? Something very simple.

It's still 600 lines. It's not about the fact that it's simple, it's the fact it takes time to make. Complexity for the developer themself and the time it's going to take them does factor into the price.

 

[CSquared]

Plugins take time and effort to make, so regardless of how long it takes, you are paying for their time. In my opinion if anyone has a problem with the pricing of a developers plugins because you think it is "simple" and doesn't take long, you should go learn java and make it yourself.

I see where you're coming from, but a developer looking from the outside in could easily tell if someone is overvaluing code.

 

[DataPools]

Isn't the goal to write less code to complete a single goal though?

No, it depends on efficiency and what gets the job done well. More code isn't necessarily worse than less code. More code can actually make something more efficient.

 

[CSquared]

No, it depends on efficiency and what gets the job done well. More code isn't necessarily worse than less code. More code can actually make something more efficient.

I agree, but that is the exception not the rule, right?[DOUBLEPOST=1476757089][/DOUBLEPOST]My argument is that the only two factors should be what professional programmers are paid on: Time and Skill. Cost of plugin should = time*skill