This issue can't be understated. If AIM went out of business, AIM would still be functioning, but in the case of a crash we are out of business. Certain of my customers on my C/S are using a version from 1985. Each year they renew their license #'s and I have in place multiple sources to provide numbers as well as a lifetime license # is needed. I can not imagine my customers business being unable to operate in the case of something happening to me. The harm to their business and families would be irreparable damage.
For my C/S application, I use PSQL and they have their licensing worked out pretty well after trial and error. When I purchase I receive a license code, I enter it on my local computer and it contacts their license server,has read something from my computer, and sees if the license if activated. If not, it activates it. If finds activated, it says already activated on another computer. If you need to move to another computer, then your deactivate it, and it makes it available on another computer. So what happens if the computer crashes and you were not able to deactivate it. At this time, you send an email to Pervasive, they deactivate it, and then you can activate it again on another computer. They actually let you do this 25 times. In AIM case, if AIm got an email for x amount of computer crashes from one customer, that would raise suspicion very easily. The other thing is, most developers developing real business apps, are not going to try and steal a license or two. by fraudulently saying a computer crashed. Plus as someone stated earlier, you can once a month, go out and verify active computers. And I think there are licensing programs that do this available for software companies like AIM.
This does not solve the issue that if Vladimir was not available to deactivate the license in the case of a crash. Someone has to have access to this. Since without Vladimir, the business would probably disappear, it would be nice if someone can issue maybe a small renewal fee or reactivation fees, which would provide for his family.
There is one other issue. AIM has been working great on AWS and has never deactivated. PSQL has a Vx version which moves with the hypervisor and does not deactivate. Not sure how this works with licensing.
The point is, that we are basing our business, our families income, plus our customers livelihoods on AIM being activated, and cannot have a crash, put everyone out of business. I can't even imagine the lawsuits.
This has been an issue that has been discussed privately among AIM developers and potential developers and is an issue that will not go away. Vladimir really needs to address this where we can feel comfortable as opposed to feeling like we always at risk of a catastrophe.
I saw Vladimir's response about companies going out of business, and that's fine, but the software developed still remains active, and in the case of a crash, we need to have a solution to keep our customers running, even its the version are not being updated. I have faith that Vladimir will see the concerns of the developers and put something in place to handle this situation.
Mark
