I've been using PhpED Professional for several years (since version 4.0 in 2005, to be precise), though lately quite infrequently because I don't develop in PHP much any more.

Anyway, I've been buying major upgrades all along (5, 6, 7 and 8.) because I like the product and it works well for me.

So now I have a new PHP project on the horizon. I fire up PhpED, and I get a new version notice. Great. Check the changelog: I'm on 8.1 8105 and the update is 8.1 8111. Okay, a bunch of bug fixes, as usual I'll update. Wait, what's this - my subscription is expired.

Are you kidding me?

I can't even install an incremental build upgrade with bug fixes anymore? I'm not sure when Nusphere decided to switch their licensing/subscription model, but this just feels like a huge slap in the face to customers. As much as I think PhpED is a good product, there is no way I will be supporting you anymore. And quite frankly, I regret ever doing so in the first place now...

Personally I would have sent a nicely worded email to NuSphere (eg Dmitri) and checked if there was a technical issue or if they would have given you an update, before having a rant.

PHPed costs (for renewal) about $100 a year. A YEAR. Really, you cant spare $100 to support the development of the software for new versions of PHP, and bug fixes, and major enhancements, feature requests etc.?

Seriously? $100 a year.

Man you must be the cheapest coder around, maybe you could charge your customers an extra $100 a year between them, like add $1 to each invoice or something. C'mon! seriously.


lol

Maybe you missed the part where I said I've purchased all the major release since 2005. And I certainly would have purchased v9 - despite the fact that I use the product maybe 5 or 6 times a year.

Money is not the problem - "lol"

I'll pay whatever the cost to access "major enhancements", "feature requests", etc. Anything that adds real value I will, and do, gladly pay for.

To have to renew a subscription to upgrade from version 8.1.8105 to 8.1.8107, just to fix some bugs that should have never been in the software I purchased in the first place though? Sorry, that's bad business as far as I'm concerned.

As far as i know, with PHPed, no matter how long ago your subscription ran out, you can just buy the maintenance again, whereas with PHPStorm, you'll need to buy the full licence again if its over a year out of date.

Maybe if you send a "nice" email to phpEd support, you may see a discount voucher in your inbox the next day. That's what I did when I wanted to change from standard to pro, and std maintenance had expired by over a year, i was very nice and polite, and i received a very nice email with a very nice discount (all coders are scrooges and want to save $$ here and there!)