I love programming web apps - especially with the latest frameworks. But I don't want to host them, I'd rather have them be self-hosted because I'm already enjoying my full time job. Anyways, I made a web app and finished a licensing scheme for it but I'm having second thoughts.<p>I think the barrier of entry is just way too high. This particular app requires you to install it on your own shared/vps and host it yourself.. Mint was successful for this (haveamint.com not mint.com), but that was a PHP app which is a lot easier to deploy than Django or Rails.<p>Anyways, what do you guys think? People are saying desktop software is dying because the barrier to install it is too high. If that's the case, I don't think a self-hosted Django or Rails product will do well at all.<p>Thanks for your input!
If you are worried about your barrier of entry being so high, why don't you try and lower it?<p>You have ruled out doing any hosting yourself, but there are still things you could do. For example, you could try and make your application as easy to install as "apt-get install <myawesomeapp>". Or you could try and partner yourself with an existing VPS provider: you can forward them customers, and they can profit on the hosting and lower the barrier of entry for you.<p>Mostly though I would recommend just going for it. I mean, what is the worst that can happen? Just refund everyone's money if they get unhappy. You might lose time, but you probably have a lot to gain.
Have you thought about using Amazon's EC2. You could make a Machine image and a method whereby an instance is being launched each time access is needed.<p>If you need more information email at bjorn AT stadil.com
One very good solution is to make it a virtual appliance, that way it is relatively easy to install on all platforms, and you get a lot less support issues as all users use the same OS/distribution/framework version etc.
it depends on the type of users. Will they be the people to install rails anyway? Or put differently: are they coders/webdesigners/content creators? And how much do you think they will need your product? is it an improvement over existing (hosted) products or is it something entirely new? Simple put, the more tech-savy the lower this barrier is perceived. The more unique your app is, the more willing people are to cross the barrier. Without knowledge of either I can't really tell if the barrier is too high.
In case anyone is interested, here some screenshots:<p><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/t0fuu/sets/72157604174774537/show/" rel="nofollow">http://flickr.com/photos/t0fuu/sets/72157604174774537/show/</a>
<i>Anyways, I made a web app and finished a licensing scheme for it but I'm having second thoughts.</i>
are you serious? Launch. Launch. Launch.Let the market decide "how high" the barriers to entry are.