21 tools used in our MicroISV
secretGeek .:dot Nuts about dot Net:.
home .: about .: sign up .: sitemap .: secretGeek RSS

21 tools used in our MicroISV

Many, well, years, ago I started a series of articles on '25 steps for building a Micro ISV'. It's still something that I care about very much, and that I hope to get back to sharing.

In the meanwhile, here's a quick wrap up of the some of the tools we use to help run TimeSnapper, our MicroIsv.

These are by no means the 'ultimate' choice or 'best of breed' in each category -- these are just the choices that we happen to use in TimeSnapper.

I think it's interesting to see just how much software we rely upon, even though we are 'Independent'.

This also leaves out the dozens of articles and blog entries that teach, inspire or unblock along the way, and the many tools we've considered using, or the many tools we're planning to switch to.

  1. Register Domain
  2. Reliable hosting
  3. Website design -- free templates
  4. Basic Website content
    • (write it yourself)
  5. Install traffic monitoring on your site
  6. Create forums, encourage feedback
  7. Maintain a FAQ
    • (write it yourself)
  8. Get the best screenshots you can
  9. Configure email for domain
    • (all by yourself)
  10. Get payment account
  11. Allow payment from your website
    • (all by yourself)
  12. Create a PAD file -- portable application description
  13. Register at download sites
  14. Strategy: separate "free" from "professional" products
    • (all by yourself)
  15. Get a suitable end user license agreement (EULA) -- infact get two!
    • (write it yourself, with help from weasel lawyer friends)
  16. Auto update strategy
  17. License activation webservice/website
    • (we wrote our own using asp.net and firebird)
  18. Get a license management database
    • (we wrote our own)
  19. Build a proper installer
  20. Obfuscate your assemblies
  21. Automate your build+release strategy
    • We've switched from final builder pro to batch files, to ms build
  22. Free up enough time/resources for dealing with support/feedback
  23. Shiny, Usable, Helpful
  24. Plan and enact your promotional strategy
  25. Do it all again
    • No tools required ;-)

Strangely absent from the list is our current choice of source control tool -- SourceGear Vault.



'Jexorro' on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:30:20 GMT, sez:

Wow!! thanks for sharing.

Well underway starting my own uISV and must now face many similar things.


'AtliB' on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:32:47 GMT, sez:

Hey Leon... you probably meant to say we're using NSIS (NullSoft installer), not Inno Setup.


'lb' on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:05:07 GMT, sez:

Ah, cheers Atli, well spotted.

NSIS FTW!


'Andreas' on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:44:15 GMT, sez:

Thanks for the link, the TimeSnapper site is a great adoption of the original template. Keep up the great work! :)


'Florin' on Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:42:58 GMT, sez:

It's great to have all these in one place.

Thanks!


'NRuessmann' on Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:46:40 GMT, sez:

Great list.

I just started my microsISV, and this list looks very familiar.

I am using as well: GoDaddy, WebHost4Life, Google Analytics, PAD Gen, FogBugz and SourceGear Vault.

Great tools for microISVs are VMWare Player and Server. Both are free. I use them for testing with different operating sytstems (Windows 2000, XP, Vista). I even run SourceGear Vault inside a virtual machine, which makes backup very easy. Just backup the complete virtual machine. In case of a harddisk failure just restore it to another computer, and within minutes you can continue working again.

Norbert Ruessmann


'lb' on Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:07:32 GMT, sez:

Good stuff Norbert.

And great tip on VMWare. We've been doing a bit of that lately too.


'google adwords management' on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:10:44 GMT, sez:

nice post. keep the great stuff coming and I appreciate your advice as I'm sure everyone else does.


Add your comment.


name


website (optional)


enter the word:
 

comment (HTML not allowed)


All viewpoints welcome. But the right to delete any post for any reason is reserved. Don't make me do it. Comments may be republished, emailed to your loved ones or printed and used as toilet paper. Who reads this legal bit anyhow?

TimeSnapper is a life analysis system that stores and plays-back your computer use. It makes timesheet recording a breeze, helps you recover lost work and shows you how to sharpen your act.

TimeSnapper won last year's Developer Competition at Larkware.com, and is used by over 10,000 people.

Articles

JSON Query Languages: 5 special purpose editors JSON Query Languages: 5 special purpose editors
What then, is b? What then, is b?
SQLike: A simple editor SQLike: A simple editor
Yet Another BizPlan Generator. Yet Another BizPlan Generator.
HOT GUIDS: A hot or not site for guids HOT GUIDS: A hot or not site for guids
How does life get better? One tiny hack at a time. How does life get better? One tiny hack at a time.
24 things to do, and 100 things *not* to do (yet) for building a MicroISV 24 things to do, and 100 things *not* to do (yet) for building a MicroISV
Venture capital won't kill Jeff Atwood, it will only make him Jeffer. Venture capital won't kill Jeff Atwood, it will only make him Jeffer.
A handy workflow image for newbie mercurial users A handy workflow image for newbie mercurial users
Fractal Feedback, a diversion into recreational programming Fractal Feedback, a diversion into recreational programming
Hump-Jumping: How the Education of Computer Science can be Saved, err, maybe. Hump-Jumping: How the Education of Computer Science can be Saved, err, maybe.
Suggested User Experience Improvements for DiffMerge Suggested User Experience Improvements for DiffMerge
SQL Style Extensions for C# SQL Style Extensions for C#
The Movie Hollywood (And My Wife) Doesn't Want You To See: Weekend at Jacko's The Movie Hollywood (And My Wife) Doesn't Want You To See: Weekend at Jacko's
Sysi: the ultimate administrators toolkit Sysi: the ultimate administrators toolkit
Archives .: secretGeek :: Complete Archives
TimeSnapper -- Automated Screenshot Journal TimeSnapper.com    
Version 3.3: true productivity boost
Next Action NextAction
Managing the top of your mind
World's Simplest Code Generator (html edition) World's Simplest Code Generator
25 steps for building a Micro-ISV 25 steps for building a Micro-ISV
3 minute guides -- babysteps in new technologies: powershell, JSON, watir, F# 3 Minute Guide Series
Universal Troubleshooting checklist Universal Troubleshooting Checklist
Top 10 SecretGeek articles Top 10 SecretGeek articles
ShinyPower (help with Powershell) ShinyPower
Now at CodePlex
Realtime CSS Editor, in a browser RealTime Online CSS Editor
Gradient Maker -- a tool for making background images that blend from one colour to another. Forget photoshop, this is the bomb. Gradient Maker

[powered by Google] 
How to be depressed How to be depressed
You are not inadequate.

Recommended Reading

The Best Software Writing I
The Business Of Software (Eric Sink)

Recommended blogs

Jeff Atwood
Joseph Cooney
Phil Haack
Scott Hanselman
Julia Lerman
Rhys Parry
Joel Pobar
OJ Reeves
Eric Sink

Aggregated Links

proggit
dzone
hacker news
dot net kicks

Human Link Machines

interesting finds
a continuous learner's weblog
arjan's world
weekly link post
LinkedIn profile
LogEnvy - event logs made sexy
ShuffleText - fuzzy search for .net
PC Smart Buys - Computer Hardware in Australia

.: bookmark this page at del.icio.us bookmark at Del.icio.us! :: reddit this reddit this :.

 
home .: about .: sign up .: sitemap .: secretGeek RSS .: © Leon Bambrick 2006 .: privacy

home .: about .: sign up .: sitemap .: RSS .: © Leon Bambrick 2006 .: privacy