Thread: Cost of programming

  1. #1
    Its hard... But im here swgh's Avatar
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    Cost of programming

    This is my personal view, and I am interested what the rest of you make of it.

    Any budding computer programmer need the tools first to do the job. I am speaking about the developemnt environment. If you dont use Dev-C++ or code::blocks as your IDE, why should Microsoft force any beginner to shell out X amount to get a proffessional version of a product they endourse?

    I understand you can freely download the express editions but these do not hold as many features as the proffesional versions do. All I am trying to say, is why is computer software so expensive?

    Millions of us use a computer, yet the companies still think we can all afford over 200.00 for a software package. Look at how much the full versoin Adobe charge for Photoshop.

    Is it all to cover the cost of production? Video games dont cost 100+ to buy.
    Double Helix STL

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    I believe it's because they can get away with it. These tools costs a fortune, just like video games, to make.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.

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    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Any budding computer programmer need the tools first to do the job. I am speaking about the developemnt environment. If you dont use Dev-C++ or code::blocks as your IDE, why should Microsoft force any beginner to shell out X amount to get a proffessional version of a product they endourse?
    Microsoft does offer student versions of their software, including the professional editions. Other than that, I note that the Express editions are intended for beginners and hobbyists.

    Video games dont cost 100+ to buy.
    True, but the supply for video games is higher than the supply for development tools, and it is more straightfoward to earn a living using development tools to develop and sell software than by playing video games to win cash prizes and such.
    Last edited by laserlight; 05-28-2008 at 06:46 AM. Reason: Demand -> Supply
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

  4. #4
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    For a beginner, the express versions are as fully featured for their needs as possible. Also most students learning programming in universities have access to Visual Studio professional via Academic alliance I downloaded it just the other day for free.

    But assessing cost for software probably is a difficult choice. Games generally are priced what they are because the scope of what they provide the consumer are limited (generally limited hours of gameplay wise) while development tools have a seemingly unlimited amount of value for the consumer if they use it right.

    I don't know, I used the express version of visual C# for a windows programming course and was fine.

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    Quote Originally Posted by swgh View Post
    This is my personal view, and I am interested what the rest of you make of it.

    Any budding computer programmer need the tools first to do the job. I am speaking about the developemnt environment. If you dont use Dev-C++ or code::blocks as your IDE, why should Microsoft force any beginner to shell out X amount to get a proffessional version of a product they endourse?

    I understand you can freely download the express editions but these do not hold as many features as the proffesional versions do. All I am trying to say, is why is computer software so expensive?

    Millions of us use a computer, yet the companies still think we can all afford over 200.00 for a software package. Look at how much the full versoin Adobe charge for Photoshop.

    Is it all to cover the cost of production? Video games dont cost 100+ to buy.
    MS doesn't force anyone to buy anything.

    I can't believe that anyone is complaining about the cost to begin software development. You already listed some free options, INCLUDING one from the Evil Microsoft (tm). You can also get dozens of free libraries, utilities, frameworks, etc. if you seek them.

    Starting a software development hobby/business is about the least expensive one I can think of.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Elysia View Post
    I believe it's because they can get away with it.
    Get away with it? Why does it have to be so duplicitous? They provide a product for a price, and consumers decide whether or not to buy it. Just like every other business.

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    Yes, but as other things, some software are overpriced. Is photoshop overpriced? Definitely. Why is it overpriced? Because they can get away with it.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.

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    Quote Originally Posted by swgh View Post
    This is my personal view, and I am interested what the rest of you make of it.

    Any budding computer programmer need the tools first to do the job. I am speaking about the developemnt environment. If you dont use Dev-C++ or code::blocks as your IDE, why should Microsoft force any beginner to shell out X amount to get a proffessional version of a product they endourse?

    I understand you can freely download the express editions but these do not hold as many features as the proffesional versions do. All I am trying to say, is why is computer software so expensive?

    Millions of us use a computer, yet the companies still think we can all afford over 200.00 for a software package. Look at how much the full versoin Adobe charge for Photoshop.

    Is it all to cover the cost of production? Video games dont cost 100+ to buy.
    Well. Computer is an intangible asset.
    Suppose some one buys one thousand blank papers for say $10.
    Then he buys a pen for say $5.
    Now he writes an excellent book, and gets $100,000 for it.

    Will you argue with him that since the cost was only $15, he should not be given more than, say, $50 ?

    Same in computer software. I am not very good at explaining things

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    Quote Originally Posted by Elysia View Post
    Yes, but as other things, some software are overpriced. Is photoshop overpriced? Definitely. Why is it overpriced? Because they can get away with it.
    One man's overpriced is another man's bargain. It's all relative. They sell it for a price that the market will bear.
    Last edited by medievalelks; 05-28-2008 at 06:58 AM.

  10. #10
    Woof, woof! zacs7's Avatar
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    > Yes, but as other things, some software are overpriced. Is photoshop overpriced? Definitely. Why is it overpriced? Because they can get away with it.
    Not really, it does a lot of stuff and is pretty complex in design, UI and various algorithms.

    Don't forget it's not just the product you're buying, but techincal support, research into algorithms, etc.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by swgh View Post
    If you dont use Dev-C++ or code::blocks as your IDE
    Of course there are a lot (and I mean a lot) of other options. I use EditPlus and command line gcc and I only paid $35 for the EditPlus license. I could have gotten a free text editor but I like EditPlus enough to pay for it.

    Getting into programming is not an expensive endeavour.

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    Quote Originally Posted by medievalelks View Post
    One man's overpriced is another man's bargain. It's all relative. They sell it for a price that the market will bear.
    Quote Originally Posted by zacs7 View Post
    > Yes, but as other things, some software are overpriced. Is photoshop overpriced? Definitely. Why is it overpriced? Because they can get away with it.
    Not really, it does a lot of stuff and is pretty complex in design, UI and various algorithms.

    Don't forget it's not just the product you're buying, but techincal support, research into algorithms, etc.
    Yes, but if Adobe was a small company with a product that was competeting with another similar product from a bigger company, they couldn't charge such high prices.
    The bigger they become, the higher they can raise the price. If there are no alternatives, they can get away with it because companies are dependant upon the software.

    And don't forget - you can get a similar product for a tenth of the price (Paint Shop Pro).
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.

  13. #13
    Dr Dipshi++ mike_g's Avatar
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    I think MS has the right idea in that they aim to charge people for the IDE that use it for proffesionally, as these people are making money from using it and generally have the means to pay for it. I got VS pro for free as I'm a student, and the express edition can still do most of the stuff novices want anyway. If you dont like it than just don't use it; switch to free/opensource software instead.

    Photoshop again is very expensive, but again its targeted at professionals. I think adobe are quite aware that people w/o the means to pay for it don't, but at the end of the day if they use a pirated copy then there is a chance they will get a legit copy at some point whch is more beneficial to them than if the priates were to use another product instead.

  14. #14
    Woof, woof! zacs7's Avatar
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    > And don't forget - you can get a similar product for a tenth of the price (Paint Shop Pro).
    Not really in the same class, different target audience also.

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    Perhaps. But functionality is quite much the same. They both have very similar features.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.

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