08-30-2021, 10:47 PM
Well I have some bad news for some, at this time I've decided not to go fully open source despite what I just said the other day and before, now I need a hole to jump in. 
This subject is more difficult for me than creating the software and I need more time to think about it, once I release it that way there's no going back and the closer I get the more I think about it.
I wasn't clear on my concern, what I fear is anyone at any time can create a PCB and start a business, basically I'm creating my own competition, anyone with some marketing skills would sink me using my own software, sadly that's one of my weaknesses. It's like Apex saying here's all the code, imagine how many knockoffs there would be and then where would they be. That's why there's 10,000 3D printers, they all use Marlin. I'm very dedicated to this project, even though I don't believe it will ever be the best I'm working towards exactly that. I know I'll be fine for a while as the software is brand new, it's down the road I'm worried about, this is only the beginning.
I'm definitely more comfortable programming than playing with hardware, as an example of what I can do, in Alberta 9 bingo halls are using a serialized inventory / POS program I made for the tickets they sell every event which needs to be reported to the government. It's polished, loaded with advanced features, fully audit proof and approved by Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission. It launched 8 years ago and about 4 years ago the original guy who contracted me sold it to Bingo Alberta who then hired me to add more features. He then sold the program to each hall for big bucks and they pay a yearly license fee to use it.
So my point is I can do good work and overtime I hope to make this controller something great, it's slow right now due to learning curves for certain things and I'm a little slow with this stuff anyways. The problem I have is matching the hardware, as an example I'm not able to create a conductivity circuit for salinity, it's amazing I pulled off the pH circuit but came with a lot of headaches and almost failed, I was very close to taking it off. So for salinity this means $60 extra price tag for customer instead of $5 in parts and expanding my value range, only winner is Atlas instead of you and me. Once the app is polished and proven someone can come along and create all the cool hardware that I can't and there's nothing I can do about it but cry, this is what I worry about. If I had a shelf ready product it would be a different story.
I've always hoped I could make enough money to outsource some hardware projects and have an approved AC power bar and that remains the goal, my only path is software that sticks out and draws people in. Same with images, one day I would love to pay someone to make some cool icons, models, animations etc. I'm very lucky someone made most of the icons I use now, that's why most look good but I could use a lot more.
My plan going forward is a revised controller which is basically ready, hard to believe the current model is already a year and half old. Then I'll run that controller for the same period and my focus will be only on the app. I'm also in talks with R2R to become a sponsor so I can discuss things on the forum and hopefully bring the numbers up. If I can get a little more targeted traffic I think it'll all work out. At one point about 6 months ago Google had me mid 1st page for search term "aquarium controller", with that alone I was selling more than I needed so I know it can happen if I can reach people, sadly I'm on page 2 now and good traffic has dropped quite a bit.
Anyways I'm very sorry for all this, maybe down the road I will reconsider.
This subject is more difficult for me than creating the software and I need more time to think about it, once I release it that way there's no going back and the closer I get the more I think about it.I wasn't clear on my concern, what I fear is anyone at any time can create a PCB and start a business, basically I'm creating my own competition, anyone with some marketing skills would sink me using my own software, sadly that's one of my weaknesses. It's like Apex saying here's all the code, imagine how many knockoffs there would be and then where would they be. That's why there's 10,000 3D printers, they all use Marlin. I'm very dedicated to this project, even though I don't believe it will ever be the best I'm working towards exactly that. I know I'll be fine for a while as the software is brand new, it's down the road I'm worried about, this is only the beginning.
I'm definitely more comfortable programming than playing with hardware, as an example of what I can do, in Alberta 9 bingo halls are using a serialized inventory / POS program I made for the tickets they sell every event which needs to be reported to the government. It's polished, loaded with advanced features, fully audit proof and approved by Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission. It launched 8 years ago and about 4 years ago the original guy who contracted me sold it to Bingo Alberta who then hired me to add more features. He then sold the program to each hall for big bucks and they pay a yearly license fee to use it.
So my point is I can do good work and overtime I hope to make this controller something great, it's slow right now due to learning curves for certain things and I'm a little slow with this stuff anyways. The problem I have is matching the hardware, as an example I'm not able to create a conductivity circuit for salinity, it's amazing I pulled off the pH circuit but came with a lot of headaches and almost failed, I was very close to taking it off. So for salinity this means $60 extra price tag for customer instead of $5 in parts and expanding my value range, only winner is Atlas instead of you and me. Once the app is polished and proven someone can come along and create all the cool hardware that I can't and there's nothing I can do about it but cry, this is what I worry about. If I had a shelf ready product it would be a different story.
I've always hoped I could make enough money to outsource some hardware projects and have an approved AC power bar and that remains the goal, my only path is software that sticks out and draws people in. Same with images, one day I would love to pay someone to make some cool icons, models, animations etc. I'm very lucky someone made most of the icons I use now, that's why most look good but I could use a lot more.
My plan going forward is a revised controller which is basically ready, hard to believe the current model is already a year and half old. Then I'll run that controller for the same period and my focus will be only on the app. I'm also in talks with R2R to become a sponsor so I can discuss things on the forum and hopefully bring the numbers up. If I can get a little more targeted traffic I think it'll all work out. At one point about 6 months ago Google had me mid 1st page for search term "aquarium controller", with that alone I was selling more than I needed so I know it can happen if I can reach people, sadly I'm on page 2 now and good traffic has dropped quite a bit.
Anyways I'm very sorry for all this, maybe down the road I will reconsider.
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