All rock modules are now open source (MIT)

[bernhard]

As some of you might know from my monthly newsletter I have been struggling with how to proceed with my commercial modules. It's a long story, but last year I reached a point were something had to change. The main problem is that building and selling modules for ProcessWire has never been sustainable for me. Not even close. It has been a lot of work to build the shop. It has been a lot of work to provide proper docs. It has been a lot of work to create videos about the modules so that interested people can get an idea of my modules.

That's fine. I knew it would probably not be easy. But I wanted to try 🙂 You never know if you don't try. And I've had hope that it is possible. Unfortunately I don't have this hope any more and that's why I have to draw a line under it.

That's also fine. I've learned a lot and I'm really thankful for anybody that has sent some Euros to a stranger that they have never met in person and that excludes any refund 😄 

So for me the decision was taken. It took me quite some time to get there, but here we are. There was just one problem left: My clients. They have put trust in me and I didn't want to disappoint them. Just drawing a line might be a good solution for myself but might be a terrible solution for them (and their clients as well). Just not providing updates and keeping selling them is also not my style. With open sourcing my modules I try to find the best solution for everybody involved and I want to especially thank @FireWire for helping me get there 🙂 

What does that mean?

I'm using my modules in many of my own projects, which means that I will likely keep them alive for some time. On the other hand I don't plan to develop a lot of websites any more and many modules are somewhat feature complete as @FireWire helped me to realise, so there are no bigger updates planned for any of my modules at this time. Also, none of my modules is tested with the new admin theme. If you want to help out on that front, I'll be happily merging PRs, but as I'm not using it myself I'm not going to fix any issues or adding support for it in my spare time.

So if you want to keep using my modules: Go ahead and have fun! 🙂 If you find the modules helpful it's always nice to let me know.

Hope this is a good solution for everyone! Thx for reading and all the best.

[Stefanowitsch]

Thank you very much  @bernhard! I respect and appreciate your decision. I was always a fan and user of your modules and I will be happy if the module-legacy will live on here and there.

[eelkenet]

Thank you for all of that @bernhard! Quick question, I noticed the Download button of your RockPDF module goes to a 404 on Github: https://github.com/baumrock/RockPdf
There is of course the old open source version but that has been archived and points back to the one on your site. 

Thanks!

[cwsoft]

Dear Bernhard,

unfortunatelly my fear about your future activity became true with your post today. Have realized that you almost dissapeared here in the forums after the initial release of the new admin theme and some of the debates assosicated with it. I‘ve always enjoyed your ideas and help here. I wish you all the best for your future both private and for whatever business you plan next.

Best regards

Edited Thursday at 06:13 PM by cwsoft

[bernhard]

9 hours ago, eelkenet said:

Thank you for all of that @bernhard! Quick question, I noticed the Download button of your RockPDF module goes to a 404 on

Thx! seems I forgot this one. Will fix this after my vacation 😊

Thx @cwsoft still here just not as active as before. It has always been a dream to push things forward and spend even more time with PW and provide top notch quality and support. but I realised I'm on very thin ice. Also I was really really busy with my startup which we launched last October 😊 thx for your wishes! Greatly appreciated (and needed 😅)

[maximus]

Thank you @bernhard for sharing your modules and for your open source contribution to the ProcessWire community!

When I was developing modules, I initially thought of each one as a potential source of income. But over time I realized that the real value lies in something greater than money — the support from users, their questions, the connections made, and the ability to contribute to this amazing community. That's what makes it truly worthwhile.

Your decision to open source your modules is inspiring and will benefit many developers. Wishing you all the best! 🙏

[psy]

Thank you @bernhard for all the help and support you've given PW devs, including me, over the years. I did notice drop off in your forum posts recently and wondered what was going on. Appreciate you sharing your thoughts and decisions. Wish you well in your new ventures and hope this isn't the end of your PW connection.

[Ivan Gretsky]

Good day, @bernhard!

First of all, I have to thank you for being who you are. A lone talented enthusiast trying to build a sustainable living on top of our beloved CMS. But not just making sites like the rest of us. But creating your little module-selling empire))) Taking on every hard problem ever put in front of a PW developer and solving it in no time. You have leaded the way for us for some many years. Everyone here has been following you in one way or another. And thus I feel sad about you taking this decision.

Yet in the same time I can imagine the freedom you should feel after it. I really wish you good luck in any place your future journey will take you! I sounds like I am saying goodbye to someone leaving, but I am not. I am just saying that every end is the new beginning.

What else I would love to invite you into doing is to analyze why this path of yours (creating a bunch of super cool module) didn't lead you to the place expected. Recently @kongondo, the only other prominent paid module creator I can remember, has done the same exit as you. Why is this? This question is of interest to me because I have many times thought about how I myself could build my income upon what I love and know - ProcessWire.

Could it be, that PW is so much a DIY kind of thing, that most of us want to build something of our own and are not ready to subdue to modules authors' way of doing things (other than @ryan himself)? Or does everyone here enjoys opensource so much that proprietary is something to avoid? Or is it just simply not enough of target audience?