On the philosophical side of things: with the release of Rad Reader I'm trying out a new model of sustainable software production.

This tool has had a lot of thought, time, and care put into it, I would like to continue doing so with this + other projects. Crafting tools is made possible by the food I eat and the shelter I habitate, and I can't pay for either of those with Github stars or toot likes.

So the model I'm trying out with Rad Reader is this:

1. Release the software with a paid price
2. Common the software and its source code once a number of sales has been reached, converting it into free software in perpetuity from that moment on

I don't know how/if it will work out, but I *am* excited to explore new models of making ends meet while also making new software happen :)

@cblgh got me thinking, a slight adjustment to your proposed model might "improve it".

1. Software is released with a paid price, where purchasers receive source code with a permissive personal license that restricts redistribution. Inspectable & customizable by early adopters for their own use.
2. Common the software and its source code once a number of sales has been reached, converting it into free software in perpetuity from that moment on, early adopters can now share their changes.

@deianeira yeah that's true! i was considering this approach as well, but was a bit afraid i think of someone "taking" the novel research i'd down into making this particular way of making an app like this possible. having the soft moat (as @vanderZwan wisely coined) lets me have a "headstart" before that could happen ^^'

depending on itch's mechanisms i'd also be really happy to send a PM to everyone who purchased with the source if it never becomes free software as well :)