Comment Feed for Shareware Starter Kit Demo (jeffsand on Channel 9)

Re: Shareware Starter Kit Demo

William Stacey — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 00:52:29 GMT

"I think they did this about 5 years too late though. And I don't think it's better late than never. Windows is saturated in the client space, and UI updates for Longhorn I fear are not going to help generate revenue for small software titles. I fear that this application, while an excellent idea, is coming too little too late."

Huh? As long as their is Windows, there will be new and updated shareware titles. Just have a look at shareware.com and webattack.com. No slow down I see. I think it is a great idea. In fact, so good, I did the same thing and can toss it now that MS is doing it for free. O well. :-)

Re: Shareware Starter Kit Demo

William Stacey — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 00:47:53 GMT

"Here are the brief steps for generating and verifying a license. " Cool. I thought the CPU serial was not very reliable as sometimes it is empty or something on Intel chips. Also, I think WMI is bone slow, so maybe a pinvoke would be better (maybe not). Thanks for the reply. Cheers.

Re: Shareware Starter Kit Demo

briant — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 20:28:54 GMT

Here are the brief steps for generating and verifying a license.

Step 1: The requested license level, product name, and specific machine attribute are hashed together and sent to the license web service.
Step 2: The server verifies that the license request is valid and the client has paid.
Step 3: The server uses RSA to sign the client hash with the server private key.
Step 4: The server returns the signed key to the client.
Step 5: The client validates the license key with the server public key.

Re: Shareware Starter Kit Demo

briant — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 20:22:48 GMT

I registered Sharewarestarterkit.com as we have plans to host the web service and database for developers. There will be a web interace allowing you so see registrations, error reports, license activations, etc. It's currently under development and should be ready in a beta state within a few weeks.

Re: Shareware Starter Kit Demo

briant — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 20:21:16 GMT

This kit does keep track of each successful activation of a product. When the app using the license and activation functionality of the SSK is run for the first time it hits the licensing web service to see if the particular machine has been activated before. If it has then the license is sent back to the client. If not then the client is put in "trial" or shareware mode. A customizable WMI query is used to get hardware specific infomration to uniquly identify client machines. By default the #1 processor serial number is used.

Re: Shareware Starter Kit Demo

Michael Lehman — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 19:15:28 GMT

1. At this point we don't plan support for the Express editions as the kit as it requires features that are only present in the Standard Edition and above.

2. Yes, The kit will remain free.

3. Regarding lost keys, I'm not sure but I will find out.

Re: Shareware Starter Kit Demo

Michael Lehman — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 19:12:45 GMT

No, I'm not "the" new 9Teamer but C9 is part of the group in which I work.

Thank you for your nice comments about the podcast.

I write out a script before I record my podcasts...saves you a lot of ums and uhs... :)

The next podcast will be up later this week.

Re: Shareware Starter Kit Demo

Michael Lehman — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 19:10:53 GMT

Yes, he was tired after helping me get the starter kit ready for launch.

:D

Re: Shareware Starter Kit Demo

William Stacey — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 16:07:06 GMT

Cool. Does the product Key registration use some kind of PKI to verify the key and machine hash is valid for machine on each startup of the app. Or how is the license done/verified/etc. Also, could C9 host the server part and use paypal and CC processing? TIA

Re: Shareware Starter Kit Demo

dahat — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 16:05:59 GMT

sharewarestarterkit.com eh? Has Microsoft secured that domain name yet? I ask because Network Solutions lists it registered to a Brian Trautman of Personify Design and having been registered back in December.

Re: Shareware Starter Kit Demo

Chris Pietschmann — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 13:13:39 GMT

Beer28 wrote:
hmmmmmm....

I bet the web side will be recoded with php/mysql (LAMP) about 10 minutes after the release considering what most webservers run.

I can understand making it work with mySQL, but why rewrite it in php? If you have a Linux web server, then just run it on Mono!

Re: Shareware Starter Kit Demo

TomasDeml — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 08:35:15 GMT

Beer28 wrote:
hmmmmmm....

I bet the web side will be recoded with php/mysql (LAMP) about 10 minutes after the release considering what most webservers run.

Hijacker, hijacker! :)

So you think this kit is worth trying? You, the Linux Guru? ;)

Re: Shareware Starter Kit Demo

Manip — Sun, 12 Jun 2005 01:50:21 GMT

Yes, sleeping without a head uhh now go to sleep kiddies. ;)

Re: Shareware Starter Kit Demo

dotnetjunkie — Sun, 12 Jun 2005 01:43:20 GMT

There's a Nine Guy lying dead in the background :o :o :o

(or is he just sleeping? ;))

Re: Shareware Starter Kit Demo

Loadsgood — Sun, 12 Jun 2005 00:00:20 GMT

Hmmmmm... Would this "Michael Lehman - Channel9 Podcaster" Happen to be the second new 9Teamer? If not, put him on anyway :) I don't know who wrote the script for the first podcast, but it was really cool. The way he spoke made it that much better.

I want C# Express Support! (Ignore the other Express products ;))
Loadsgood.

Re: Shareware Starter Kit Demo

Manip — Sat, 11 Jun 2005 22:43:14 GMT

Can we expect support to be added for the Express editions (as that is what most shareware devs will be using anyway)?

And is this kit going to remain free?

Does the kit automate retrieving lost activation keys (re-activation)?

Edit: You tricked my into posting in the PDC05 Forums! Now I am dirty... ... .. SoOOO very dirty.. :'(