It was November 5th 2012 when I published the first changes to the original QLC sources.
Truth is that I started to study the code many months before that date. But still, November 5th is the symbolic birthday of the project.
It's been a long road really, but I think exciting times are still ahead, with QLC+ 5.
A curious fact I've came to know recently is that on November 5th 1605, an historic event happened by the name "the gunpowder plot".
Now, while QLC+ is definitely not a plot (!), I kind of see a certain affinity with that event.
QLC+ is a gunpowder ready to blow the lighting industry and the crown of expensive and often quite complex lighting softwares.
Don't get me wrong though. This is not a plan to damage other companies (aka a plot!), but more a matter of freedom.
The freedom to choose which operating system you prefer to run your light shows. Many other softwares don't allow that.
The freedom to try (or adopt!) a software at zero expenses. In case you don't like it, you lose nothing at all.
The freedom to even change something you don't like about your lighting software. If you have the skills, why not.
The freedom of carrying around just a Raspberry Pi, instead of an expensive PC. Plug it, and in 20 seconds start doing lighting.
The freedom to build your own project or even product with QLC+. Customize whatever the heck you want and use whatever I/O protocol you prefer.
Over the years, many people asked me: how can you carry on a project like that without getting paid for it ? You should sell it.
I always reply: if QLC+ would cost even €1, I would lose half of the users.
And I believe, again, this is all a matter of freedom.
So, the software must stay free and open source. But what about me personally then ?
Since 6 years, I am divided between a life as a paid employed developer and a life made of weekends and nights spent on QLC+.
However, the question that is haunting me since one year or so is: I really like to work on QLC+, how can I work full time on it ?
And this is a question only you, QLC+ users, can answer.
The benefits of me working full time on QLC+ would be a few.
The development speed would increase.
I could publish more video tutorials and more frequent updates.
I could set up so called (paid) professional services like designing light shows for you or adding features on request.
And probably other things I can't think about right now.
In this modern-always-online world there are several ways to achieve a sustainable income. One, for example, is Patreon.
Would you guys be willing to sustain me with a few bucks each month and allow me to work full time on QLC+ ?
If so, how much would you be willing to pay each month ?
Please let me know what you think or if you have ideas to suggest I haven't been thinking of so far.
... what I can do and try to do is implement qlc + in all the companies I work and clubs and suggest that you make a donation for using this software. ...
) is that it is free.