Why do apps get abandoned ?

[pcslookout]

Either one iOS or Android ?

 

[HeXen]

Because the developer did all they care to do with it? Maybe they moved on to something else that interests them. All software usually gets abandoned at some point.

 

[pcslookout]

Because the developer did all they care to do with it? Maybe they moved on to something else that interests them. All software usually gets abandoned at some point.

Even paid apps and software gets abandoned at some point?

 

[nerp]

Even paid apps and software gets abandoned at some point?

If it's not making enough revenue to warrant continued development, then yes, it might get abandoned. It's called business. Or a developer might get a wife and kids and not have time to work on an app that nets not much money. The reality is few apps make any large sum of money.

 

[pcslookout]

If it's not making enough revenue to warrant continued development, then yes, it might get abandoned. It's called business. Or a developer might get a wife and kids and not have time to work on an app that nets not much money. The reality is few apps make any large sum of money.

Ok makes sense unless it is a app by a company.

 

[WelshBloke]

Ok makes sense unless it is a app by a company.

I'm not following you.

Theres loads of programs for the PC that have been abandoned by their makers, why should programs on a phone be any different?

 

[JimmiG]

Maintaining an app costs time (in the case of an individual) or money (for companies). At some point it just stops making sense to keep supporting an old product with a dwindling user base. Big companies like Microsoft, Apple, Google, Adobe etc. have abandoned plenty of products over they years.

 

[sweenish]

I'm amazed this was a question that was asked.

 

[gorcorps]

If it's a paid app then at some point they won't be getting enough new users to warrant their time, so they'll make a new version which you have to pay for again so they can get some more money. People don't work for free, it's totally justified

 

[HeXen]

I'm amazed this was a question that was asked.

This should be quoted on most threads here.

 

[destrekor]

I'm amazed this was a question that was asked.

This should be quoted on most threads here.

These.

If it's a paid app then at some point they won't be getting enough new users to warrant their time, so they'll make a new version which you have to pay for again so they can get some more money. People don't work for free, it's totally justified

Doesn't even matter if it's paid. Look at the number of apps or scripts on github or anywhere: people may like to develop whatever, but it may simply be that their priorities change in life and they never get back to it.

I can't count the number of things I've come across over the years that fit perfectly for what I needed, but development ended years before I had found it. Sometimes it still works just fine, but often new patches or new OS versions render it broken. Sometimes other developers who were a big fan of that tool or application will take over if it was something developed openly in some capacity, and I really love when that happens, but it often does not happen.

 

[core2slow]

Anyone know why Ford abandoned the model T? I mean, they make 15 million of them! Why did Ford stop making them?

 

[Zaap]

In context, there is a legit question of why some apps get abandoned when there's still a large user base and the potential for profit, yet updates and bug-fixes etc are in limbo and the developer(s) AWOL.

Otherwise... what's been said.

 

[Exophase]

Ok makes sense unless it is a app by a company.

In which case they get more out of paying people to develop new apps than keep working on the old ones, especially if the original people who did the old ones are all gone.

In some cases it's even possible that developers legitimately start running out of things that seem like realistic development paths in an app.

 

[Deeko]

Time and money. Maybe they invested a lot in getting an app off the ground but it just didn't have the impact they expected - so they back off updates, or stop entirely. Or maybe because they're working on other issues instead that are more pressing. Or if they're an individual doing apps in their spare time, maybe life priorities changed. I'll love to spend more time on my DeekFit apps, but when I wrote them 5-6 years ago, I was single, childless, and rented. Now I am married, have a kid, and own a house. I don't have 20 hours of spare time a week to spend on my side project....so I don't.

What's sad is that we've evolved into this world where someone spends 99 cents on something and then because of that, they expect free support & updates for life. It was a dollar! When you buy a toy at the dollar store do you complain to the manufacturer if they don't give you free accessories for it? Back in the day, you spent $30-$50 on a piece of software and were lucky if you ever got a single update. The things people expect from their software today are ridiculous.

 

[purbeast0]

i have about 10 apps in each app store. i typically support them as long as i feel like it lol. most of them are guides for games, and after i lose interest in the game, i typically won't update them, even though there is new content that is added to the game that i could add to my apps as well. but the descriptions of my apps clearly state what you are getting with it so it's not like i'm tricking people or anything.

i'm working on a major side project right now that i'm hoping most everyone will hear about in the 5-6 months. if that is the case, then i've made it big time!

 

[lxskllr]

What's sad is that we've evolved into this world where someone spends 99 cents on something and then because of that, they expect free support & updates for life. It was a dollar! When you buy a toy at the dollar store do you complain to the manufacturer if they don't give you free accessories for it? Back in the day, you spent $30-$50 on a piece of software and were lucky if you ever got a single update. The things people expect from their software today are ridiculous.

I'm happy with the source code. I don't care what the dev does as long as the sources are provided, and I'd pay for that.

 

[Deeko]

I'm happy with the source code. I don't care what the dev does as long as the sources are provided, and I'd pay for that.

99.99999% of the world does not care about source and would not pay for source so that's not going to solve very many people's problems.

 

[lxskllr]

99.99999% of the world does not care about source and would not pay for source so that's not going to solve very many people's problems.

Having sources would solve most people's problems. People don't want it because they don't know to want it. With the sources, they can pay anyone competent to update the program or add features. They'd have power instead of being impotent.

 

[sweenish]

They can already throw money at this sort of problem. They don't want to.

 

[lxskllr]

They can already throw money at this sort of problem. They don't want to.

How's that? It's a lot more work(money) starting from scratch than it is to update something that almost works. Aside from that, if it's a useful program, it may be picked up by someone else without paying a dime.

 

[HeXen]

There are quite a few abandoned games that I wish were open source. Like Haunted House: Cryptic Graves...it had potential and some initial good artwork, it just needed a lot more work and I think a UE4 engine community could use the assets for other games. Prey 2 and Outcase 2 are a couple of others that were abandoned, I'm sure there's enough assets created to get people started.

 

[Deeko]

Having sources would solve most people's problems. People don't want it because they don't know to want it. With the sources, they can pay anyone competent to update the program or add features. They'd have power instead of being impotent.

The average person kicking and screaming that their app on Google Play was abandoned doesn't want to pay someone else to update the program. They want to say "I already paid my 99 cents! KEEP WORKING, CODE MONKEY!"

 

[sporkster]

I'm certain the reason for that is sometimes the developers did all they could but ran out of ideas, or didn't have time to devote to the app anymore. It takes quite a lot of time and dedication to develop the apps and update it constantly to keep up with the market on google play/app store. Or they might've simply decided they don't want to invest their time on that app anymore.

 

[xaocel]

People don`t make apps for fun anymore, it`s all about money nowadays hence if the app isn`t profitable enough they move on to another app.