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Survey Results

For how long should you provide basic support for your software?

Survey period: 21 Mar 2016 to 28 Mar 2016

Basic Support meaning security patches and assurance your app will continue to run on the platforms / OS it originally targeted. Support time for version N starts when version N+1 is released.

Q1. Consumer applications

OptionVotes% 
Up to 2 years30347.34
Up to 5 years19730.78
Up to 7 years507.81
Over 7 years9014.06

Q2. Business and office productivity applications

OptionVotes% 
Up to 2 years16225.31
Up to 5 year23636.88
Up to 7 years12018.75
Over 7 years12219.06

Q3. Critical Applications (Medical, engineering etc)

OptionVotes% 
Up to 2 years7812.19
Up to 5 years11317.66
Up to 7 years8613.44
Over 7 years36356.72



 
GeneralPlease fix the poll Pin
regerteast27-Mar-16 5:15
regerteast27-Mar-16 5:15 
GeneralIf it continues to make money, support it for the time period that it makes money for. Pin
R. Erasmus22-Mar-16 21:02
R. Erasmus22-Mar-16 21:02 
GeneralRe: If it continues to make money, support it for the time period that it makes money for. Pin
Rajeev Jayaram23-Mar-16 3:23
Rajeev Jayaram23-Mar-16 3:23 
GeneralRe: If it continues to make money, support it for the time period that it makes money for. Pin
AnvilRanger23-Mar-16 6:47
AnvilRanger23-Mar-16 6:47 
GeneralRe: If it continues to make money, support it for the time period that it makes money for. Pin
Jeremy Falcon23-Mar-16 12:46
professionalJeremy Falcon23-Mar-16 12:46 
GeneralRe: If it continues to make money, support it for the time period that it makes money for. Pin
AnvilRanger24-Mar-16 3:58
AnvilRanger24-Mar-16 3:58 
GeneralRe: If it continues to make money, support it for the time period that it makes money for. Pin
Jeremy Falcon24-Mar-16 7:13
professionalJeremy Falcon24-Mar-16 7:13 
Generalif you no longer going to support it, and it no longer makes money, make it open source Pin
R. Erasmus22-Mar-16 21:00
R. Erasmus22-Mar-16 21:00 
GeneralRe: 2 years and then make the app open source Pin
Nitin Singh India23-Mar-16 20:23
Nitin Singh India23-Mar-16 20:23 
GeneralActually, the OS provider should ensure they don't screw up my app when making updates. Pin
R. Erasmus22-Mar-16 20:58
R. Erasmus22-Mar-16 20:58 
GeneralMost Critical Applications actually include a very support period (1-3 years) Pin
Ryan Scott White22-Mar-16 18:08
professionalRyan Scott White22-Mar-16 18:08 
GeneralMS-DOS Pin
_WinBase_22-Mar-16 6:30
_WinBase_22-Mar-16 6:30 
It was only 2 years ago when my last MS-DOS customer 'retired' their PC through terminal ill health, having run one of my apps on it since 1995. they paid a support contract all that time and rarely called me, and after many years of trying to get them to upgrade was always met with the same 'its still working, I don't need to' answer. the floppy drive was shot, no usb drive obviously, no internet, and they never did a backup lol. this was a time and attendance application to pay staff wages so not just a noddy program, and I didn't want to force upgrading on such a happy long standing customer that I hadnt had to do a lot for in 20 years so just went along with it lol

GeneralRe: MS-DOS Pin
MarkTJohnson22-Mar-16 9:39
professionalMarkTJohnson22-Mar-16 9:39 
GeneralRe: MS-DOS Pin
_WinBase_22-Mar-16 23:26
_WinBase_22-Mar-16 23:26 
GeneralRe: MS-DOS Pin
darkliahos23-Mar-16 2:40
darkliahos23-Mar-16 2:40 
GeneralHow about none? Pin
kmoorevs22-Mar-16 2:57
kmoorevs22-Mar-16 2:57 
GeneralManagement... Pin
Nathan Minier22-Mar-16 1:34
professionalNathan Minier22-Mar-16 1:34 
Generalwhatever makes the most $$ Pin
Dennis E White21-Mar-16 7:00
professionalDennis E White21-Mar-16 7:00 
GeneralRe: whatever makes the most $$ Pin
Jeremy Falcon23-Mar-16 12:47
professionalJeremy Falcon23-Mar-16 12:47 
GeneralRe: whatever makes the most $$ Pin
Dennis E White23-Mar-16 13:27
professionalDennis E White23-Mar-16 13:27 
GeneralRe: whatever makes the most $$ Pin
Jeremy Falcon23-Mar-16 13:29
professionalJeremy Falcon23-Mar-16 13:29 
GeneralIt depends if upgrade is free or not... Pin
Philippe Mori21-Mar-16 6:42
Philippe Mori21-Mar-16 6:42 
GeneralJust looked in a hat... Pin
musefan21-Mar-16 3:38
musefan21-Mar-16 3:38 
GeneralAll the way to the gallows Pin
Dan Neely21-Mar-16 2:56
Dan Neely21-Mar-16 2:56 
GeneralWithout smooth support every product is doomed for scrap Pin
KarstenK21-Mar-16 2:19
mveKarstenK21-Mar-16 2:19 

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