Module Development

[Lawrence]

A workaround,

http://www.virtpanel.com/documentation/docs-hostbill-module/

What would HostBill say to third party developers that developed their own modules? What rights would HostBill have to tell Virtpanel to STOP distributing THEIR OWN module for THEIR OWN software?

In addition, is 100-300 lines of code really worth $200 when it comes out to $2,000-$100,000 per line of code by KBKP (After X number of purchases)? Virtpanel distributes this for free, yet HostBill sells theirs for $200.

VirtPanel tells us, and I quote...

DELETE the old module from your system: includes/modules/Hosting/virtpanel

So here's the dilemma,

1. HostBill sells it for $200.
2. VirtPanel gives theirs away for free.

Does that mean VirtPanel is taking money away from HostBill? Think about it. I think HostBill can't restrict third party development.

HostBill would not have ANY sales if it weren't for all these great vendors.

Just some food for thought.

[tallship]

This is how the model should work, or at least something similar to this. Either delete the old module and replace the kbkp one in its place.


The problem with this, however (Putting it in the same exact place that a kbkp module was), is that with the next weekly update, won't your new module be overwritten by the one included in the kbkp archive?


I've seen bug reports that the exclude feature doesn't work reliably within HostBill. I don't know if that is still a concern with the autoupdate module or not.


Moreover, the autoupdate doesn't work either, from what I've seen, unless you installed HostBill *under* cPanel in the first place (I think that's how the people whose autoupdate module actually works have installed it).


I've installed HostBill from scratch almost a dozen times back when I was testing, and the autoupdate never ever worked for me, except when I installed it on a cPanel hosted website - why someone would want to do that I don't know either.


Following the instructions to a "T", and having other HostBill owners confirm that ALL of my perms are indeed correct, still results in an autoupdate that doesn't work - not to mention a bogus error message that says it couldn't extract the new archive in the location it downloaded it, because when you look, the archive doesn't even exist at that location and when you observe with Ethereal/Wireshark, the archive isn't even actually downloaded!


I think you would have to chattr on the third party module, or mv the dir temporarily, then unzip the new hostbill archive, remove the kbkp directory tree for that module, and then move it back? Just thinking out loud.

[tallship]

Another point.


Shouldn't virtpanel be invited to join the forums here to support their products? And shouldn't this module be listed in the third party modules development board or the new library of software located at http://apps.hostbillforums.com that doesn't yet exist?

[VirtPanel]

Hello,

We were asked by many of our clients to develop a module for HostBill so we did, we don't feel we should charge for a module when they are already paying license fee's.

I have also taken a look at hostbill's website, looks like they don't sell a VirtPanel Module anymore unless ive missed it, but i think they are just trying to make as much money as possible if they charge such ridiculous amounts of money just for a module.

Regards,
Adam