WebStorm Licensing is a joke!

When I purchased my license of WebStorm, part of the agreement stated that any major upgrades that were released within a year, would bump my license up for the new version. Here we are 364 days later (literally 1 day before my license is up) and WebStorm 3 is out. After a call to sales, I was told that yes my license is eligible for the MAJOR version, Webstorm 3. HOWEVER, if/when Webstorm 3.1 is released, my license is NOT valid for that version!

I'm sorry but, bug fixes with some small enhancements in a point release SHOULD NOT invalidate my license for the major version of webstorm 3. I was told I have to have an ACTIVE subscription. Funny how a license transformed into a subscription. FAIL. I love WebStorm, but the false claims by JetBrains just forced me to use a different editor/ide.


TL;DR: If a new version of WS is released within the first year, you aren't really eligible for an upgrade to that version.

Just FYI for those that may have had the same perception that I did about JetBrain products and how their SUBSCRIPTIONS work.

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A year is a year, 3.1 != 3.0 and besides, you can always use the EAP.

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I don't know where your problem is. You can use the version you have bought and updated for one year forever - this is your license. If you need another update after the year is over, you have to renew the update subscription.

Thomas

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My problem is simple. The original license said if any versions are released, that the license would then apply to that. WS3 is a version. WS 3.1 is a POINT RELEASE, with bug fixes and MINOR enhancements. What is the point of having WS3 at release (with various issues) only to have them fixed but not be eligible to download those fixes? It's a scam, period. They should clarify their license instead of trying to hook you in and lying.

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Actually I had similar understanding too and that came from one post here. If a person is eligible to receive a major version, he/she would be eligible to receive minor versions as well (this is what I read in that post). Saying that an active license is required doesn't make sense here since person with active license is eligible to receive all updates (major or minor) during the licensing period.

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Precisely my thinking and the reason for this post.

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I don't know what your "original license" says. But this is what i have read when i bought a license and what is written on the website at the moment:

"PhpStorm license is permanent and includes one year of free product upgrades since the purchase date, including even major version upgrades."

I think, that's pretty clearly...

Thomas

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THANK YOU FOR PROVING MY POINT!

"PhpStorm license is permanent and includes one year of free product upgrades since the purchase date, including even major version upgrades."

My license should INCLUDE the MAJOR VERSION upgrade. Hence, 3.1 is a subset of the MAJOR VERSION of WebStorm 3. What more is there to say than that?

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Strange...

You wrote, that you had 1 day left and could upgrade to 3.0 - right? You can use 3.0 as long as you want to. But to upgrade after the year is over, you have to renew. Is this so difficult to understand?

Thomas

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Here is the post by Alexey Gopachenko that I mentioned in my previous post. According to it, one who is eligible to receive version 3 should be eligible to receive 3.0.1



Jun 29, 2011 10:25 AM in response to:                                     michael ussher


Re: "Thank you for evaluating PhpStorm, your licence expires in 2 days"

Everyting is correct.

"PhpStorm license is permanent and includes one year of free product upgrades since the purchase date, including even major version upgrades."

The  bugfix updates (the ones with 3 numbers i.e. 2.0.1, 2.1.1) are always  free for users eligible for the corresponding major builds.

==if you were eligible  at the moment of 2.0 release and now expired you getting all 2.x.x updates but not 3.0+

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You can be a pawn of JetBrains all you want...but when a MAJOR version is released BEFORE my license is up, then I should have access to that Major Version and its point releases PERMANENTLY like the license says. I shouldn't have to renew a A SUBSCRIPTION for a license that is supposed to be PERMANENT.

If you can't understand that, there's no reason to respond to you. If you are willing to accept a subscription model for a permanent license...move on. I am NOT.

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So it seems their MAJOR versions are 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, etc. To me that should be clarified in their license. Version 3 is version 3...whether you have a .1 or .2 on it or not.

Either way, hopefully this clears up for many...because right now myself and 2 fellow developers are moving on.

Thanks for sharing that.

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... if you THINK that minor versions SHOULD be included, that's your fault. A year is a year and has mostly 365 days.

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Please look at my post below. I believe it shows mine and Cory's arguments to be valid.

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ehm, as far as i can see, Cory wrote about 3.1 - and not 3.0.1...

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Yes and he mentioned that. But he also mentioned one thing clearly - those minor versions with bugfixes etc should be available to those using previous major version. I think this make sense.

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You are right, I did write about 3.1 and not 3.0.1. But this is where the confusion comes from on the licensing. They just say MAJOR version. How is WS 3 or WS 4 or WS 5 NOT a MAJOR version. Instead it appears that WS 3, WS 4, WS 5 is a SUPER DUPER MAJOR version and WS 3.x, WS 4.x and WS 5.x are only MAJOR versions.

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*rolls eyes*

A year is a year. This is a farily standard subscription based license. Either stick with 3.0 or Netbeans is that way. By the way, the new Netbeans, 7.1 is giving PHPStorm a run for it's money. Some very nice features PHPStorm doesn't have. Yet.

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A year is a year...except when the license is permanent.

*rollseyes*

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I think Alexey's post that I mentioned clearly says something else when it comes to minor updates. But he should have mentioned one with v2.0 should receive 2.x.x but not 2.x (instead he mentioned 3.0+).

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When I purchased a license to PhpStorm my understanding was that the license did not expire which meant to me I would have full use of the software forever and free updates which include the major versions and minor dot releases for one year.  After that I would have to renew the subscription to get further updates but whatever version I had upto that point would just work as usual.  My understanding is that this is same license for all their products but maybe webstorm says something different to that, I haven't read that license myself.

During the first year I get updates, after that I have to renew the subscription to get further updates whether they are dot releases or major versions. I looked at the renewal prices and discovered there is a discount for renewing and further reading I discovered that if I don't update after a certain period of time I would have to purchase a full version license as the renewal price would not apply.   I am fine with that, as long as whatever version I have at the time continues to work and is not shut off.  I will probably renew my license unless whatever development has been done to that date fits my needs and I don't need or want whatever new features they may add after my subscription lapses.

I am not sure why there is confusion about the license being subscription for 1 year at a time to get updates no matter what version they are.  Most software you have to pay for major release upgrades and I was pleasanly surprised to read the major releases where also included in the subscription period.  That's how I read it, I think maybe some wishful thinking was going on about updates beyond one year.  The perpetual license to me means whether you renew after the year is up or not the software will continue to function but if you want updates you have to purchase the renewal.

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In that thread linked to he said this...   "if you were eligible  at the moment of 2.0 release and now expired you getting all 2.x.x updates but not 3.0+"

At the time of that thread I don't think 3 was out yet.  So whatever major release you are in at the time of your subscription expiration then you get all dot release upto but not inluding the next major version.
so I guess in my case I get all 3.X.X versions upto 4 assuming 4 is not out by time  of my subscription expiration.  That sounds better deal than I thought then, I thought all updates ceased at subscription expiration.

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I emailed JetBrains team with reference to the comment by Alexey. I got a reply today. It said I am entitled to receiving bug-fix releases (x.x.x format) but not minor release (one with x.y version)

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No, paying $399 for Dreamweaver is a joke, with a $150 (if your lucky) upgrade cost as the punchline. You on the other had are feeling entitled and that's a completely different thing.


Be excited that they managed to release the 3.0 version during your licencing period. A lot of people don't get so lucky! Be happy that any bug fixes they make during the 3.0.x are yours to use. Be super excited that the cost to purchase a starting licence of WebStorm and then another 9.5 years of subscriptions equals the cost of a single copy of the aforementioned Dreamweaver at $399, and that's only if you manage to pay full price for all those updates of WebStorm.


If you really LOVE WebStorm like you say, then forgo 7 latte's this month and buy another years subscription and be thankful that's all it costs to keep a running licence on the best web IDE $34 a year can buy! Otherwise, there are a lot of free IDE's out there that might be in your price range.

O.

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Damn, where is the +1 button in your post?!?

Thomas

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agreed.  Price for a year's subscription is more than reasonable, and there always seams to be a sale just before an integer release.

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