When I first started this business I was looking for a simple solution how to add license code management into my app along with a payment gateway integration. And Paddle was the answer as it provided both in a simple drag & drop solution – just add their SDK into your app, add a few lines of code and boom. It’s working. At least it was.
Given my growing dissatisfaction with Paddle and their services, I’ve decided to leave them, which will need to be done in several steps, the first one being migrating to a new (my own) activation server.
This is not as simple as you may think as there’s a lot of license codes out there that are being used and you can’t just change a URL of the activation server, you need to rework everything.
In the recent weeks, I have written my own activation server from the ground up and written a migration workflow for the license codes. If everything goes well, you shouldn’t even notice this happening. If it doesn’t go well, … it shouldn’t be that hard to fix. I’ve done everything in my power to make this transition as smooth as possible.
There should be just one occasion that will need your interaction – and that is in case you’ve activated the license code using a different email address than what you’ve used for purchasing. In such case you will need to either re-activate using the correct email address or request email address change.
So what is the big advantage of having a custom activation server? There’s several:
– reinstalling the app on the same computer will not take up several activation slots, it will count as one.
– it allows for better license code recovery (this has actually been deployed as a test a few weeks ago)
– it will eventually allow for resetting the license code on your own without the need to contact support
Update: Many thanks to all who tested this and reported any issues that were just minor UI issues that I got immediately fixed. As a result, I’ve moved forward to releasing the updates officially.
Nevertheless – as this is a really really big change, I would like to reach out and offer you betas for the brave users out there willing to try this. The beta testing period will not be long as I plan to release this change by the end of this week or early next week.
Downie: https://software.charliemonroe.net/trial/downie/v4/Downie_4_4915.dmg
Permute: https://software.charliemonroe.net/trial/permute/v3/Permute_3_2797.dmg
Beta Me
I think I am using the same email address for both activating and my account on Paddle. But with Paypal I have another, if that matters (the payment comes from sm4tfe@hotmail.com I believe).
Glad to oblige, Charlie
… presuming one becomes a beta guinea pig by downloading Downie and Permute using the links on this page
Lemme know if otherwise
Activation worked fine. But right after the activation the menu still shows “Activate…” I clicked again and activated again. The I closed and re-opened Downie – now it shows that I’m already activated.
Yeah willing to give it a go in support of a fantastic product
Didn’t work
Please report it via the in-app support dialog. All error messages in the app include a “Get Support” button – please use it as it pre-fills all necessary information in the support dialog.
High just tried the trial Downie and got the problem that you expected. I suspect that I purchased Downie when I was on jeremy.cavanagh@orange.fr, but, left them when I got my starlink internet and moved to Proton mail as starlink didn’t provide anything other than internet access and Orange copper service was worse than crap accompanied by an increasingly hostile client support or more accurately no-support. So what is it that you would like me to do now? Regards Jeremy.
Please report it via the in-app support dialog. All error messages in the app include a “Get Support” button – please use it as it pre-fills all necessary information in the support dialog.
Hi, I would like to be a beta tester, I’m a software engineer myself.
FYI, I had no problems activating Downie and Permute in the new β.
A couple of comments, though:
• The apps didn’t immediately ask me for activation, which might be expected. It launched itself in trial mode and I had to trigger the menu to activate myself. Maybe a Trial Mode warning might have been useful.
• Once activated, there were no signs in the app that the activation had succeeded. It was still mentioning Trial mode and asking me to activate. After quitting and relaunching, though, both apps opened up as activated as expected.
Hi Charlie.
I’m willing to be a Beta tester.
Please see the download links in the blog post.
测试版激活后，提示成功，但是点击左上角的Downie 4，查看激活状态时，任然显示“输入许可证代码”。
My license is activated through a different mail (garfildo@gmail.com) mainly for historical reasons. Having the possibility to shift it to my main mail sounds great. So, enlist me as a beta tester
Best of luck, Mr. Charlie Monroe. hope everything goes according to your plan.
can we from next time have a local currency plan? paying in USD from India gets a bit expensive, As the government will tax certain percentage on the amount spent. the tax will happen only in foreign currency spent not in local currency. Just a request and suggestion.
Thank you for the feedback. I will definitely look into this with the new payment gateway. I hope to switch to it in the next month or so.
Happy to help Charlie. Your software has been so useful, I’ll be happy to be a tester.
All the best, Richard Chiswell
Hi Charlie
I use downie and permute and bought them both outright after finding on setapp as I thought you deserved the funds. You also responsively and knowledgeably helped when I had an issue so I’d like to give back. I don’t know if it helps and fits the case you described but my paypal email is different to my normal email.
just let me know
Kind regards
Chris
I would be happy to test your products
Hello, I can try testing the new activation method. Thanks, Matt
I downloaded the downie beta, installed it and woke it up and nothing bad happened. My license code was there.
upgrade / installed new version (Downie_4_4915.dmg) on host (run Downie regularly on three, will try others later tonight). The new version just worked and was automatically registered when I launched it.
Worked for me.
I have downloaded both Downie 4.2 and Permute 3.2. Both were installed without any problems (after I purchased the Permute license). If I have any concerns or problems I will definitely let you know. Thanks especially for Downie as I use it almost daily.
So Charlie, I own a license to Downie and to Permute. Do you want beta testers to completely uninstall both programs first, and then install both betas? Or do these betas do all the replacing for your new licensing you want done? Just let me know specifics and I’ll test for you. M1 Mac Ultra Studio, newest OS 15.3.1 ..gary in austin, tx
Sorry for not including more information – got fever yesterday and it’s all been a bit hectic. Not necessary anymore, as I’m releasing official updates shortly, but thank you!
Activation worked for me. No Issues
So all you want us to try is to download these and copy them to the application folder over the existing ones, launch them, and ensure the app is still registered? Did that all good….
Excited and would love to help you guys out.
Done. From one product owner to another, thanks for making such amazing software!
Hi, I will try it out. I thought the links on this page were the installs, but they don’t seem to be. I’m guessing that you will send the links out?
TJ Longacre
They are download links, they work just fine. But I’m releasing official updates in a few hours.
Installed, added license and was instantly activated. Tested downloading and worked perfect.
Tried the beta and my license appears to have migrated correctly. At least it is being found correctly.
Charlie,
I am incredibly thankful for your software – it is such a key part of all the things I do on computers, and while I can yt-dlp, your software is simply one of the best Mac-assed Mac apps (https://daringfireball.net/linked/2020/03/20/mac-assed-mac-apps) i’ve ever used
Thank you so much for all you do
Downie Version 4.9.8 (build 4915) works seamless well and grabs my licence without any trouble. Just download and install and use it as Version 4.9.7 (build 4907.