Getting value from 30 years of Access development. (1 Viewer)

[Royce]

Over the past 30 years I have collected 400+ objects, and over 30,000 lines of access VBA code that I call my "standard code". I've also written some Access Addins that I use in my development work. Some are very simple, one is pretty complex (I use it to export database code and objects for code reviews, and importing into other databases.) I also have a tool that allows me to select a set of features and then create a new database in one click with those features. I also have a set of MS SQL Server functions and procedures that I reuse.

In a few more years I will be retiring. I'd like to be able to make a little income off the code and tools, but have not been able to come up with an approach that seems reasonable.

Any suggestions?

 

[tvanstiphout]

My suggestion would be to think about this some more, before you spend a lot of time and money without the ROI.

I think most professional developers have such library, some better organized than others. I doubt they are your customers.

So you'll have to find customers among the up-and-coming. With that small cohort one potential problem is that they may not yet see the value of your code. Your library probably also imposes a certain way of thinking, starting with the naming convention, that could be an impediment. Add to that the fact that lots of code is already available for free online, and developers also more and more turn to AI to write at least the skeleton of code for them.
Lastly, I see the issue of how to reach your audience. Putting up a website with a Pay button is likely not enough.

 

[Royce]

My suggestion would be to think about this some more, before you spend a lot of time and money without the ROI.

I think most professional developers have such library, some better organized than others. I doubt they are your customers.

So you'll have to find customers among the up-and-coming. With that small cohort one potential problem is that they may not yet see the value of your code. Your library probably also imposes a certain way of thinking, starting with the naming convention, that could be an impediment. Add to that the fact that lots of code is already available for free online, and developers also more and more turn to AI to write at least the skeleton of code for them.
Lastly, I see the issue of how to reach your audience. Putting up a website with a Pay button is likely not enough.

Thanks for your comments. They express a lot of the concerns that made me decide to post here and see if I could get any creative ideas. (This is still the best Access forum that I know of.)

Thirty years ago a web site with a pay button is what others did. From what I can tell, only a few made enough for it to be worth the effort. Now, less so. As to the up-and-coming, do they even exist anymore? Adventure Works has code that works. But I would never use it out of the box. And the AI VBA code I've seen at first glance looks good, but every example has been buggy, or so simplistic as to be worthless. I've come across a lot of "beginner' databases, but the good ones were usually started 10 or 20 years ago, and are still around because someone knew what they were doing. I have had to update and modernize my code many times over the years.

I'm not sure it is possible to make a living as an "Access Developer" any more." I get most of my work because I can work with SQL Server, My SQL, talk to REST API's, and manipulate OFFICE Objects like Word, Powerpoint and Excel. I've also worked with C#, C++, and other languages so I recognize at least some of the limitations, and strengths of Access.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

see if I could get any creative ideas

you might find this post interesting :-

Youtube Channel by Karl Donaubauer

In addition to several members who have YouTube channels (@isladogs ,@Uncle Gizmo,@sonic8 ,@strive4peace), all of which I have learned MUCH from - Access Powerhouse and MVP Karl Donaubauer has joined the fray with his own. I came across this bit of news on my morning rounds and hope you all find...

www.access-programmers.co.uk

 

[Royce]

you might find this post interesting :-

Youtube Channel by Karl Donaubauer

In addition to several members who have YouTube channels (@isladogs ,@Uncle Gizmo,@sonic8 ,@strive4peace), all of which I have learned MUCH from - Access Powerhouse and MVP Karl Donaubauer has joined the fray with his own. I came across this bit of news on my morning rounds and hope you all find...

www.access-programmers.co.uk

Thanks, It was interesting, and the info on how google has changed is very helpful. Unfortunately, I think I have a good quality steak but no "sizzle" to sell it. Can't even write a book anymore. Killed by AI, Google, StackOverflow, etc.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

and the info on how google has changed is very helpful

It appears its changed again! I follow the Electric Viking, and I thought he'd shutdown, as Google stopped notifications from him ,...

He explains it very well:-

 

[Pat Hartman]

(This is still the best Access forum that I know of.)

Too bad MS didn't think so. They went with the pervert instead

Access people are notoriously cheap. I've never figured out why. Maybe it's developers in general but I was always willing to pay for useful books. I used to spend hours in Borders skimming books at least every couple of weeks - they had the absolute BEST technical section of ANY other bookstore. If I found at least one answer and/or a good suggestion, I paid my money for the book because of the time the advice was going to save me and if you'll remember, they were very expensive. But I wanted to encourage the authors to keep producing good work. I sort of understand "cheap" when the books were $50 a pop and you are a hobbyist but I could get most of my employers to buy useful utilities and books that the team would share. I didn't even need much of a hard sell. Time is money and if the tools and books saved me time, the books/utilities were money well spent and that should be your attitude too. Have you supported other authors? Some of the tools on the websites you mentioned are very cheap and often they're unlocked so you can learn from their construction? When I come across something I like I donate even if I'm not actually going to use the tool but because it gave me some idea to help with a project. If you spend $10 per day at Starbucks, try dropping a few bucks around on websites you like. What goes around, comes around