BIG announcement, the future of ESP Easy. [READ THIS IF YOU LOVE OUR FW]

Message

grovkillen · #1 Post by **grovkillen** » 07 Sep 2018, 23:01

Hello all friends, fans and fellow developers.

I write this together with my friend and core team member TD-er. We have a lot of big plans to improve and extend ESPeasy, not limited to the firmware itself. But first, let us give an update on the current status.

Me and TD-er started to help out with the project about spring 2017 when psy0rz was still active as the head developer. Early 2018 psy0rz told us that he didn't have the time to pursue any further development of ESP Easy. At that point me and TD-er informally took over the role as the lead developers for the project. Me as the front-end guy and TD-er as the back-end guy.

We have done this for the last year and have invested a lot of hours. And we DO WANT to spend hours on the project, we love every minute of it and we have some great ideas for the future. But development simply takes time. Because we're already out of free time and cutting down on sleeping time, there is only one option left, to cut down on working time.

Last week we also got the "owner rights" to the GitHub repository making us the official owner of the ESP Easy project.
So this is the moment we have to make important decisions, which will have to be discussed with our employers, our family and of-course you, the ESPeasy community.

So here we are. We have plans to start cutting down on time spent on our daytime jobs very soon but we need your help.
Essentially we need funding, if we can get that we will craft this firmware to a gem for IoT projects for years to come, and it will reach a point of simplicity that will make current versions look like Windows 3.11 compared to Windows 10 - very soon. (No jokes around that parable please

you get the point.)

We will launch a new official website that will make use of a new forum engine and easier to maintain wiki sections making it as straight forward as can be to get going with ESP Easy.

We are discussing a lot on ways to remain able to pay the bills and still find more time to work on this project. If you can come up with other brilliant ideas, please share them. Winning the lottery was already offered as an idea, but more realistic ones are more than welcome.

One option of supporting us is through a support platform like Patreon. Via such a platform you decide what our involvement is worth and whether it is a one-time payment or periodical and you can always decide to reduce or increase the amount or simply stop your support at any time.

Do I get a "hallelujah"? If so, head over to our Patreon page right now and be a part of the future.

Thank you for all your support up until now and thank you for your future support.

https://www.patreon.com/GrovkillenTDer

If you prefer to "just" give us a coffee (not monthly, but one time only) you can add your support here: http://ko-fi.com/GrovkillenTDer

budman1758 · #2 Post by **budman1758** » 08 Sep 2018, 07:28

Sounds great!! Hope the help floods in and you guys can keep afloat. You can count me in! I just signed up on the Patreon site.

grovkillen · #3 Post by **grovkillen** » 08 Sep 2018, 07:36

Thanks bud!

Shardan · #4 Post by **Shardan** » 08 Sep 2018, 15:31

Hello Grov,

I'm using a firewall with ipfire ( https://www.ipfire.org ).
They do these things in a way that might be interesting.

On the webpage one can donate - as usual.
On top you may suggest changes / new addons / whatever.
They calculate the development costs and publish them on the page.
Everyone can make a donation to this specific development.

So if I say "I want a full blown DNS system" they publish "DNS system.... xxx €" with a description
and everyone can donate until xxx € is reached.

grovkillen · #5 Post by **grovkillen** » 08 Sep 2018, 15:45

That's also a possibility but let's leave that until we have a proper site. We also might do "pep rally" for new releases etc. We'll have to see. Thanks for the suggestion

mrwee · #6 Post by **mrwee** » 09 Sep 2018, 08:55

I think you guys are doing a fantastic job and it's very clear that the quality of ESP Easy is rapidly increasing by the minute. From my point-of-view it's by far the best overall platform for the ESP8266 series.
I'd gladly support you guys. However I don't need a t-shirt or anything else back, just interested in a one-time-contribution (for now at least

). How can I do that?

grovkillen · #7 Post by **grovkillen** » 09 Sep 2018, 09:04

If you prefer the one time only approach use the Ko-fi link. Thanks for your kind words!

grovkillen · #8 Post by **grovkillen** » 09 Sep 2018, 13:05

A little idea, if we could get 4000 people to sign up for the $1 tier we'd be quitting our jobs tomorrow.

EDsteve · #9 Post by **EDsteve** » 09 Sep 2018, 18:56

You definitely should "promote" it more. For example a "Support us" button on the forum header which everyone can see or on top of every thread in the forum.
With only the announcement. Guests or member are not aware of it. Many people looking for technical solutions and don't read the announcements (like i me)

grovkillen · #10 Post by **grovkillen** » 09 Sep 2018, 20:02

EDsteve wrote: ↑09 Sep 2018, 18:56 You definitely should "promote" it more. For example a "Support us" button on the forum header which everyone can see or on top of every thread in the forum.
With only the announcement. Guests or member are not aware of it. Many people looking for technical solutions and don't read the announcements (like i me)

I know we should but we're pretty much left with this forum until we got a new site... I'll try to add some to the wiki for now.

grovkillen · #11 Post by **grovkillen** » 09 Sep 2018, 20:15

I added this to the wiki...

https://www.letscontrolit.com/wiki/index.php/ESPEasy

We are in a bit of Limbo, we need money to quite our jobs. But we need a better site to promote ourself better. So essentially we need time!

Sandominion · #12 Post by **Sandominion** » 10 Sep 2018, 03:05

How about adding a support link in the ESPeasy web interface (and distributing a new stable)?
Have you ever thought about selling a smartphone app to configure or control your devices?

grovkillen wrote: ↑09 Sep 2018, 20:15 I added this to the wiki...

https://www.letscontrolit.com/wiki/index.php/ESPEasy

We are in a bit of Limbo, we need money to quite our jobs...

PS.: I've corrected "quite our jobs" in "quit our jobs" on the wiki ... makes more sense.

grovkillen · #13 Post by **grovkillen** » 10 Sep 2018, 07:20

Sandominion wrote: ↑10 Sep 2018, 03:05 How about adding a support link in the ESPeasy web interface (and distributing a new stable)?
Have you ever thought about selling a smartphone app to configure or control your devices?

grovkillen wrote: ↑09 Sep 2018, 20:15 I added this to the wiki...

https://www.letscontrolit.com/wiki/index.php/ESPEasy

We are in a bit of Limbo, we need money to quite our jobs...
PS.: I've corrected "quite our jobs" in "quit our jobs" on the wiki ... makes more sense.

Thanks for the edit

Yes we plan to release a new stable (we're also planning / in the progress of implementing a brand new GUI which will also have a notification feature). So in future releases posts like this will be easier to broadcast.

toffel969 · #14 Post by **toffel969** » 10 Sep 2018, 17:59

Shardan wrote: ↑08 Sep 2018, 15:31 Hello Grov,

I'm using a firewall with ipfire ( https://www.ipfire.org ).
They do these things in a way that might be interesting.

On the webpage one can donate - as usual.
On top you may suggest changes / new addons / whatever.
They calculate the development costs and publish them on the page.
Everyone can make a donation to this specific development.

So if I say "I want a full blown DNS system" they publish "DNS system.... xxx €" with a description
and everyone can donate until xxx € is reached.

+1 ... I also use ipfire

and like the idea

grovkillen · #15 Post by **grovkillen** » 11 Sep 2018, 22:10

I'm glad to see many has joined the bud list!

We only need 3000-4000 more now and we're good to go. Please spread the word for us will ya?

Dylantje · #16 Post by **Dylantje** » 11 Sep 2018, 22:13

hope you make this..
Perhaps a crowdfunding
And for sure a paypal..

grovkillen · #17 Post by **grovkillen** » 11 Sep 2018, 22:29

Dylantje wrote: ↑11 Sep 2018, 22:13 hope you make this..
Perhaps a crowdfunding
And for sure a paypal..

Both are PayPal based. We use their portals because it's more open how much we are raising etc. If you want to direct donate using PayPal you cash m can still do that. https://www.paypal.me/espeasy

EDsteve · #18 Post by **EDsteve** » 11 Sep 2018, 23:06

grovkillen wrote: ↑11 Sep 2018, 22:10 I'm glad to see many has joined the bud list! We only need 3000-4000 more now and we're good to go. Please spread the word for us will ya?

A link in the forum header would do a good job

So EVERYBODY in this forum can see it. I know you talked about a new site. But spending 30 minutes to implement a button or a link in the forum-header will be worth your time i think. Even-though you gonna make a new site in the near future. I can do it if you don't

vmfs1968 · #19 Post by **vmfs1968** » 11 Sep 2018, 23:34

force friends
I already contributed
live the espeasy

kenkoknz · #20 Post by **kenkoknz** » 12 Sep 2018, 05:24

Hi Grovkillen and TDer,

I am thinking more of a "think big" strategic growth path:
1. Stabalise firmware version, stable versions will incur a nominal charge to download, dev and test and versions would still be free; Normal stable versions will have some limitations (maybe only 1k rule size,etc.), A commercial version with no limitations will cost more to download
3. Listen to users and keep improving FW
4. For any downloads, all users will have to register so there will be robust analytics data
5. Target not just hobbyist, but educational institutes (with hw preloaded with espeasy package)
6. Analytics will show how many downloads and membership popularity
7. When memberships and downloads exceed a certain trash-hold, the "big boys" might take notice and buy out Espeasy, making the developers instant multi millionaires.
8. Do not forget old forum users and supporters!

Cheers,
Ken

p.s, facebook started with 1200 members in 2004

grovkillen · #21 Post by **grovkillen** » 12 Sep 2018, 06:20

Thanks for the feedback, many good advice. I will try to fix the forum button, thanks!

grovkillen · #22 Post by **grovkillen** » 12 Sep 2018, 19:14

Did any read the first goal level on Patreon?

sandman · #23 Post by **sandman** » 13 Sep 2018, 04:07

ESPeasy is just that, ESP centric

I would love to see the FW branch out to Uno + Mega and other arduino products (ethernet based). While wireless is "fun" to play with, if you begin to incorporate it in your infrastructure, a $20 radio jammer can destroy your whole network....

There are things in life that just need CAT5 if you are going to rely on them....Imagine if ESPeasy were to run on a MEGA, the crazy I/O device you could create, it would be the one stop shop for I/O.....

grovkillen · #24 Post by **grovkillen** » 13 Sep 2018, 06:45

sandman wrote: ↑13 Sep 2018, 04:07 ESPeasy is just that, ESP centric I would love to see the FW branch out to Uno + Mega and other arduino products (ethernet based). While wireless is "fun" to play with, if you begin to incorporate it in your infrastructure, a $20 radio jammer can destroy your whole network....

There are things in life that just need CAT5 if you are going to rely on them....Imagine if ESPeasy were to run on a MEGA, the crazy I/O device you could create, it would be the one stop shop for I/O.....

We got big plans for the future but need to do it full time. Your suggestions are in the line of ours, not promising though.

grovkillen · #25 Post by **grovkillen** » 13 Sep 2018, 10:45

I must say that we are really a big community geographically. 130 unique visitors to the Patreon page and this is where they are from (Sweden being over represented since my friends and family all are eager to hit F5).

grovkillen · #26 Post by **grovkillen** » 17 Sep 2018, 07:12

Latest social update: https://www.patreon.com/GrovkillenTDer/posts

We have finally met up me and TD-er!

grovkillen · #27 Post by **grovkillen** » 22 Sep 2018, 23:03

Thank you very much for all the support. We get a donation once a day on average and it really makes a difference.

Behind the scenes we're making a lot of effort to get at least one of our prospects to give us funding to implement their hardware and server solution. It'll make a ton of difference if we get that rolling.

iBobík · #28 Post by **iBobík** » 26 Sep 2018, 07:12

Can we specify somehow what goals we want to support more? E.g. I want to support MicroPython port uPyEasy. Could I send $ to this project?

grovkillen · #29 Post by **grovkillen** » 26 Sep 2018, 08:19

iBobík wrote: ↑26 Sep 2018, 07:12 Can we specify somehow what goals we want to support more? E.g. I want to support MicroPython port uPyEasy. Could I send $ to this project?

This support channel has nothing to do with either uPyEasy or RFlink. So no, please do not give ESP Easy support if you're interested in some of the other ones.

Wiki · #30 Post by **Wiki** » 26 Sep 2018, 17:19

Hi,

+1 patron.

Thanks a lot for your efforts.

Rampler · #31 Post by **Rampler** » 28 Sep 2018, 10:56

Hi,
now +1 patreon.....
One more idea:
Why not selling some ESP stuff (borads,interfaces, all around ESP, etc..) with i higher price.
I could imagine that many people would buy it, in order to support the project.
regards
Klaus

grovkillen · #32 Post by **grovkillen** » 28 Sep 2018, 11:11

Rampler wrote: ↑28 Sep 2018, 10:56 Hi,
now +1 patreon.....
One more idea:
Why not selling some ESP stuff (borads,interfaces, all around ESP, etc..) with i higher price.
I could imagine that many people would buy it, in order to support the project.
regards
Klaus

We're thinking about that, especially PCB for specific projects. But time is short at this point. Thanks for the positivity and being a Patron!

Shardan · #33 Post by **Shardan** » 28 Sep 2018, 13:46

grovkillen wrote: ↑28 Sep 2018, 11:11
Rampler wrote: ↑28 Sep 2018, 10:56 Hi,
now +1 patreon.....
One more idea:
Why not selling some ESP stuff (borads,interfaces, all around ESP, etc..) with i higher price.
I could imagine that many people would buy it, in order to support the project.
regards
Klaus
We're thinking about that, especially PCB for specific projects. But time is short at this point. Thanks for the positivity and being a Patron!

Time is the problem....
For most of my projects it should be possible to offer PCB's without too much circumstances.
But: Without a good documentation such PCBs are useless.
I was already wondering if I should ask grovkillen for offering these PCBs... Just due to lack of time my
project descriptions in the Wiki are pretty outdated so they have to be updated first.

One point that should be mentioned due to some disappointing experiences:
High quality PCB's are expensive! The empty outdoor sensor PCB (5x7 cm²) will
cost at least around 12..14€, not calculating taxes etc.
That gives you a professionaly made and verified/tested PCB with ENIG gilding, vias,
front and back silks, all drilllings/millings and so on.
Beware: No parts included, this is just the PCB!

Well, we will cross that bridge when it comes to it but would that be OK?

Ggaljoen · #34 Post by **Ggaljoen** » 30 Sep 2018, 17:45

Got the message and transferred some PayPal money right away, just to say: Keep up the good work!

Suggestion: let user share what they use their systems for to get extra use and users, create some kind of label/sign: example "ESPeasy logic"

Shardan · #35 Post by **Shardan** » 30 Sep 2018, 18:47

Ggaljoen wrote: ↑30 Sep 2018, 17:45 Got the message and transferred some PayPal money right away, just to say: Keep up the good work!

Suggestion: let user share what they use their systems for to get extra use and users, create some kind of label/sign: example "ESPeasy logic"

Hello Ggaljoen,

take a look at https://letscontrolit.com/wiki/index.php/UserProjects

You'll find several user projects there, more to come I hope.

ESPEasy already has some logos, for example:
.

: 520px-ESPeasyLOGO.png (39.39 KiB) Viewed 956686 times

Thanks to Grovkillen for the logo.
.
They just are not widespread yet. Maybe that spreads out more with a new website....
Werll, future will show. At this moment I think a new stable release is first on the list.

grovkillen · #36 Post by **grovkillen** » 08 Oct 2018, 09:31

First shipping is sent, and that being said... look at the Patreon page for behind the scenes blog posts. Semi-related to ESP Easy.

I have also added some more tier levels for companies. So if you're a company using our code in a product or system we expect you to contribute a little more than the average user. See more in the tier list.

jvm1000 · #37 Post by **jvm1000** » 09 Oct 2018, 20:03

Hi,

+1 patron.

Thanks a lot for your efforts.

grovkillen · #38 Post by **grovkillen** » 09 Oct 2018, 21:08

jvm1000 wrote: ↑09 Oct 2018, 20:03 Hi,

+1 patron.

Thanks a lot for your efforts.

Thanks for the support!

woocashewski · #39 Post by **woocashewski** » 11 Oct 2018, 09:53

MaikelK · #40 Post by **MaikelK** » 11 Oct 2018, 22:02

3 coffee's underway guys!

grovkillen · #41 Post by **grovkillen** » 11 Oct 2018, 22:33

Thanks for the java

grovkillen · #42 Post by **grovkillen** » 14 Oct 2018, 09:56

https://ko-fi.com/Blog/Post/Thanks-for- ... f-V7V2KTP4

Love your support!

grovkillen · #43 Post by **grovkillen** » 18 Oct 2018, 12:50

I have updated the company sponsor tiers with information that we will add your company name and link in the (not yet implemented) about page within the ESP Easy GUI.

Other than that I was thinking about a Christmas present that will be randomly picked to be sent to one of our Patreons. What do you think about that?

mrshark · #44 Post by **mrshark** » 01 Nov 2018, 17:19

5 coffes by me, thanks for your work

https://twitter.com/fragolinux/status/1 ... 9097993222

grovkillen · #45 Post by **grovkillen** » 01 Nov 2018, 18:05

Thanks!

Sasch600xt · #46 Post by **Sasch600xt** » 18 Dec 2018, 17:20

5 coffee from me

cheers

grovkillen · #47 Post by **grovkillen** » 18 Dec 2018, 19:09

Thanks a bunch!

grovkillen · #48 Post by **grovkillen** » 20 Jan 2019, 09:25

We're still in desperate need of funding. Current income is good but we're needing to find other ways of getting paid. Currently I'm doing consulting for a income and haven't been able to do any developing for the last two weeks. TD-er will soon be in a similar situation. Please help us spread the word, we need funding. Thanks for all your help and support!

riker1 · #49 Post by **riker1** » 30 Jan 2019, 07:14

Hi guys,

thanks for ESP and the great support always.

coffee on the way.
cheer T

knufix · #50 Post by **knufix** » 30 Jan 2019, 19:53

Hi guys,
wanna say thank you for the great system!
I sent you some money via paypal a few weeks ago.

If you are interessted in what I crafted using ESPEasy (I used it in a not so common way

) I can create a new thread in a few days to get some feedback.
Again: Thanks for the whole thing! Will see if further support is possible. Your work is realy worth it!

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