What's the deal with "Mark as Installed"
 

Sorry for the noob question, but why is the "Mark as Installed" thing such a big deal to coders? Do they get paid for each install or something?

I guess the same question goes for "MOTM". Do they get a prize if they win?

Just wondering... :confused:

Nobody gets paid for their mods on vB.org and all mods are free here.

Their only payment the contributors receive is the number of installs and titles of contributor, coder and designer. They are something like the rep points on your board. (unfortunately we dont have the rep system here).

Now nobody get paid for the rep points on your board either, do they ? Its just a matter of pride an honour. :)

If you don't Mark As Installed, then when there is an upgrade, or a security issue with the mod, then you will not get a notice.

Search would find the answer to this.

Quoted from the monthly notification ;

It's not a big deal.

Although, if you can't be bothered clicking a button, I can't be bothered answering your question.

Fair?

I had a feeling after I posted this question that it might be met with some hostility. I tried to word things in a way to be just a casual question, but as often is the case, my intent was mistaken. Seeing the responses though, it is clear that this button is of great importance to the coders as I already knew.

Just to be clear, I wasn't suggesting anyone NOT click the button or that the button wasn't a good idea, especially for the person clicking it (updates and so on).

I was just curious why the coder himself would care. I'm a programmer, and it's only of passing interest to me whether or not anyone uses my FREE programs. (My paid-for programs of course I feel very strongly about) I write them because I needed them for myself and then post them to the world in case someone else finds them useful. Doesn't really matter whether or not they do. Seems to not be the case here.

It's certainly not the first time though that what I felt wasn't important to me was of great importance to others, but I was curious, that's all.

As I said, I'm just curious as to what the coders get out of it to inspire such passion about whether or not the button gets clicked.

Sorry to raise the hackles on everyone.

I dont think anyone is heckling you, simply pointing out that searching could have answered the question for you.

moreover, the importance of the install button depends entirely on the coder really. As mentioned if you don't mark it as installed then you won't receive any updates if the coder changes anything.

Some of the mods for vbulletin are very extensive and require a lot of time to make, they are all released free, and pressing the install button is also sort of a way to say "thanks for making the mod, i like it so much I'm using it"

Gotcha. Thanks for your reply.

Searching did not answer the question, but it sounds like it's simply important for some coders that their work is recognized, and it's also probably a bit of a competition to see who can get the most "installs".
I would make a joke about coders and how insecure they are, but I'm sure I'd be flamed mercilessly for that. :cool:

I do appreciate the efforts that the coders make and that they give it away for free. That sort of Internet altruism is the reason I also give away some of my programs for free. And even if I don't understand it, if all it takes is a click to make them keep wanting to do it, then I'm all for that.

Competition IMO doesn't really play into it. Like I said some of these mods have taken years of development time, and multiple coders. This is all time taken out of someones personal life doing what they (hopefully) enjoy. When that much time is spent, it can be (to some) a slap in the face if you as the user can't even acknowledge that you use their work.

In the end I think all of that isn't such a huge part of either, I downloaded a mod the other day and didn't click install(Don't know if ive installed yet, so I won't click install unless I actualluy use a mod) and I got this email today. Automatic notification from vBorg, reminding me, because I clearly forgot.

Don't bite the hand that feeds mate. Alot of time and effort goes into mods, that are released for free, the only thing developers get back from it is knowing that people are enjoying it and finding it useful.

I'm only just starting to release mods and styles (always busy freelancing) but I do get annoyed when people ask for help, but can't be bothered clicking install. While it's not something I will have a go at somebody for I still find it annoying.

It's simply a number, a number of people who enjoy and appreciate the time and effort you put into something. It's also a good gauge of whether or not to continue supporting a mod. If very few people are using the mod (or selected install) then you're not going to feel compelled to update it for every version of VB, but should that number be higher, atleast for me, it would be more of a reason to keep the mod supported and updated.