Upload Script: Should I Sell or Continue On?

**Young Spark** · 07-15-2007 04:25 AM

Lately, I've been (as 1 or 2 of YE's members may know) that I've been working on a PHP/MySQL script that allows uploading of media files, website files, documents, etc. Basically, your typical image upload site but with various files.

I've been liking the way it has been turning out, everything is in hardcoded form (meaning it needs to be shaped up to seem more productive, like moving the CSS in each file into a CSS file of its own, cleaning up the code and marking out parts, etc.)

I started from a small "core example" that was only 25 lines and turned it into something that could be successful (I started implementing a member's addon mod where it would make it so you had to be registered to upload on the site.)

So what is the problem?

Well, I am not sure right now if I want to sell the script and transfer rights to another company to continue on and make it something a whole lot better or if I should continue it myself. The rate I am going, it will not be done for another few months and I'd like to see this thing really take form quick. If I take this on myself, I'll probably end up charging for the script at the end, maybe $25-$30 a copy, not that much... but it will be feature packed in the end.

I thought of recruiting a few people from another forum to help but if I do take this on, I want to do it alone (not being stingy but want to create something and see how far I can go, plus it'll perfect my PHP/MySQL knowledge even more.)

So I need some response: Should I continue on with the script and keep making it or should I sell it and move onto another project?

**rejoice** · 07-15-2007 04:32 AM

i don't really understand scripts? is it something people add to their sites or are you making a site like photobucket?

**Young Spark** · 07-15-2007 04:47 AM

^^ A "script" is nothing more then a simple "web program." Think osCommerce and phpBB and WordPress. All of these are scripts.

So in short, when I say "scripts" I am simply saying "program." Nothing more, nothing less

So what you think, should I continue on making it?

By the way, I moved all of the CSS to a file of its own so thats out the way. At the same time, if anyone is interested, I'll be glad to send you screenshots of what I've done so far

Just in case

**akula** · 07-15-2007 04:50 AM

Originally Posted by Young Spark

So I need some response: Should I continue on with the script and keep making it or should I sell it and move onto another project?

Good question.

In general, things should only be kept if they have value. The kind of script that you have, has no economic value in a market saturated with free software. Because the script has no positive value, the only value it does have is negative. Therefore, get rid of it.

Try to spend your time in acquiring things with positive economic value. For example; survey results or letters of intent from prospects and co-founders. These are the kinds of information assets that you can use to build wealth. Not undifferentiated, generic programming scripts.

The wealth creation mechanics of entrepreneurship require founders to seek out qualified demand. The second step is to match this demand with solutions. Without the first step, the second step has no value. Try to focus on the first step, that's where you're gonna make your money

**akula** · 07-15-2007 04:59 AM

btw: I do sympathize

I've been in the same situation as you and I kick my self from making the wrong decision and not dumping the damn script

**Young Spark** · 07-15-2007 05:56 AM

^^ I agree, I was thinking of selling the script off (the coding that's been done so far as well as the rights to continue on.) Just need to find some people who are interested in buying and taking over on this project. Might sound ridiculous but it did take some time to get the little bit I did already.

**akula** · 07-16-2007 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by Young Spark

^^ I agree, I was thinking of selling the script off (the coding that's been done so far as well as the rights to continue on.) Just need to find some people who are interested in buying and taking over on this project. Might sound ridiculous but it did take some time to get the little bit I did already.

I totally feel what you're saying

We spent over 8 months developing a blogging application/script

To us, it was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and much more in terms of ego and reputation

To the market, it was worth nothing. There's over 100 free blogging applications listed on sourceforge

The same thing with the studentface script

Letting these scrips go felt really bad...sunk costs are a bitch

**Young Spark** · 07-16-2007 03:03 PM

^^

Quite true... it may not be worth anything so yeah, either way I could always save it for later on or something if I want a custom script for a passive income collector. I decided the code I've done so far just isn't me so I am going back to re-code it over (give it file validation, file size validation, create an easier to read array of extensions) --- implement a membership addon and setup page variables.

Should take about 2-4 weeks (and I think you'd agree Akula... you thought pimpin wasn't easy... try coding

)