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Ukuu, or Ubuntu Kernel Update Utility, a fairly popular unofficial GUI tool for easily installing the latest mainline Linux kernel on Ubuntu-based distributions, has moved to a paid ($11) licensing model with its latest 19.01 release.
Ukuu displays the list of kernels available in the Ubuntu Mainline kernel website, allowing users to easily download and install the desired version. The utility can also remove installed kernels, display the changes in the selected Linux version, display notifications when new kernels are available, and so on.
With the 19.01 release of Ukuu, the application requires a personal license which costs $11, and the source code is no longer available. Tony George, the application developer, notes the reason for this being the lack of donations, with alternatives being stopping the development or requiring a paid license:
"The last version of this app (v18.9) had 60,000 downloads, yet only 12 users have donated over the last 2 years. It was not possible for me to continue working on this application for free, and making it paid seemed like a better alternative than discontinuing the project."
https://www.linuxuprising.com/2019/01/ubuntu-kernel-update-utility-ukuu-moves.html
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 10 2019, @02:32PM (2 children)
Linux mint has a kernel updater built right into the update manager. If he wanted $2 it would be one thing but $11? I mean, I get he wants to get paid but when you start writing a piece of software you should decide: Am I doing this for money or just for the good and fun of it? Whichever you choose requires a different approach, ie demos, marketing, etc. The bait and switch down the line isn't going to work for something like this. He could have just set a donation goal that if not met would end development. Ironically this is what's going to happen anyway as he ends up coding for 10 people instead of his 60k. All it takes is one person to fork and maintain his last version to put down this hissy fit too.
(Score: 2) by janrinok on Sunday February 10 2019, @02:59PM
I can't imagine that a simple GUI slapped on top of an almost trivial script requires that much updating or maintenance - unless he wrote a pile of crap in the first place. And in that case why would I want to download and install it?
[nostyle RIP 06 May 2025]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 10 2019, @07:33PM
yeah he should have put a little thought into a busines model. even just being clear and open about what was needed and showing what was coming in right on the site before people download would have likely gotten better results. or just charge $2 a download and let them still have the source. sure, some would share the free source but a certain percentage would pay. this percentage would likely be much higher than what caused this change. just sticking a donation link is not going to work. stop being so fucking lazy!