So, I see a lot of software out there that replaces the functionality of any range of built-in, or existing services. Programs like Things, or Evernote and the plethora of $50 mArKdOwN eDiToRs like Bear and iAWriter¹. They do their thing well, but what they don’t do is actually integrate into services I already have. This is a huge problem because if I were to buy your software, I would also be tied into using your platform for sync and storage and whatever-fucking-else-you’re-siphoning-from-me. I don’t want that.

What I want from you is this:

• Your cool-ass app.
• Sync with my existing infrastructure, if I have it.
• Offer me your sync-magic-fairy-fucking-bullshit-snake-oil platform that lets you bilk me for more money a month.
• Can I get a one-time-purchase?

That’s it. I don’t want to pay 50-fucking-dollars to buy the otherwise excellent software, only to find out that it doesn’t work with my existing Office 365 Tasks list or my iCloud Tasks list. No, I don’t want to host my meager task list on your big impressive cloud service when I already fucking have one that works fine. I would like it if you just integrated with that so I can maybe use it elsewhere where I might not have your app installed.

B..but your system doesn’t support X fEaTuRe

Then work with the company to maybe expand support, or maybe don’t use those features, or maybe just fucking tell your users about it? I mean, it’s not hard. Your beautiful, bespoke, artisanally crafted sync serivce is just another service I have to worry about, create a new username and password for and ultimately ship my shit off to so you can mine it for data. I have enough of those problems as-is. I don’t need another-fucking-one.

Listen, I get it. You worked hard on this app, and maybe the existing services don’t support all the features you’ve packed in there, but don’t be a dick and make me sign up for your shitty SaaS. Let me know some features won’t work. I mean, you don’t have to. Your choice. I’m just asking.

Then don’t use our software!

Done. The problem I have is that there is a plethora of well reviewed, well liked software that I am interested in, but ultimately disuaded from because of this stupid Not Invented Here Syndrome bullshit of having to have your own service for every-fucking-thing. I want to have data on my own service. I don’t need your shit. I’m looking at you Fantastical. I shouldn’t have to give you my account information to your sErViCe so that you can slurp it up (and mine it) just so you can regurgitate it in your special way. Standards exist for a reason. Use them.

These sins are even more egregious on macOS because: THE👏. SYSTEM👏. DOES👏. THE👏. HARD👏. WORK👏. FOR👏. YOU👏.

Need access to the calendar? Boop, API for it. Need to do cool shit with email? Boop. Use the fucking API. Want to organize and deduplicate my contacts? A.P.I.. But nooooooo it’s not enough. You need to have raw access to my services so you can add your special magic whatever. Fuck you, use APIs or talk to the service on your own. It’s not that hard. You’re doing it anyway with your fucking bullshit service.

In fact, software used to do it the hard way. Because that’s all we had. You had to know LDAP, IMAP, POP3 and other stupid acronyms because there wasn’t a concept of sharing in the OS. Now there is. Use it.

I don’t even want to get into the whole software rental scheme that is so prevelant today.

Fuck!