Something we've come across a few times at Facepunch, especially with artists, is that they want to use some software, and it seems useful so we pay for it. It's always super expensive and is always per user, and that's fine because it's worth the price.

So all the lawyers do their things, you sign the agreements, you're paying enough to buy a small house for this software for your team, so you're looking forward to just getting the licenses and putting everyone to work.

Then you get the email with the licenses. You have to install their license manager on your network. Floating licenses. Okay. Fucking hoops to jump through, but okay.

The license manager isn't ever something they coded themselves. Because if they had coded it themselves they'd have made it straight forward, they'd have coded it so they have a database of customers and the app just phones home now and then to check its license status.

But this isn't something simple. It's made by another company. Like Reprise License Manager. You need to install the license server on a machine in your office, using the command line. You need to copy the license into that install, usually with the command line. Then you need to try to configure that to run as a service or something so that when the PC reboots it doesn't disappear.

So suddenly, your mission to setup this trendy, modern, up-to-date game dev software feels very outdated. It feels hostile. You're paying a shitload of money and they're making your jump through all these hoops. We just sent you loads of fucking money just unlock the app using accounts or a cd key or something. Jesus fuck.