syncthing shutdown

content/log/2024/11sync-shutdown.md

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+---
+title: "11sync shutdown"
+date: 2024-07-01T00:04:30+03:00
+slug: 11sync-shutdown
+---
+
+As you may have [read]({{< ref "log/2024/11sync-signup" >}}), I have created a
+"hosted syncthing" pre-registration page in [11sync.net][11sync]. The
+1-sentence pitch for the service is:
+
+> 11sync.net is a Hosted Syncthing peer. Designed for Syncthing users seeking
+> reliable backups and resilience.
+
+Over the ~6 months sign-up page was live, 46 people[^1] signed up. This
+sign-up activity signals this will unlikely be a sustainable business, so I am
+halting all activity and will terminate the sign-up page soon. Thank you for
+your interest if you have signed up, I appreciate that!
+
+If you are interested, find a brief retrospective below.
+
+Retrospective: timeline
+-----------------------
+
+* *2021:* start thinking about this idea, pitch to whomever will listen.
+* *2022:* put together a PoC of the service: I would be comfortable offering it
+  to non-malicious technical friends.
+* *2022:* following Avery Pennarun's [suggestion][chasm-blog], read Geoffrey A.
+  Moore's [Crossing the Chasm][chasm]. Stop all development, but occasionally
+  bug my family, signalling the idea is still there.
+* *2024:* my precious wife gets tired of me bringing the start-up idea up,
+  urges to make a real move.
+  * Come up with a name, purchase a domain, create a simple pitch.
+  * Create a registration page in about a week (it' been lots of fun, since I
+    haven't touched Django in about a decade; it felt like meeting an old
+    friend).
+  * Start donating $128/month and get an [11sync.net logo in syncthing
+    page][archive]. I *guess* this is where my sign-ups come from, as I have
+    done no other reach-out.
+* *Now:* I am shutting down the registration page, [11sync.net][11sync], until
+  expires, will redirect here.
+
+All in all, the sign-up page, logo, reach-out to syncthing maintainers was a
+very valuable exercise. I *almost* avoided the trap of creating a service that
+barely anybody wants! If you have comments or strong feelings about this post,
+you are, as always, welcome to [contact me]({{< ref "contact" >}}).
+
+Some sign-up analysis
+---------------------
+
+Sign-ups by country:
+
+```
++-----------------+-------+
+|     country     | count |
++-----------------+-------+
+| United States   | 12    |
+| Germany         | 10    |
+| Russia          | 3     |
+| Lithuania       | 2     |
+| Canada          | 2     |
+| Bulgaria        | 2     |
+| The Netherlands | 1     |
+| Sweden          | 1     |
+| Spain           | 1     |
+| New Zealand     | 1     |
+| Mexico          | 1     |
+| Malaysia        | 1     |
+| Japan           | 1     |
+| Italy           | 1     |
+| Ireland         | 1     |
+| Hungary         | 1     |
+| France          | 1     |
+| Denmark         | 1     |
+| Colombia        | 1     |
+| Brazil          | 1     |
+| Austria         | 1     |
+| Argentina       | 1     |
++-----------------+-------+
+```
+
+By continent:
+
+```
++---------------+-------+
+|   continent   | count |
++---------------+-------+
+| Europe        | 26    |
+| North America | 15    |
+| South America | 3     |
+| Asia          | 2     |
+| Oceania       | 1     |
++---------------+-------+
+```
+
+Those are consistent with [syncthing stats][stats], no surprises here.
+
+[11sync]: https://11sync.net
+[stats]: https://data.syncthing.net/
+[archive]: https://web.archive.org/web/20240626093759/https://syncthing.net/downloads/
+[chasm]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossing_the_Chasm
+[chasm-blog]: https://apenwarr.ca/log/?m=201807
+
+[^1]: they add up to 48. Two of them are mine.