Developer Tool Developers are hurting themselves. I think it is reasonable to not want to have to log in to every darn thing you use on the internet. Especially developer tools.
Someone needs to invent a hat that developers have to wear: when the developer starts to write signup, login or authentication code, a hand pokes out of the hat and slaps him.
Default-on telemetry as well. I'm reminded of Balena Etcher phoning home with the names of ISO files you flash, which leaks the IPs etc. of which users are creating Tor/Tails bootable USBs: https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/16381#not...
Yes, telemetry too! And automatic updates. They are all symptoms of companies’ obsession with having some kind of ongoing post-purchase “relationship” with their users. As a user, I don’t want this relationship! I just want to buy the tool and use it, without ever interacting with the manufacturer ever again.
If I buy a circular saw, I don’t want a relationship with Makita. I don’t want to have to log in to use it. I don’t want it telling Makita how many boards I cut and how well the saw is working. No offense, but I’m just not that into you, Manufacturer.
Judging by vscode's or copilot's or postman's popularity, login is not the issue. The issue is the quality of the tool and number of developers they can hire.
Someone needs to invent a hat that developers have to wear: when the developer starts to write signup, login or authentication code, a hand pokes out of the hat and slaps him.