Are third-party addon developers killing XenForo?

[ratix_gunz]

I'd really like to know if addon developers genuinely care about their community or if it's just for the money.

I'll share my personal experience: a few years ago, I had a custom addon developed by a third-party developer, but it didn't meet XenForo's requirements, and the price was quite high.

When I upgraded from XF 2.2 to 2.3, I contacted @Painbaker at a reasonable price. The work was done very quickly and professionally.

Now, I've registered on his forum to benefit from and pay for a subscription to his addons, and I keep getting banned from his forum because I forgot to remove a copy from one of my websites, which I've since closed.

My question is directed at @Painbaker , but also at custom addon developers: do you do this for the money or for enjoyment? Because I had the same issue with @DragonByte Tech a few weeks ago, but he understood my problem. Gaining a customer's trust only to then ban them because of a (minor) oversight, while paying a subscription, I call that a scam because we have the right to 0 oversights or errors.

 

[Painbaker]

Please DM me the username and/or the license validation token you’re using to register on my site.

 

[smallwheels]

I keep getting banned from his forum because I forgot to remove a copy from one of my websites, which I've since closed.

My question is directed at @Painbaker , but also at custom addon developers: do you do this for the money or for enjoyment? Because I had the same issue with xxx a few weeks ago

So you used pirated add ons on our public forums, "forgot" to remove them not once but at least twice and are wondering why the developers of those add ons do rather prefer not to do business with you in the first hand? You have already given proof that you are dishonest. No one wants dishonest customers. Now you complain about that and open a thread "are add on developers killing xenforo"? And even name the developers involved publicly to execute pressure on them? Oh dear! Seems you consider your attitude completely normal. Actions have consequences - didn't you know that?

I'd assume it is difficult to make a living from creating add ons, so it is rather thieves that use pirated software that kill add on development... How would you like it if someone stole your source of income w/o paying, profiting from it but leaving you w/o money?

 

[ratix_gunz]

So you used pirated add ons on our public forums, "forgot" to remove them not once but at least twice and are wondering why the developers of those add ons do rather prefer not to do business with you in the first hand? You have already given proof that you are dishonest. No one wants dishonest customers. Now you complain about that and open a thread "are add on developers killing xenforo"? And even name the developers involved publicly to execute pressure on them? Oh dear! Seems you consider your attitude completely normal. Actions have consequences - didn't you know that?

I'd assume it is difficult to make a living from creating add ons, so it is rather thieves that use pirated software that kill add on development... How would you like it if someone stole your source of income w/o paying, profiting from it but leaving you w/o money?

I'm going to respond just as stupidly as you.

So yes, forgetfulness happens. When you manage several forums and projects with a job where I only go home on weekends, yes, I call that forgetfulness.

Unfortunately for you, I'm also a developer, and I have a policy where when I'm unsure of something, I give it a second chance.

If you're so perfect—because I assume you stand by what you say—do you provide a service that manages third-party communities? It seems not, so you're whining here. You missed an opportunity to keep quiet, considering all your recent posts on XenForo.

 

[Alpha1]

I have excellent experiences with both of the developers you are attacking . I think you are too harsh in the sense that you want others to forgive your mistakes but opt for attacking when you get automatically banned. This seems like measuring with different standards to me.

 

[smallwheels]

I call that forgetfulness.

How came that you were using stolen unlicensed copies of add ons in the first hand? Did you "forget to pay"?

when I'm unsure of something, I give it a second chance.

About what should one be unsure? You used pirated add ons, nothing to be unsure about. Plus you additionally give though your postings and attitude a perfect example why no one in clear mind would want to have someone like you as a customer.

you're whining here.

The only person whining here is in fact you.

 

[ratix_gunz]

I have excellent experiences with both of the developers you are attacking . I think you are too harsh in the sense that you want others to forgive your mistakes but opt for attacking when you get automatically banned. This seems like measuring with different standards to me.

I prefer the way your message was phrased.

I'm going to set things straight because I think there's been a misunderstanding.

To put it simply, I'm not attacking anyone; I was just pointing the finger. Besides, the problem has been resolved for me (thanks @Painbaker ), and I reported the thread so it would be deleted.

I've already been scammed by developers here. I got the custom addon I wanted, but the price was ridiculously low and didn't meet XenForo's requirements.

What I wanted to emphasize, because I thought it was a generalization here, is that we, as customers, trust third-party developers for custom add-ons, but once that's done, we're just a "piece of meat". This means that third-party developers are happy to do everything for your money, but once it's done, they have no scruples.

I'm back again with my situation, but I spoke with @Painbaker and we found a solution. He understood my situation, so a solution was found.

Same for me, I understand his situation because I'm also a developer and I fight against piracy, theft, etc.

I'm being accused of attacking developers, but I'm not attacking @DragonByte Tech . I was just saying I was banned because I forgot to change my license. The same goes for @Painbaker .

So I thought it was a common occurrence, but when things are explained to me calmly, yes, I understand the reactions.

However, calling me a thief or something like that makes me laugh because I'm the first to fight against theft.

In conclusion, I simply want to know the point of banning or stealing from customers.

Given that there was a misunderstanding on the topic of this thread, and that I had a discussion with @DragonByte Tech a few months ago and @Painbaker again yesterday, I now understand. Mistakes happen on both the customer and seller sides. We're all human, after all.

 

[ratix_gunz]

How came that you were using stolen unlicensed copies of add ons in the first hand? Did you "forget to pay"?

This proves to me that you haven't understood anything at all.

To put it simply, and I was only speaking from my perspective:

I have several forums (and therefore several licenses). Indeed, when I stop one project to switch to another, I transfer the add-ons to a different site (and therefore a different license). Except that in some cases, I forget to change the license on the third-party seller's site. I DON'T FORGET TO PAY!

So yes, the developer in question thinks it's theft, while for me, it's simply a matter of forgetting to change the license from XXXXX.com to ZZZZZZ.com.

It would be stupid of me to say, "Hey, I'm stealing your add-ons, but I don't understand why I'm banned."

I repeat, in my case, it's because I forget to change the license URL (and therefore the token).

About what should one be unsure? You used pirated add ons, nothing to be unsure about. Plus you additionally give though your postings and attitude a perfect example why no one in clear mind would want to have someone like you as a customer.

This refers to my message above. You presume to speak and judge me without knowing me. I have never been a customer of yours, so you only acknowledge doubts.

If @Painbaker looks at the history of one of our discussions, I even asked to pay more than the initial price, so where's the theft? I await your response.

The only person whining here is in fact you.

It was a general question. Do we really need to point fingers? Otherwise, why spread rumors if there's no real situation? Fortunately, in my case, it was resolved each time, which is why I reported it for thread deletion. Unfortunately for the addon developers I mentioned, the XenForo staff doesn't delete it quickly.

 

[smallwheels]

It would be stupid of me to say, "Hey, I'm stealing your add-ons, but I don't understand why I'm banned."

Basically that's what you wrote in your starting post. Hard to understand this in a different way:

I've registered on his forum to benefit from and pay for a subscription to his addons, and I keep getting banned from his forum because I forgot to remove a copy from one of my websites, (...) I had the same issue with @DragonByte Tech a few weeks ago

If that's not what has happened it would have been up to you to describe it properly...

Do we really need to point fingers?

That's what you did deliberately, so you should possibly point this question to yourself...

I'm not attacking anyone; I was just pointing the finger.

I've already been scammed by developers here. I got the custom addon I wanted, but the price was ridiculously low and didn't meet XenForo's requirements.

It is a well known fact that some add on devs are very trustworthy and competent while others are neither and in between both extremes there is a middle ground. For a normal person it is hard to reliably choose a good developer as it seems that even positive feedback in this forum is no warrant as many customers have absolutely no clue about what they bought. There are some devs that are probably a very safe bet. In the end it is at least to a degree "you get what you pay for" and, given this statement:

I'm also a developer

I am wondering how this could happen to you. However: Both developers you mentioned are IMHO on the positive side btw..

What I wanted to emphasize, because I thought it was a generalization here, is that we, as customers, trust third-party developers for custom add-ons, but once that's done, we're just a "piece of meat". This means that third-party developers are happy to do everything for your money, but once it's done, they have no scruples.

Which clearly is not true for all but maybe for some. How do "meat" and "no scuples" convert into concrete action? Coding basically anything for money is the job of a freelance developer, so I would not know what should be wrong about that.

 

[StarArmy]

Q: Are third-party addon developers killing XenForo?

A: No, it's the opposite XenForo is unintentionally killing its community of add-on developers by not releasing regular and timely updates due to the devs' unfortunate life events/circumstances (as explained in the If Xenforo Is Finished thread). My logic is that if the forum admins don't have a reason to stay current on the latest add-ons (e.g. no style updates are needed etc) then they stop renewing regularly and the add-on devs don't get paid, causing add-on devs to likely find other ecosystems to spend their effort and time on. I'm hopeful that the new year will bring a new chapter that will restore the Xenforo ecosystem with some new updates and things for add-on makers to chew on, so to speak.

Well, that's the response to the OP's question in the title, but it seems like this thread is not actually about that subject...just a banned dude with a grudge trying to spread negativity.

 

[ratix_gunz]

If that's not what has happened it would have been up to you to describe it properly...

As you can see, it's marked "forgotten." When you have more than 50 add-ons, whether private or distributed, it's hard to remember to change them on every site without forgetting one.

When I was banned from @Painbaker , I was in the middle of transferring them, but I wasn't using them at all because I only paid for one site. My mistake was transferring them before deleting them.

That's what you did deliberately, so you should possibly point this question to yourself...

There need to be facts, otherwise it would be pointless.

You wouldn't change a tire that's in good condition, and it's the same here. I'm not going to say there's a problem with one or more people if there isn't one. So yes, I'm naming names.

But anyway, each time it's been resolved smoothly without any problems. It's just that it's not the first time I've been scammed, so I wanted an answer. Each time, we've talked it out and found common ground, so the matter is settled.

It is a well known fact that some add on devs are very trustworthy and competent while others are neither and in between both extremes there is a middle ground. For a normal person it is hard to reliably choose a good developer as it seems that even positive feedback in this forum is no warrant as many customers have absolutely no clue about what they bought. There are some devs that are probably a very safe bet. In the end it is at least to a degree "you get what you pay for" and, given this statement:

To be honest, I've used @Painbaker 's services before. Normally, the service cost me $50, but given the amount of work involved, I added another $20. So instead of paying $50, I paid $70. It was a gift from me.

However, I've also dealt with a third-party developer who was banned over the years. He was only interested in money, not work. I thought I was going through the same thing again, but no, we just had different perspectives and we found common ground.

I am wondering how this could happen to you. However: Both developers you mentioned are IMHO on the positive side btw..

In conclusion, these are two good developers whom I particularly appreciate, and I was disappointed to be banned when I believe I hadn't done anything wrong.

According to the feedback from the two developers, it appears that one (or more) of my licenses were pirated and used against me, which led to my ban from their platform.

As I told them in a private message, I am not a thief or a malicious person, and if this happens again, they shouldn't hesitate to contact me privately to discuss it or to let me know. I experienced a hack on my machine in May 2025, and I didn't think it would reach XenForo.

 

[ratix_gunz]

Q: Are third-party addon developers killing XenForo?

A: No, it's the opposite XenForo is unintentionally killing its community of add-on developers by not releasing regular and timely updates due to the devs' unfortunate life events/circumstances (as explained in the If Xenforo Is Finished thread). My logic is that if the forum admins don't have a reason to stay current on the latest add-ons (e.g. no style updates are needed etc) then they stop renewing regularly and the add-on devs don't get paid, causing add-on devs to likely find other ecosystems to spend their effort and time on. I'm hopeful that the new year will bring a new chapter that will restore the Xenforo ecosystem with some new updates and things for add-on makers to chew on, so to speak.

Well, that's the response to the OP's question in the title, but it seems like this thread is not actually about that subject...just a banned dude with a grudge trying to spread negativity.

That's basically the point of this thread.

The last sentence is completely irrelevant here because if I wanted to express negativity, I would do it differently and more simply.