My Extended LC Family

There are upsides and downsides to having an extended LiveCode family.

On the positive side, the outpouring of support from our customers, old and new, during this campaign (Covid-19 LiveCode Impact Fund) has been cheering, encouraging, and heartwarming. On the negative side, I know so many of you personally, you’ve been with us for so many years, and I’m anxious for your welfare and that of your businesses. Covid-19 has hit everyone, everywhere, no-one is unaffected. I hear about businesses on a knife-edge, and my good friends either catching the virus themselves or having near and dear ones hospitalised. All I can say is – hang in there! We’ll get through this together.

It seems like the vast majority of you are riding out the storm, one way or another. Tech companies are resilient, and our customer base is made up of some amazing characters with determination and a vision for the future.

I’ve been with LiveCode now for a good 20 years (ok, maybe 22 if you really want to count), answering your questions, helping you understand what LiveCode is, what it does, and how you can use it. I’ve seen that journey of discovery many times, from a new user trying it out to becoming an embedded advocate who loves the language and what they can do with it. I’ve seen LiveCode Ltd. grow from 4 young guys in a dingy flat to the vibrant business it is today, employing some of the most talented people it has been my pleasure to meet.

As you may expect building a product like LiveCode over the last 20 years has not always been an easy ride. There have been ups and downs along the way but we’ve always found a way to bring you new versions of the product you know and love. That said I can’t remember a down that was quite as dramatic, as unexpected and as far-ranging as this current one. A real out of left field experience. From the personal lockdown of not being able to leave the premises for months (thank goodness for a large garden, a puppy, 3 cats and a few chickens to keep me busy!) through to closing the offices, getting all the staff set up to work at home, and viewing the effects on our wider community, its been surreal. The thought of slowing down our progress was not something we ever wanted to consider. However, it was something we were forced to consider due to the impact caused by Covid-19.  We’ve explored government help (limited), run some successful promotions, cut costs and extended runway, and finally turned to you, our community, to help us bring LiveCode through to a thriving future. Your response has been overwhelming.

What the response to this campaign has shown me is how much, collectively, you care about LiveCode. We’ve always believed in LiveCode and its place in the world. Your contributions show that you also see the value in this unique language and environment, and you want others in the future to have the opportunity to see it too. As I write this the campaign is around 45% funded with 14 days left. Every pledge is celebrated with cheers in my household as I know it is across the entire LiveCode team. We will get through this together.

Thank you for your continued support, it means a lot!

Heather Laine

Gardener, Menagerie Wrangler and Customer Services Manager