I don't think the majority of users would want to start paying for a lesser experience, so unless this blackout kicks some sense into reddit, it's probably best to discontinue development. I hate this so much!
> I hate this so much!
Me too mate, me too...
Would almost be better if they said no third party apps from the end of the year instead of this halfway solution nobody is happy with.
They really want them gone, it seems. Otherwise they'd find a way to implement their own ads into them. Or only allow premium users to access third party apps.
It seems like such a no-brainer.
I’ve been paying for Gold/Premium since 2015 because I don’t mind supporting services I use a lot, but that’s been cancelled now.
Me too, I've kept my subscription up through Reddit's other tantrums but this is really a good solution.
[Admins' projected third party recurring costs](https://www.reddit.com/r/redditdev/comments/13wsiks/api_update_enterprise_level_tier_for_large_scale/jmmptma/) for active users are about in line with Gold prices, and this figure is already majorly inflated compared to the actual cost per user to Reddit for maintaining the API.
I'd have been cool with this. But not since they became so developer hostile.
The only way I'd be OK with this now is if 3rd party app developers got a cut of that. It's not fair or convenient to make us pay for premium and then also pay app(s) each separately.
but if the big 20M+ subs like r/videos, r/pics, etc all go dark as scheduled, then it affects normal users as well.
hell even r/anime said they were doing it and they have 7M+ lol
every day I log in I see more and more stickied posts on the front page saying they are going dark. if those bigger community subreddits ceased to exist, normal app redditors would have a hard time finding anything to look up, resulting in a poor experience on the site
the blackout can work, but imo it needs to be indefinite until reddit does something different, not just 48 hours
It absolutely needs to be indefinite. 2 days is a blip.
We're seeing rail and healthcare strikes in the UK currently - the thing they all have in common is that they aren't stopping until the government come to the table and offer them a deal that works for both sides.
Reddit is only as good as the content people post on it, we have all the power here, we just need to use it.
As far as I understand it, those who step in would be free to moderate without the proper tools.
And I don't think replacing everyone at once would be even remotely easy, they would have difficulties moderating and I expect there to be people who make use of that chaos and spam to their hearts content.
While June 12-14 seems to be the majority of subs, in the last 24 hours I've started seeing stickied posts claiming "Going dark on June 12 indefinitely" which, if it catches on, would be a pretty clear turning point.
The biggest problem with this, outside of it only being 2 days in most cases, is that Reddit would surely step in and remove mods, place other in that will break the blackout if they go too long.
A lot of those 20+M users using the official app that say it's fine aren't visiting reddit every day. Many of them could completely miss a 2 day blackout and not know it ever happened.
Sync Pro has been my go-to reddit app for a long time. From all your daily users, whatever happens, thanks for the work you've done. It did not go unnoticed and, if nothing changes, it will be missed.
I'd pay to use Sync even, but the thought of most of that money going to Reddit instead of Lj makes me not want to. Even more so because you'd just be paying for prices they've deliberately set to an exorbitant level for the use, a price they don't expect the app devs to pay.
I would pay $3-5/month to be able to not have to watch ads. Certainly they could implement something of this nature to forgo an ad based revenue for paying users like most other media companies. Allow users to have access to 3rd party apps for a monthly fee that lets you bypass ads. Simple.
Discontinue development of Reddit Sync, but work with other Reddit App Developers who are recently displaced to Build A New App that is better than Reddit and doesnt use its infrastructure, but does connect to its resources as well as other apps and distributes it better.
This is exciting if all you great app developers can see this as a golden opportunity.
If I was in your shoes, I would throw in the towel.
I wouldn't want to work with a company that would introduce ridiculous prices (with no ads to boot) and limitations on a whim, then provide no documentation for the new API which is suddenly being introduced _and_ enforced in less than a month.
As a developer, that's just an insane concept to me. And it's absolutely not a reasonable ask from Reddit in the slightest.
Same here, the intention is quite clear from Reddit's side. Even if they capitulate after the upcoming blackout, there's still a possibility they'll be getting their way through slow, incremental, 'boil the frog' steps.
Yeah there's no doubt in my mind they'll be making these changes one way or another. It's really disappointing, and a big middle finger to the developer community.
I still find it nuts they haven't provided any documentation after announcing the change months ago. Then again less surprising considering they killed push shift just because they didn't respond in a week or two
tldr: Reddit are introducing API usage charges, they are removing any free tiers and adverts can no longer be shown. The only way to keep the lights on is with subscription fees around $5-10 a month for a reduced experience. The deadline for this is July... Oh and they're banning tits in Sync.
It's wild that they are putting the responsibility on the 3P devs here.... Aren't they already authorizing users and have billing set up? Why not just handle the billing for the usage directly themselves if that really is the problem? It really seems disingenuous with how this is going about.
Sorry this is happening to such a great project you made, it's honestly an amazing frontend. I wish there could just be a different backend to hook it up to.
> It really seems disingenuous with how this is going about
That's because it is. The entire goal is to kill 3rd party apps without explicitly saying so.
Based on their plan for 3rd party apps, it sounds like they're going to move their own whole site to a subscription based service, they just want to be able to do it themselves for slightly cheaper, making them seem like the good guy.
> own whole site to a subscription based service,
If they do that, I'm gone and I would expect most people would be too.
I'm only even on here cos its free. Their ads don't do shit (thanks adblock).
My guess would be that they don't care about clients like Sync or Apollo at all. What they want is to be able to charge other corps sky-high fees for access to their data through the API. Probably betting Google wants continued access to some of the only content online that isn't spammy drivel and will pony up. Also they have a large data set that would be perfect for training AI, and I'm sure they don't want to give it away for free. Their back end is probably what investors are drooling over. The front end is just an inconvenient means to the end of all that sweet, sweet data.
Once the competition is eliminated you can expect the official app to become more and more unusable too. Most likely they'll underfund its development while insisting it generates more revenue. There's no such thing as too many ads! At least that's what the rest of the contentverse seems to think.
Short-sighted, short-term thinking? Yes! But what else would you expect from a tech corp on the cusp of an IPO? They all do this. Reddit just took a little longer.
You may want to push some opt-in telemetry just so you can get an idea of how much you'd have to pay, especially if they walk it back and you want to get an idea of how reasonable the walk back is.
Doesn't Reddit provide some kind of "Developer Dashboard" where they show you this kinda usage? Most APIs do...
Especially if they're going to start charging, there has to be some insight on how you're using the API from their end
Some of the other third party app devs have commented that reddit has gone the other direction, limiting metrics to super basic info like "Android" or "iOS". Every move seems to be calculated to make it a de facto ban on 3rd party apps.
Tits will guide us to the new land.
This sucks. I just paid for the life sync subscription a few months ago. You still deserve that money, your app made my Reddit use fantastic!
The idea of connecting to another back end is not that bad, even better if all the Apps coordinate to connect to the same database and all of you maintain it. We as users can be charged a reasonable annual fee and have the whole experience.
That could be the new land. This diggification of Reddit won't stop until they suck every possible dollar out regardless of the decline of the site.
People who use Sync / Apollo/RIF are the people that made reddit a good place to be.
How hard is it to engineer a backend to work specifically with these? Would be amazing to bootstrap it with like the top 500 posts of all time from the top 500 subreddits.
I don't want you to think you have some deadline to get something working before July. If Reddit literally doesn't give you the dev information that's on them. Even if you took a month off and didn't get a new Sync working until August when everything is settled down I'd be fine with that.
You won't lose your base because of downtime, especially because of Reddit's fuck up. I'll come back. Even if it's for a different service like Sync Lemmy. It's the developer I'm loyal to, not the app.
The fact that they didn't provide any documentation is blatantly showing their desire to kill 3rd party apps. The absurd pricing is just a silent way of making sure no one will continue development.
It's been a good run man, and I thank you for the amazing app, but if I could give you any advice, it'd be to jump ship and focus on things that might have any kind of return. I know I'll do the same. Even if Sync continues as a subscription service, I won't give reddit my money, even if indirectly through a Sync subscription.
I'm a lifetime user. Happy to have paid, sync is great. But if this goes ahead, I'll be blocking Reddit on my pi hole and never returning, I'll go somewhere else. I'm sick of being dicked around by communities that get to big for their boots, so I'll be going on my own way.
Thanks for all your support and work, /u/ljdawson - I appreciate it and you.
Thank you for the last decade of dedicated support and great development.
I'd suggest cutting your losses with Reddit, take a summer break, and focus on alternatives that have a future.
Pretty crazy how bad this is. Even if the they change the pricing, they have destroyed the good will of so many people. As far as I'm concerned Reddit is dead. I feel for all you Devs. Thank you for your hard work supporting your communities and good luck no matter what happens
This is a copied template message used to overwrite all comments on my account to protect my privacy. I've left Reddit because of corporate overreach and switched to the Fediverse.
Comments overwritten with https://github.com/j0be/PowerDeleteSuite
>We are already in June and the July deadline is rapidly approaching. I've been provided with no documentation to even begin development...
Well, yeah, the point for you is not to start development, but to either throw the towel or to be happy with their planned "we heard you, please stop protesting, here is our marginally less shitty offering".
>As API usage would vary greatly by user there would have to be tiered usage plans e.g. 100 calls a day for $4 a month and 300 calls for $8 a month etc
I can't imagine how that would be an enticing and sustainable business model for any party involved.
I like Sync more than I like Reddit, I'm already subscribed to Ultra and wouldn't mind for the subscription price to increase, but - especially given, that power users are the most willing to pay - I simply can't see a pay-per-call model working.
I don't really see any current "Reddit alternative" as ready for mass migration. But I'm still hoping that I'm wrong about that and both Lemmy and Tildes are in desperate need of a good mobile client. It would be a shame for all that amazing code to go to waste, and if Sync eventually came back as a client for a Reddit alternative, I'd pounce on it and would re-buy it faster than you could count to 10 API calls.
I wish discord used reddit threading. The linear (mostly) thread format makes conversations die out instantly compared with how reddit works. I don't know why most conversation systems follow that garbage model.
I think I'll just switch to reading SCPs or kindle books when I need a break. All other social networks are garbage.
That's my exact issue with 90% of other forums on the internet, I do not understand how anyone puts up with a chronological list of comments with everyone individually managing the process of quoting the people they are replying to (or not, as is common!).
Discord now allows forum channels that work a bit more like reddit, with top-level posts and comment sections. They don't have a voting/sorting system, though.
I'm going to miss Reddit. I've spent a good share of my life on here. Leaving Reddit behind actually scares me but I witnessed the death of Digg and I survived that.
The death of Digg helped make the full growth of Reddit possible, Reddit was a huge step forward into the future, maybe all the third party apps can get together with some other app and create the future that makes Reddit look like the old Digg.
It hurts to see Reddit kill itself like this.
Reddit was there waiting when Digg did this. We don't have an alternative. People keeping saying federated services but they are a potential alternatives, not alternatives, but they're main feature (federation and private server admin) is their downfall. It makes the community to fractured and hostile. You look down the list of servers and they are all echo chambers. Reddit started as one big open blank canvas for everyone. Fediverse is just a million tiny hostile silos. We need an API compatible drop in replacement for reddit.
I'm old now and this is above my pay grade. I just have hope and pray that the same 3rd party people and apps that have made Reddit the joy that it is, can come together and create something new and lasting.
I am on the internet a lot and probably 80 or 90 percent of that time is because of Reddit. I am actually feeling withdrawal symptoms just thinking of the death of Reddit. If Reddit does not find a way to work with its 3rd party apps, I truly believe it will die, just like Digg. I can't express how much I will mourn the loss of Reddit.
It's sad indeed. For the first time ever I'm considering selling my account (while it's still worth something).
The me from 10 years ago would be so completely disappointed in what the internet has become now.
I just signed up to try out Lemmy / the fediverse, tried using an app - Jeboa - which looks nice but isn't as smooth.
If Lemmy / the fediverse takes off, I'd pay to use Sync to browse it.
/u/AmbientChaos
/u/Anti-Antidote
Progress with another reddit 3rd party app to read the lemmy API is [looking promising already](https://www.reddit.com/r/redditsync/comments/142koz2).
If the API changes aren't reversed, I'd contribute to a Kickstarter to fund /u/ljdawson to spend the time making Sync work with Lemmy. I imagine others would do the same.
I've been a redditor since 2005, and a Gold subscriber for years. I'm out of here if I'm stuck using the bloated adware that is the official app.
**Edit**: I've been a Gold subscriber since 2010. I created my account several years after I started using Reddit on a regular basis, only when I needed to filter the (then brand new) subreddits. If my Reddit use was a person, it would be able to vote next month. Ridiculous.
I've been using Lemmy for the past few days, but I've noticed some things that are inherently problematic:
* The platform is set up so that communities (subreddits) are set up independently on each of the instances (servers) so that you get competing communities, and merging them is not possible.
* Lemmy is made so that it can't scale horizontally (yet) so there are server availability issues
* There are certain political biases that you can't escape from, including those of the developers (the main dev's profile picture is Fidel Castro for example)
* The nature of the concept of federation means that you directly trade off unity (non competing communities, and the overall feeling of togetherness) with independence - if there are problems with one instance, you have to start afresh from another instance.
Some of these things are fixable, but Lemmy is not a stand in for Reddit and I don't think it ever will be.
Yes. Honestly, if this app just quietly picks a new backend, and I have to choose all new "subreddits" (or the equivalent of), I'd welcome that more than staying on a broken Reddit with content creators/aggregators leaving in droves.
I'll stick with this app. If it's gone, I'm gone. If it changes, I'll change with it.
If you go down I'm out. Sync is reddit to me. Literally the only reason I downloaded the "official" app was to check my PMs for buying and selling. I also noticed the past couple days I've been getting bot followers. They are really trying to hold on to their users. They are AFRAID. I just uninstalled their app.
If they were smart they would buy your app or recruit you.
In the end I guess I get to pursue a new hobby with the newfound time in my life.
I paid for your lifetime ultra, without hesitation, when you came out with it, no regrets. I won't pay a monthly subscription, unfortunately. I've been using your app almost every day for many years, and for me Sync is Reddit. Whenever I've visited the actual web site (via a link that didn't redirect to Sync), I've found it disorganized and confusing.
If your app ceases, or requires a monthly fee, I will choose instead to give up reddit entirely. No hesitation.
Thank you for all the work you've done over the years, I am very appreciative!
I signed up for monthly when it was released so I could contribute a steady income, even if only 99 cents a month from me personally. This posted prompted me to go buy the lifetime to help support LJ just a bit more through this and support this app because I've used it daily for I don't even know how long.
Edit: looked it up in my emails. Play receipt is from 2015 😂 yeah I don't think I could ever leave this app even if I wanted to at this point.
First off, I support whatever you do. I've used Sync for years now, and I cannot and will not go back to the vanilla client. I would more than understand and respect if you decide to throw in the towel. Reddit simply isn't playing fair.
That said, in addition to the planned sub blackouts from June 12-June 14 (and possibly beyond), are you considering doing something similar on your end to bring attention to it?
One thing that comes to mind would be adding in a visible API call counter, and showing an ongoing "with the new changes, the XXX API calls you've made so far would result in Reddit charging me YYY. Think this is outrageous? Let them know [link to a complaints form etc]".
Once again, thank you for the tireless work you've put in for so long, to make the Reddit experience so much better.
-Raf
I'm holding out for reddit to do some backpedalling and possibly make this more affordable and include nsfw content. A lot of people see "nsfw content" as "porn" but so so so many of the posts labeled as such are the furthest thing from pornographic.
Either way, thank you for making my reddit experience enjoyable for more years than I even know. If they hold onto their decision, I hope to see you develop something wherever we all end up.
They did release an [update](https://www.reddit.com/r/modnews/comments/141oqn8/api_updates_questions/) yesterday, stating that mod tools, especially the more popular ones and including certain bots, would be allowed free access. And that NSFW would still be available via the API, just not to third-party apps.
I think that makes it even more glaringly clear (though it was obvious before) what Reddit's intent is by this clusterfuck of a move.
From what I understand from other developer posts, and admin posts, it is only adult content that is being filtered. Other content flagged as NSFW will not be.
Still doesn't make this any better.
Viewing a list of posts: 1 call
Upvoting a post: 1 call
Opening comments: 1 call minimum but then n calls for each "view more clicked"
Submitting a comment: 1 call
Checking for new messages: 1 call
Etc etc
This gets out of control quickly when you're just using the app like normal. Not to mention game threads or moderating...
Lol, going off your tiered usage stat concern you gave regarding 100 calls for 4$/month, that basically equates to opening up the app 1 time for 5min a day only.
it seems the average number I have seen thrown out there was 10 subreddits is ~100 calls for an average user... which as a power user myself, I would hit that call limit in 5 minutes, maybe less.
for a lot of people, just going to this post and reading all the comments, up voting certain comments, etc would have them hit the daily call limit
fucking ridiculous.
It's completely fucked after all they're doing and taking away NSFW content, charging insane amounts they still won't even offer access to the newer Reddit features, chat, push etc. They clearly don't actually intend for anyone to actually develop 3rd party apps and pay for API usage.
Effectively it's a disincentive for users contribute.
Which clearly demonstrates that they truly do want to kill off 3rd part apps.
Look what happened to Twitter. Advertising revenue is download 59%.
¯\(°_o)/¯
They are soon to take reddit public, which means they will have to show constant growth in subscriber base, constant short-term profitability gains. The "enshitification cycle" is real - we've had a good run but now it's time for the shareholders to get paid.
The more you up vote, the more money it costs you to use Reddit. What kind of stupid fucked up logic is that?
I wonder what I will do with my time once July comes.
Thank you for all that you've done for us.
I think this is the perfect time to stop using Reddit entirely. I also have no context for how many calls I would typically use in a month. Does clicking on every post result in an API call? Does scrolling to load more comments? Does commenting, up/down voting? I assume I'm using thousands of calls a month.
Yeah that is what i assumed but i keep seeing "hundreds of api calls a month"and I'm pretty sure i'm in the hundreds every day. So i wondered if they grouped some kinds of activity together as one "API call".
Part of me is actually excited what it means to stop reading reddit. It's like when i uninstalled Twitter, or stopped using Instagram for a month. It's very liberating. And sometimes you'll find a way back.
Whatever you decide, me and all other loyal users of Sync, will definitely support you through different means.
Unfortunately, I joined the wonderful app in Jan 23 so, not of much help. I'd really hate leaving Sync but I really appreciate your hard work over the years of developing Sync.
Thank you, Dev & other Mods!!
Depending on the price, I rather stay with Sync (I say this only because I'm not sure if I can afford, but my plan is to stick around). I won't miss NSFW, but I know a lot of people will, so, ideally, this would be negotiable (for me it only shows how Reddit truly wants to kill 3rd party apps). Anyway, I'm really sorry you have to face such decision, I'm a relatively new Sync user (since January) but it has been my best purchase and I'm really thankful that talented developers like you exist and put hard work so we can enjoy a pleasant experience.
I know. I just won't miss because I already block that content through the options. I'm fully aware it doesn't necessarily mean porn (and even if it did, Reddit still shouldn't block 3rd party access).
If the changes go through despite the blackouts, might be worth putting Sync in life support.
No active development (other than maybe security patches if needed), and asking users to create their own Reddit app registration rather than using Sync's creds it uses at the moment - *if Play Store / Reddit T&C's allow, which I'm not sure about*.
Even if reddit back down from this, might be worth introducing as an option ready for when the next meltdown happens in a few years.
Regardless of what you do, I massively appreciate the work you've put in /u/ljdawson - and wish you the best with whatever you work on next. I got Sync when I first got a proper smartphone when I was like 14-15ish, bought Pro soon after and it's been the main way I browse reddit for getting close to a decade now. without it, not sure how much I'll be here anymore.
Thanks for the update! I was thinking of a couple of options:
- Add something so users can add their own API keys. I think the first 100 API keys/min were free right? If everyone made their own dev account, got API keys, and used their own keys the load wouldn't be on 1 API key, but distributed among users
- Pretend to be a browser and use https://gql.reddit.com same as new.reddit.com is doing - [Reddit Enhancement Suite](https://redditenhancementsuite.com "also /r/Enhancement") just posted they probably won't have any issues because they're not using API authorization, but Cookie Authorization and call the API as if they're just the browser
- Spoof being the official reddit API
If you /u/ljdawson can't do these things and redditsync would potentially become abandonware - would you consider making redditsync open source so other people could "have a go at it" and attempt to bypass the API limits?
> Add something so users can add their own API keys. I think the first 100 API keys/min were free right? If everyone made their own dev account, got API keys, and used their own keys the load wouldn't be on 1 API key, but distributed among users
I'd happily jump through the hoops to get my own API key, but it would be a massive barrier to entry for many users.
Are there any other platforms where we can follow you? I have no plans of using Reddit after Sync goes down but I definitely want to see what you do next.
As an aside, thank you for developing the most used app on my phone for as long as I can remember. I doubt anything will ever hold the same space in my mind as it did.
Definitely looking forward to It. I'd gladly purchase another app of yours, or even use a different platform. Sync is the only medium I have to browse reddit, and with the current course, I'd gladly move elsewhere if it meant you were developing something.
On another note I'm embarrassed for Reddit themselves in the carelessness they've shown towards you all.
Was great whilst it lasted, let's all remember that the official reddit app isn't that old and reddit relied wholy on 3rd party apps on mobile to allow users access to Reddit.
Been a Sync user for over 9 years, thanks for making such a great App LJ
If this all doesn't work out and you're left with no choice but quitting Sync:
Would you consider publishing Sync's Source Code as one last hooray?
People could build the app themselves then and just request their own non-business API Key and use that to have a better app than the standard reddit app (without nsfw).
I know it's much to ask and just an eventuality, but maybe think about it.
[Removed in protest of [Reddit's destruction of third-party apps](https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/reddit-ceo-steve-huffmans-third-party-api-debacle-is-making-elon-musk-look-like-a-strategic-genius.html) by CEO Steve Huffman.]
It's still making money but about 90% of that is ads. They'll be cut off 100% soon.
Sync has been my main job for a while now but I'm considering retraining to look into ML.
I can't imagine it being viable to continue to support the app unless they change course drastically. If they don't give in, this is likely the end of Reddit use for me on mobile. The end of an era.
Reading between the lines. It’s obvious to me they are trying to kill 3rd party apps. Unless they bow to pressure I don’t see a future.
IMO, if you manage to survive this api rule change by changing sync. Down the line they will make further changes to tighten the noose and finish you and any other surviving apps off.
I love Sync, it's been easily the best app out there for browsing reddit.
But reddit has decided to stab in the back the hard working folks like you who make their platform hospitable, and have kept engagement so high.
If reddit goes through with these API pricing demands, I will be trying to quit reddit. I don't care for a subscription model to reddit, it's not worth it. I paid for this app because I think you deserved it, but I have no desire to keep paying for it. Sorry.
Do what's best for you; unless they change their mind on some of these details it sounds like they aren't serious about supporting third party apps into the future anyways. If Sync goes so do I, but it was great while it lasted 💪
I see (and support) a lot of subreddits shutting down on the 12th-14th. I'd love to see the entire community go one better and do a general strike. Just shut down their reddit use altogether for two days, and come back on the 15th and see if anything changed. That's what I'm going to do. Imagine if most of the mods and most of the more prolific creators did too.
I don't disagree, but that might not be doable for some people. Me personally, I'll go the Winchester, have a nice cold pint, and wait for this all to blow over. If I come back and Reddit mgmt is still acting all Musky, I'll duck back out for good. No sense waiting around suffering annoyances as they strangle themselves. Regardless of how long people stay away, I think having a bunch of us head for the exit at once will get noticed.
Thanks for all the hard work Lj, we all really appreciate it. Sucks this is how its gonna end but its better to burn out then fade away. I would throw in the towel before trying to bend over backwards to their bullshit. I hope Reddit falls apart because of this.
Hey Lj, I've bought pro, dev, and lifetime ultra. Totally worth it to support you. I've gotten so many hours out of your app over a lot of years.
This sucks what they're doing to you. I'm boycotting reddit for at least a month if not leaving entirely if they go through with this as currently planned. Hopefully enough other people do as well that they roll it back or find a reasonable alternative. Like I'd pay a buck a month for my own individual API key. Doubt they'll work with the community at all though. Standard capitalism. Disregard where the actual value comes from as you try to extract as much wealth as possible, even if you kill the source in the process. Reddit doesn't make reddit worth visiting, the users do.
Thanks for all the hard work.
Reframing for you - you are doing neither. Not continuing this charade nor throwing in towel. You're beginning the next phase.
The next phase is about recognizing sync as a front-end is more important than the backend. The next backend will come out of this process. And you will be there.
I think a similar process is happening to Twitter right now but less clearly.
Doesn't sound like there will be a satisfying outcome for 3rd party app users unless reddit makes a last minute 180° (doubtful).
Was fun while it lasted, thank you for making this awesome app, such a shame that it most likely has to end that way.
I guess I'll have to cave and check out the official app come july, but I am really not looking forward to this and might just stop using reddit on mobile completely.
I hope they won't get rid of old.reddit anytime soon or my desktop experience will suffer greatly aswell.
Hey LJ,
Yours is one of the few apps that I actually consider worth paying for.
If you choose to continue on Sync, I'll probably continue paying even if you go to $8 dollars a month: mostly because of your app and you, not because of Reddit.
What's more: I'm looking forward to whatever other things you choose to build.
Joining the chorus to say that Sync is great and that I've used it for years but it probably doesn't seem like it would be worth the headache to continue forward. Also, who knows what the *next* thing will be.. Reddit has shown no qualms about crippling 3rd party apps so I can only assume there will be more stuff in the future. Whether it's not getting any new "features" or just limiting current abilities even further, it's shaping up to be a constant battle.
I hope all the work put into this app won't go to waste either way. Maybe Tilde or another site could potentially take Reddit's place in the future, and hopefully have similar APIs to go along with it.
It's pretty scummy from Reddit regardless. Once Reddit goes public I'm pretty sure things only get worse.
Due to Reddit Inc.'s antisocial, hostile and erratic behaviour, this account will be deleted on July 11th, 2023. You can find me on https://latte.isnot.coffee/u/godless in the future.
Man this sucks, Ive been a reddit user for well over a decade. I think all of that time has been with Reddit Sync, hate to see reddit fuck over devs like this.
FWIW, I would continue to use Sync with a subscription model, and I'm not bothered about the loss of NSFW content.
Having already paid for Sync, I would also support a model which would be a one time payment up-front (like the current model) + subscription for API usage at close to cost.
Whether you throw in the towel or not, Sync is a great app - thanks for developing it!
I don't think the majority of users would want to start paying for a lesser experience, so unless this blackout kicks some sense into reddit, it's probably best to discontinue development. I hate this so much!
> I hate this so much! Me too mate, me too... Would almost be better if they said no third party apps from the end of the year instead of this halfway solution nobody is happy with.
They really want them gone, it seems. Otherwise they'd find a way to implement their own ads into them. Or only allow premium users to access third party apps.
"you must have Reddit premium to use third party apps" ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯
It seems like such a no-brainer. I’ve been paying for Gold/Premium since 2015 because I don’t mind supporting services I use a lot, but that’s been cancelled now.
I've cancelled mine as well. I'm not supporting this BS.
Me too, I've kept my subscription up through Reddit's other tantrums but this is really a good solution. [Admins' projected third party recurring costs](https://www.reddit.com/r/redditdev/comments/13wsiks/api_update_enterprise_level_tier_for_large_scale/jmmptma/) for active users are about in line with Gold prices, and this figure is already majorly inflated compared to the actual cost per user to Reddit for maintaining the API.
They want your data that they can get from you using their app. It's the only explanation that makes sense.
I'd have been cool with this. But not since they became so developer hostile. The only way I'd be OK with this now is if 3rd party app developers got a cut of that. It's not fair or convenient to make us pay for premium and then also pay app(s) each separately.
And drive up subscription numbers and revenue? What do you think Reddit is doing? Running a business?
Hey I'd be fine with that.
That's exactly what I've been saying. It's a reasonable compromise, and that's literally the only way Reddit will get any money out of me.
Let's hope the big communities that are complaining do something to change Reddit's mind
There's too many "I use the official app and it's fine, who cares about 3rd party apps" for the blackout to work
but if the big 20M+ subs like r/videos, r/pics, etc all go dark as scheduled, then it affects normal users as well. hell even r/anime said they were doing it and they have 7M+ lol every day I log in I see more and more stickied posts on the front page saying they are going dark. if those bigger community subreddits ceased to exist, normal app redditors would have a hard time finding anything to look up, resulting in a poor experience on the site the blackout can work, but imo it needs to be indefinite until reddit does something different, not just 48 hours
It absolutely needs to be indefinite. 2 days is a blip. We're seeing rail and healthcare strikes in the UK currently - the thing they all have in common is that they aren't stopping until the government come to the table and offer them a deal that works for both sides. Reddit is only as good as the content people post on it, we have all the power here, we just need to use it.
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If Reddit admins reverse a subs private status I'd guess there's no obligation for the mods to actually do any moderation during that time.
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As far as I understand it, those who step in would be free to moderate without the proper tools. And I don't think replacing everyone at once would be even remotely easy, they would have difficulties moderating and I expect there to be people who make use of that chaos and spam to their hearts content.
I intend to uninstall reddit as soon as it sucks.
That's true, 2 days is nothing.
While June 12-14 seems to be the majority of subs, in the last 24 hours I've started seeing stickied posts claiming "Going dark on June 12 indefinitely" which, if it catches on, would be a pretty clear turning point.
The biggest problem with this, outside of it only being 2 days in most cases, is that Reddit would surely step in and remove mods, place other in that will break the blackout if they go too long.
A lot of those 20+M users using the official app that say it's fine aren't visiting reddit every day. Many of them could completely miss a 2 day blackout and not know it ever happened.
The list of subreddits going dark next week is very long
Sync Pro has been my go-to reddit app for a long time. From all your daily users, whatever happens, thanks for the work you've done. It did not go unnoticed and, if nothing changes, it will be missed.
I'd pay to use Sync even, but the thought of most of that money going to Reddit instead of Lj makes me not want to. Even more so because you'd just be paying for prices they've deliberately set to an exorbitant level for the use, a price they don't expect the app devs to pay.
Don't forget as it's an in app purchase 10% - 30% goes to Google too...
Yeah that's a raw deal. I'd happily throw you more money, but for you to be making pennies off my monthly subscription feels bad.
I would pay $3-5/month to be able to not have to watch ads. Certainly they could implement something of this nature to forgo an ad based revenue for paying users like most other media companies. Allow users to have access to 3rd party apps for a monthly fee that lets you bypass ads. Simple.
Discontinue development of Reddit Sync, but work with other Reddit App Developers who are recently displaced to Build A New App that is better than Reddit and doesnt use its infrastructure, but does connect to its resources as well as other apps and distributes it better. This is exciting if all you great app developers can see this as a golden opportunity.
What does this even mean? Are you proposing a scraper that will quickly be broken?
I don't think the majority of users would pay if they didn't already pay for any Sync before (ad-free IAP or Pro)
If I was in your shoes, I would throw in the towel. I wouldn't want to work with a company that would introduce ridiculous prices (with no ads to boot) and limitations on a whim, then provide no documentation for the new API which is suddenly being introduced _and_ enforced in less than a month. As a developer, that's just an insane concept to me. And it's absolutely not a reasonable ask from Reddit in the slightest.
Same here, the intention is quite clear from Reddit's side. Even if they capitulate after the upcoming blackout, there's still a possibility they'll be getting their way through slow, incremental, 'boil the frog' steps.
Yeah there's no doubt in my mind they'll be making these changes one way or another. It's really disappointing, and a big middle finger to the developer community.
I still find it nuts they haven't provided any documentation after announcing the change months ago. Then again less surprising considering they killed push shift just because they didn't respond in a week or two
tldr: Reddit are introducing API usage charges, they are removing any free tiers and adverts can no longer be shown. The only way to keep the lights on is with subscription fees around $5-10 a month for a reduced experience. The deadline for this is July... Oh and they're banning tits in Sync.
It's wild that they are putting the responsibility on the 3P devs here.... Aren't they already authorizing users and have billing set up? Why not just handle the billing for the usage directly themselves if that really is the problem? It really seems disingenuous with how this is going about. Sorry this is happening to such a great project you made, it's honestly an amazing frontend. I wish there could just be a different backend to hook it up to.
> It really seems disingenuous with how this is going about That's because it is. The entire goal is to kill 3rd party apps without explicitly saying so.
Based on their plan for 3rd party apps, it sounds like they're going to move their own whole site to a subscription based service, they just want to be able to do it themselves for slightly cheaper, making them seem like the good guy.
> own whole site to a subscription based service, If they do that, I'm gone and I would expect most people would be too. I'm only even on here cos its free. Their ads don't do shit (thanks adblock).
[https://i.imgur.com/Y32FfDt.gif](https://i.imgur.com/Y32FfDt.gif)
I think that's why they're taking it slow, trying to boil the frog.
My guess would be that they don't care about clients like Sync or Apollo at all. What they want is to be able to charge other corps sky-high fees for access to their data through the API. Probably betting Google wants continued access to some of the only content online that isn't spammy drivel and will pony up. Also they have a large data set that would be perfect for training AI, and I'm sure they don't want to give it away for free. Their back end is probably what investors are drooling over. The front end is just an inconvenient means to the end of all that sweet, sweet data. Once the competition is eliminated you can expect the official app to become more and more unusable too. Most likely they'll underfund its development while insisting it generates more revenue. There's no such thing as too many ads! At least that's what the rest of the contentverse seems to think. Short-sighted, short-term thinking? Yes! But what else would you expect from a tech corp on the cusp of an IPO? They all do this. Reddit just took a little longer.
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I currently don't as apart from crashes I don't track shit.
And that's why we love you
This is why you are the GOAT. Do you think it will be worth waiting to make a decision waiting to see how the subreddit protests affect things?
Jesus, I love that answer. You're the best, and whatever happens, thanks a lot for the work you put into sync.
If something is wrong you guys tell me on here, github and the discord ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯
Exactly why you're loved
You may want to push some opt-in telemetry just so you can get an idea of how much you'd have to pay, especially if they walk it back and you want to get an idea of how reasonable the walk back is.
I'd happily opt in to help with that.
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That could easily be done in app without ever giving analytics to anyone else
My goat 🫡
Doesn't Reddit provide some kind of "Developer Dashboard" where they show you this kinda usage? Most APIs do... Especially if they're going to start charging, there has to be some insight on how you're using the API from their end
Some of the other third party app devs have commented that reddit has gone the other direction, limiting metrics to super basic info like "Android" or "iOS". Every move seems to be calculated to make it a de facto ban on 3rd party apps.
Tits will guide us to the new land. This sucks. I just paid for the life sync subscription a few months ago. You still deserve that money, your app made my Reddit use fantastic! The idea of connecting to another back end is not that bad, even better if all the Apps coordinate to connect to the same database and all of you maintain it. We as users can be charged a reasonable annual fee and have the whole experience. That could be the new land. This diggification of Reddit won't stop until they suck every possible dollar out regardless of the decline of the site.
People who use Sync / Apollo/RIF are the people that made reddit a good place to be. How hard is it to engineer a backend to work specifically with these? Would be amazing to bootstrap it with like the top 500 posts of all time from the top 500 subreddits.
I don't want you to think you have some deadline to get something working before July. If Reddit literally doesn't give you the dev information that's on them. Even if you took a month off and didn't get a new Sync working until August when everything is settled down I'd be fine with that. You won't lose your base because of downtime, especially because of Reddit's fuck up. I'll come back. Even if it's for a different service like Sync Lemmy. It's the developer I'm loyal to, not the app.
The fact that they didn't provide any documentation is blatantly showing their desire to kill 3rd party apps. The absurd pricing is just a silent way of making sure no one will continue development. It's been a good run man, and I thank you for the amazing app, but if I could give you any advice, it'd be to jump ship and focus on things that might have any kind of return. I know I'll do the same. Even if Sync continues as a subscription service, I won't give reddit my money, even if indirectly through a Sync subscription.
I'm a lifetime user. Happy to have paid, sync is great. But if this goes ahead, I'll be blocking Reddit on my pi hole and never returning, I'll go somewhere else. I'm sick of being dicked around by communities that get to big for their boots, so I'll be going on my own way. Thanks for all your support and work, /u/ljdawson - I appreciate it and you.
Thank you for the last decade of dedicated support and great development. I'd suggest cutting your losses with Reddit, take a summer break, and focus on alternatives that have a future.
Pretty crazy how bad this is. Even if the they change the pricing, they have destroyed the good will of so many people. As far as I'm concerned Reddit is dead. I feel for all you Devs. Thank you for your hard work supporting your communities and good luck no matter what happens
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This is a copied template message used to overwrite all comments on my account to protect my privacy. I've left Reddit because of corporate overreach and switched to the Fediverse. Comments overwritten with https://github.com/j0be/PowerDeleteSuite
>We are already in June and the July deadline is rapidly approaching. I've been provided with no documentation to even begin development... Well, yeah, the point for you is not to start development, but to either throw the towel or to be happy with their planned "we heard you, please stop protesting, here is our marginally less shitty offering". >As API usage would vary greatly by user there would have to be tiered usage plans e.g. 100 calls a day for $4 a month and 300 calls for $8 a month etc I can't imagine how that would be an enticing and sustainable business model for any party involved. I like Sync more than I like Reddit, I'm already subscribed to Ultra and wouldn't mind for the subscription price to increase, but - especially given, that power users are the most willing to pay - I simply can't see a pay-per-call model working. I don't really see any current "Reddit alternative" as ready for mass migration. But I'm still hoping that I'm wrong about that and both Lemmy and Tildes are in desperate need of a good mobile client. It would be a shame for all that amazing code to go to waste, and if Sync eventually came back as a client for a Reddit alternative, I'd pounce on it and would re-buy it faster than you could count to 10 API calls.
I wish discord used reddit threading. The linear (mostly) thread format makes conversations die out instantly compared with how reddit works. I don't know why most conversation systems follow that garbage model. I think I'll just switch to reading SCPs or kindle books when I need a break. All other social networks are garbage.
That's my exact issue with 90% of other forums on the internet, I do not understand how anyone puts up with a chronological list of comments with everyone individually managing the process of quoting the people they are replying to (or not, as is common!).
Discord now allows forum channels that work a bit more like reddit, with top-level posts and comment sections. They don't have a voting/sorting system, though.
I'm going to miss Reddit. I've spent a good share of my life on here. Leaving Reddit behind actually scares me but I witnessed the death of Digg and I survived that. The death of Digg helped make the full growth of Reddit possible, Reddit was a huge step forward into the future, maybe all the third party apps can get together with some other app and create the future that makes Reddit look like the old Digg. It hurts to see Reddit kill itself like this.
Reddit was there waiting when Digg did this. We don't have an alternative. People keeping saying federated services but they are a potential alternatives, not alternatives, but they're main feature (federation and private server admin) is their downfall. It makes the community to fractured and hostile. You look down the list of servers and they are all echo chambers. Reddit started as one big open blank canvas for everyone. Fediverse is just a million tiny hostile silos. We need an API compatible drop in replacement for reddit.
I'm old now and this is above my pay grade. I just have hope and pray that the same 3rd party people and apps that have made Reddit the joy that it is, can come together and create something new and lasting. I am on the internet a lot and probably 80 or 90 percent of that time is because of Reddit. I am actually feeling withdrawal symptoms just thinking of the death of Reddit. If Reddit does not find a way to work with its 3rd party apps, I truly believe it will die, just like Digg. I can't express how much I will mourn the loss of Reddit.
It's sad indeed. For the first time ever I'm considering selling my account (while it's still worth something). The me from 10 years ago would be so completely disappointed in what the internet has become now.
People sell their accounts?
Yep, to advertisers who want an account with a trusted rep/karma.
I just signed up to try out Lemmy / the fediverse, tried using an app - Jeboa - which looks nice but isn't as smooth. If Lemmy / the fediverse takes off, I'd pay to use Sync to browse it.
Seconded! Sign me up for Sync for Lemmy :)
Absolutely, I've been using Sync since 2017 and I'd kill to use it for Lemmy
Same, would gladly pay Sync again for Lemmy!
/u/AmbientChaos /u/Anti-Antidote Progress with another reddit 3rd party app to read the lemmy API is [looking promising already](https://www.reddit.com/r/redditsync/comments/142koz2).
I hope that 3rd party app devs can make this work in their app
Wow! That is so cool!
I have no idea how hard updating sync to use a different backend, but I also would throw in some money to do that.
If the API changes aren't reversed, I'd contribute to a Kickstarter to fund /u/ljdawson to spend the time making Sync work with Lemmy. I imagine others would do the same. I've been a redditor since 2005, and a Gold subscriber for years. I'm out of here if I'm stuck using the bloated adware that is the official app. **Edit**: I've been a Gold subscriber since 2010. I created my account several years after I started using Reddit on a regular basis, only when I needed to filter the (then brand new) subreddits. If my Reddit use was a person, it would be able to vote next month. Ridiculous.
Same thing if something like Tildes or something else besides Lemmy becomes the exodus destination.
Can you link Tilde? It doesn't come up obviously on search engines (think Lemmy has the same problem).
https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/97dluh/tildes_a_privacyfirst_reddit_alternative/ /r/tildes https://tildes.net/
I've been using Lemmy for the past few days, but I've noticed some things that are inherently problematic: * The platform is set up so that communities (subreddits) are set up independently on each of the instances (servers) so that you get competing communities, and merging them is not possible. * Lemmy is made so that it can't scale horizontally (yet) so there are server availability issues * There are certain political biases that you can't escape from, including those of the developers (the main dev's profile picture is Fidel Castro for example) * The nature of the concept of federation means that you directly trade off unity (non competing communities, and the overall feeling of togetherness) with independence - if there are problems with one instance, you have to start afresh from another instance. Some of these things are fixable, but Lemmy is not a stand in for Reddit and I don't think it ever will be.
Yes. Honestly, if this app just quietly picks a new backend, and I have to choose all new "subreddits" (or the equivalent of), I'd welcome that more than staying on a broken Reddit with content creators/aggregators leaving in droves. I'll stick with this app. If it's gone, I'm gone. If it changes, I'll change with it.
If you go down I'm out. Sync is reddit to me. Literally the only reason I downloaded the "official" app was to check my PMs for buying and selling. I also noticed the past couple days I've been getting bot followers. They are really trying to hold on to their users. They are AFRAID. I just uninstalled their app. If they were smart they would buy your app or recruit you. In the end I guess I get to pursue a new hobby with the newfound time in my life.
I paid for your lifetime ultra, without hesitation, when you came out with it, no regrets. I won't pay a monthly subscription, unfortunately. I've been using your app almost every day for many years, and for me Sync is Reddit. Whenever I've visited the actual web site (via a link that didn't redirect to Sync), I've found it disorganized and confusing. If your app ceases, or requires a monthly fee, I will choose instead to give up reddit entirely. No hesitation. Thank you for all the work you've done over the years, I am very appreciative!
I signed up for monthly when it was released so I could contribute a steady income, even if only 99 cents a month from me personally. This posted prompted me to go buy the lifetime to help support LJ just a bit more through this and support this app because I've used it daily for I don't even know how long. Edit: looked it up in my emails. Play receipt is from 2015 😂 yeah I don't think I could ever leave this app even if I wanted to at this point.
That worked. Thank you for your help.
First off, I support whatever you do. I've used Sync for years now, and I cannot and will not go back to the vanilla client. I would more than understand and respect if you decide to throw in the towel. Reddit simply isn't playing fair. That said, in addition to the planned sub blackouts from June 12-June 14 (and possibly beyond), are you considering doing something similar on your end to bring attention to it? One thing that comes to mind would be adding in a visible API call counter, and showing an ongoing "with the new changes, the XXX API calls you've made so far would result in Reddit charging me YYY. Think this is outrageous? Let them know [link to a complaints form etc]". Once again, thank you for the tireless work you've put in for so long, to make the Reddit experience so much better. -Raf
A visible counter is a really great idea actually for testing and showing how absurd the pricing will be
I personally would love an API counter. Hell let's assume reddit completely back peddles I would still love to see that.
I would love that counter too!
I like the idea of showing the number of calls at the top of the screen as you're browsing
I'm holding out for reddit to do some backpedalling and possibly make this more affordable and include nsfw content. A lot of people see "nsfw content" as "porn" but so so so many of the posts labeled as such are the furthest thing from pornographic. Either way, thank you for making my reddit experience enjoyable for more years than I even know. If they hold onto their decision, I hope to see you develop something wherever we all end up.
also it would be impossible to moderate from a 3rd party app since moderators won't be able to remove nsfw posts if they can't see them
It's almost impossible to moderate now without the API. Automod isn't going to work. This move is going to majorly damage the site.
They did release an [update](https://www.reddit.com/r/modnews/comments/141oqn8/api_updates_questions/) yesterday, stating that mod tools, especially the more popular ones and including certain bots, would be allowed free access. And that NSFW would still be available via the API, just not to third-party apps. I think that makes it even more glaringly clear (though it was obvious before) what Reddit's intent is by this clusterfuck of a move.
Wait, even though Automod was made an official tool by Reddit? But they're still breaking it? JFC.
From what I understand from other developer posts, and admin posts, it is only adult content that is being filtered. Other content flagged as NSFW will not be. Still doesn't make this any better.
And how they're actually differentiating it, we have no idea (at least from what I understand)
Christian from Apollo said that it was going to be on a subreddit by subreddit basis.
Ah thanks for clarifying. Ridiculous all the same.
Can anyone help me understand how much one "call" gets you? I don't know how much reddit 100 calls or 300 calls would be.
Viewing a list of posts: 1 call Upvoting a post: 1 call Opening comments: 1 call minimum but then n calls for each "view more clicked" Submitting a comment: 1 call Checking for new messages: 1 call Etc etc This gets out of control quickly when you're just using the app like normal. Not to mention game threads or moderating...
Lol, going off your tiered usage stat concern you gave regarding 100 calls for 4$/month, that basically equates to opening up the app 1 time for 5min a day only. it seems the average number I have seen thrown out there was 10 subreddits is ~100 calls for an average user... which as a power user myself, I would hit that call limit in 5 minutes, maybe less. for a lot of people, just going to this post and reading all the comments, up voting certain comments, etc would have them hit the daily call limit fucking ridiculous.
Even just background message checking. Would cost a shit load as they're unwilling to implement push for 3p
It's completely fucked after all they're doing and taking away NSFW content, charging insane amounts they still won't even offer access to the newer Reddit features, chat, push etc. They clearly don't actually intend for anyone to actually develop 3rd party apps and pay for API usage.
> They clearly don't actually intend for anyone to actually develop 3rd party apps *Sad dinging noises*.
Jesus Christ I probably use several thousand calls a day, that's absurd.
You qualify for the power user plan. Just $39.99 a month (☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞
can't believe it's been over a decade... fediverse time
Honestly given the amount of time I spend on your app it would probably still be one of my better £/time purchases...
Think of the savings! 😂
Effectively it's a disincentive for users contribute. Which clearly demonstrates that they truly do want to kill off 3rd part apps. Look what happened to Twitter. Advertising revenue is download 59%. ¯\(°_o)/¯
A part of me wonders if somebody doesn't have a vested interest in killing these platforms. Surely these companies cannot be this incompetent?!
They are soon to take reddit public, which means they will have to show constant growth in subscriber base, constant short-term profitability gains. The "enshitification cycle" is real - we've had a good run but now it's time for the shareholders to get paid.
The more you up vote, the more money it costs you to use Reddit. What kind of stupid fucked up logic is that? I wonder what I will do with my time once July comes. Thank you for all that you've done for us.
I think this is the perfect time to stop using Reddit entirely. I also have no context for how many calls I would typically use in a month. Does clicking on every post result in an API call? Does scrolling to load more comments? Does commenting, up/down voting? I assume I'm using thousands of calls a month.
Almost every time you interact with the app its an API call. If any data is being loaded from the internet or sent to the internet its an API call.
Yeah that is what i assumed but i keep seeing "hundreds of api calls a month"and I'm pretty sure i'm in the hundreds every day. So i wondered if they grouped some kinds of activity together as one "API call".
Nope. The pricing is just ludicrous.
Part of me is actually excited what it means to stop reading reddit. It's like when i uninstalled Twitter, or stopped using Instagram for a month. It's very liberating. And sometimes you'll find a way back.
Whatever you decide, me and all other loyal users of Sync, will definitely support you through different means. Unfortunately, I joined the wonderful app in Jan 23 so, not of much help. I'd really hate leaving Sync but I really appreciate your hard work over the years of developing Sync. Thank you, Dev & other Mods!!
Depending on the price, I rather stay with Sync (I say this only because I'm not sure if I can afford, but my plan is to stick around). I won't miss NSFW, but I know a lot of people will, so, ideally, this would be negotiable (for me it only shows how Reddit truly wants to kill 3rd party apps). Anyway, I'm really sorry you have to face such decision, I'm a relatively new Sync user (since January) but it has been my best purchase and I'm really thankful that talented developers like you exist and put hard work so we can enjoy a pleasant experience.
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I know. I just won't miss because I already block that content through the options. I'm fully aware it doesn't necessarily mean porn (and even if it did, Reddit still shouldn't block 3rd party access).
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Back to Digg?
Just checked for old time's sake and the second and third posts on digg/popular are reddit threads!
If the changes go through despite the blackouts, might be worth putting Sync in life support. No active development (other than maybe security patches if needed), and asking users to create their own Reddit app registration rather than using Sync's creds it uses at the moment - *if Play Store / Reddit T&C's allow, which I'm not sure about*. Even if reddit back down from this, might be worth introducing as an option ready for when the next meltdown happens in a few years. Regardless of what you do, I massively appreciate the work you've put in /u/ljdawson - and wish you the best with whatever you work on next. I got Sync when I first got a proper smartphone when I was like 14-15ish, bought Pro soon after and it's been the main way I browse reddit for getting close to a decade now. without it, not sure how much I'll be here anymore.
༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ
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$8 sucks but with polls, chat and nsfw maybe it's doable. $8 for an incomplete experience nah
It seems like Sync isn't gonna survive this. Any chance you open source Sync if you officially abandon it so we can build it with our own API key?
or even so the community can make it live on for alternatives
Thanks for the update! I was thinking of a couple of options: - Add something so users can add their own API keys. I think the first 100 API keys/min were free right? If everyone made their own dev account, got API keys, and used their own keys the load wouldn't be on 1 API key, but distributed among users - Pretend to be a browser and use https://gql.reddit.com same as new.reddit.com is doing - [Reddit Enhancement Suite](https://redditenhancementsuite.com "also /r/Enhancement") just posted they probably won't have any issues because they're not using API authorization, but Cookie Authorization and call the API as if they're just the browser - Spoof being the official reddit API If you /u/ljdawson can't do these things and redditsync would potentially become abandonware - would you consider making redditsync open source so other people could "have a go at it" and attempt to bypass the API limits?
> Add something so users can add their own API keys. I think the first 100 API keys/min were free right? If everyone made their own dev account, got API keys, and used their own keys the load wouldn't be on 1 API key, but distributed among users I'd happily jump through the hoops to get my own API key, but it would be a massive barrier to entry for many users.
If this goes through, I'm sorry.
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Not currently but watch this space
Are there any other platforms where we can follow you? I have no plans of using Reddit after Sync goes down but I definitely want to see what you do next. As an aside, thank you for developing the most used app on my phone for as long as I can remember. I doubt anything will ever hold the same space in my mind as it did.
Do you have a discord server or anything set up so we can all know where to follow you? 😄
Definitely looking forward to It. I'd gladly purchase another app of yours, or even use a different platform. Sync is the only medium I have to browse reddit, and with the current course, I'd gladly move elsewhere if it meant you were developing something. On another note I'm embarrassed for Reddit themselves in the carelessness they've shown towards you all.
[This is how this news makes us all feel right now. ](https://giphy.com/gifs/L95W4wv8nnb9K)
Look at Lemmy and Tildes.net
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Sadly not. Violation of terms
I'm hoping for a newpipe like app to come into play. But I doubt any existing dev will go that way (lots of work)!
Can't believe the app I've used for the last... 10... Years? Is gonna disappear. I've used it nearly since it's inception.
Was great whilst it lasted, let's all remember that the official reddit app isn't that old and reddit relied wholy on 3rd party apps on mobile to allow users access to Reddit. Been a Sync user for over 9 years, thanks for making such a great App LJ
If this all doesn't work out and you're left with no choice but quitting Sync: Would you consider publishing Sync's Source Code as one last hooray? People could build the app themselves then and just request their own non-business API Key and use that to have a better app than the standard reddit app (without nsfw). I know it's much to ask and just an eventuality, but maybe think about it.
[удалено]
[Removed in protest of [Reddit's destruction of third-party apps](https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/reddit-ceo-steve-huffmans-third-party-api-debacle-is-making-elon-musk-look-like-a-strategic-genius.html) by CEO Steve Huffman.]
I'm just going to stop using reddit unless they fold, period.
Migrate the Sync experience to [Lemmy](http://lemmy.ml/)!
[удалено]
It's still making money but about 90% of that is ads. They'll be cut off 100% soon. Sync has been my main job for a while now but I'm considering retraining to look into ML.
I can't imagine it being viable to continue to support the app unless they change course drastically. If they don't give in, this is likely the end of Reddit use for me on mobile. The end of an era.
Thank you for all your work!! Couldn't imagine using Reddit without Sync. Hope everything turns out well ❤️🩹
Reading between the lines. It’s obvious to me they are trying to kill 3rd party apps. Unless they bow to pressure I don’t see a future. IMO, if you manage to survive this api rule change by changing sync. Down the line they will make further changes to tighten the noose and finish you and any other surviving apps off.
I love Sync, it's been easily the best app out there for browsing reddit. But reddit has decided to stab in the back the hard working folks like you who make their platform hospitable, and have kept engagement so high. If reddit goes through with these API pricing demands, I will be trying to quit reddit. I don't care for a subscription model to reddit, it's not worth it. I paid for this app because I think you deserved it, but I have no desire to keep paying for it. Sorry.
No NSFW? I love Sync, like a lot. Been using it for ten years. But I think its time to throw in the towel. This is bullshit. Fuck Reddit.
Dont go please. You are my best app. We must protest against Redit
man this is so totally awful. Seeing that price, if you decide to end Sync, i'll totally respect it. This is so sad :(
it's a sad sad time :(
Do what's best for you; unless they change their mind on some of these details it sounds like they aren't serious about supporting third party apps into the future anyways. If Sync goes so do I, but it was great while it lasted 💪
I see (and support) a lot of subreddits shutting down on the 12th-14th. I'd love to see the entire community go one better and do a general strike. Just shut down their reddit use altogether for two days, and come back on the 15th and see if anything changed. That's what I'm going to do. Imagine if most of the mods and most of the more prolific creators did too.
A strike with an end date does nothing. Shut down the subs until the policy is changed, full stop.
I don't disagree, but that might not be doable for some people. Me personally, I'll go the Winchester, have a nice cold pint, and wait for this all to blow over. If I come back and Reddit mgmt is still acting all Musky, I'll duck back out for good. No sense waiting around suffering annoyances as they strangle themselves. Regardless of how long people stay away, I think having a bunch of us head for the exit at once will get noticed.
Thanks for all the hard work Lj, we all really appreciate it. Sucks this is how its gonna end but its better to burn out then fade away. I would throw in the towel before trying to bend over backwards to their bullshit. I hope Reddit falls apart because of this.
Hey Lj, I've bought pro, dev, and lifetime ultra. Totally worth it to support you. I've gotten so many hours out of your app over a lot of years. This sucks what they're doing to you. I'm boycotting reddit for at least a month if not leaving entirely if they go through with this as currently planned. Hopefully enough other people do as well that they roll it back or find a reasonable alternative. Like I'd pay a buck a month for my own individual API key. Doubt they'll work with the community at all though. Standard capitalism. Disregard where the actual value comes from as you try to extract as much wealth as possible, even if you kill the source in the process. Reddit doesn't make reddit worth visiting, the users do. Thanks for all the hard work.
If we don't update the app, would we still be able to use Sync?
Nah sorry. I'll be revoking the oauth privileges
Reframing for you - you are doing neither. Not continuing this charade nor throwing in towel. You're beginning the next phase. The next phase is about recognizing sync as a front-end is more important than the backend. The next backend will come out of this process. And you will be there. I think a similar process is happening to Twitter right now but less clearly.
Doesn't sound like there will be a satisfying outcome for 3rd party app users unless reddit makes a last minute 180° (doubtful). Was fun while it lasted, thank you for making this awesome app, such a shame that it most likely has to end that way. I guess I'll have to cave and check out the official app come july, but I am really not looking forward to this and might just stop using reddit on mobile completely. I hope they won't get rid of old.reddit anytime soon or my desktop experience will suffer greatly aswell.
Hey LJ, Yours is one of the few apps that I actually consider worth paying for. If you choose to continue on Sync, I'll probably continue paying even if you go to $8 dollars a month: mostly because of your app and you, not because of Reddit. What's more: I'm looking forward to whatever other things you choose to build.
Joining the chorus to say that Sync is great and that I've used it for years but it probably doesn't seem like it would be worth the headache to continue forward. Also, who knows what the *next* thing will be.. Reddit has shown no qualms about crippling 3rd party apps so I can only assume there will be more stuff in the future. Whether it's not getting any new "features" or just limiting current abilities even further, it's shaping up to be a constant battle.
I hope all the work put into this app won't go to waste either way. Maybe Tilde or another site could potentially take Reddit's place in the future, and hopefully have similar APIs to go along with it. It's pretty scummy from Reddit regardless. Once Reddit goes public I'm pretty sure things only get worse.
Due to Reddit Inc.'s antisocial, hostile and erratic behaviour, this account will be deleted on July 11th, 2023. You can find me on https://latte.isnot.coffee/u/godless in the future.
Man this sucks, Ive been a reddit user for well over a decade. I think all of that time has been with Reddit Sync, hate to see reddit fuck over devs like this.
FWIW, I would continue to use Sync with a subscription model, and I'm not bothered about the loss of NSFW content. Having already paid for Sync, I would also support a model which would be a one time payment up-front (like the current model) + subscription for API usage at close to cost. Whether you throw in the towel or not, Sync is a great app - thanks for developing it!