De-Authorize via Corona Website (Dashboard)

Solar2D Daily Builds and Public Releases
#1

It seems that the authorization/de-authorization process can be quite a headache. The current process for de-authorizing a computer the the user no longer has access to, is to fill out a support request and have Ansca take care of it manually.

A much better solution would be to provide users (perhaps just subscribers) with a way to manage which machines are authorized via the Corona website. This way, having access to a machine/virtual machine is no longer necessary. Perhaps even an option to “de-authorize all machines.”

To emphasize my point, here are just a few other forum topics regarding this exact issue:

http://developer.anscamobile.com/forum/2011/08/05/reinstalled-windows-after-crash-cant-deauthorizeauthorize

http://developer.anscamobile.com/forum/2011/09/25/cannot-use-my-license-two-different-machines

http://developer.anscamobile.com/forum/2011/06/02/unable-deauthorize

http://developer.anscamobile.com/forum/2011/08/04/stolen-macbook

I could find quite a few more too, those are just from one quick search. The common theme with all of these, is that they all require someone at Ansca to do something on their end… which means developers basically need to wait until the issue can be resolved by Ansca.

I realize that Ansca tries to answer all support ASAP, however there are a few forum threads which mention waiting upwards of 7 days to have machines deauthorized. 7 days of production time is a significant amount of time. [import]uid: 49447 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 315934[/import]

#2

+1 [import]uid: 5712 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 58939[/import]

#3

+1 [import]uid: 7911 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 58940[/import]

#4

+1 [import]uid: 5833 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 58949[/import]

#5

My MBP15 (2008) died on me, with a whole lot of software, etc. I had used one license on the iMac and the other on the MBP. When I got a replacement from the Insurance company, a nice new shiny one with Lion, I needed to re-install CoronaSDK on it, I got it reset.

How many times does this happen? Why would one need to change licenses that often? How many computers would one have?

I guess Pro developers must get an additional one for Windows in comparison to the Indie 2-machine licenses

You do not want to hear about my ordeal trying to install the other software activated on the new MBP.

If the activation/de-activation was in the Dashboard, wouldn’t that open up a whole *new* world?

Maybe allow only 2 changes per year per account would make sense.

cheers,

?:slight_smile: [import]uid: 3826 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 58987[/import]

#6

@JayantV

Though I haven’t run into this yet, I can think of a few reasons why you’d want something like this. Re-installed your operating system, or perhaps you installed in a virtual machine you no longer have access to. That’s in addition to the mentioned examples, like a broken computer or new purchase. It’s about the times you forget to plan for…or it just slips your mind. You install on two computers without thinking and suddenly you’re without a valid license; what do you do?

I agree though, it should be like iTunes authorizations…limit per year. Perhaps allow Ansca to step in if they’re needed beyond that. [import]uid: 21712 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 58990[/import]

#7

To this forum topic “http://developer.anscamobile.com/forum/2011/08/04/stolen-macbook”

Dude that sucks! [import]uid: 29181 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 59009[/import]

#8

@JayantV - I realize to some people this may seem like a non-issue. However, like TheOddLinguist was getting at, take a look from my perspective:

  • I have a subscription for both Android and iOS, which comes with 2 activations.

  • my main development machine is a windows desktop (that’s one license). To build IPA files for iOS, I run OSX inside of a VirtualBox (that’s two licenses).

  • If for any reason my VirtualBox instance won’t launch (it happens more than I would like), it means I’m out of luck, and need to wait for Ansca to reset my authorizations

So the desktop is my main development machine, but like most other developers out there, I also have a laptop for when I’m on the road, at the office, or otherwise away from home. My laptop is windows based, so again I need two licenses… one for Android development, and the other for OSX Virtual Machine.

If I know that I’ll be using my laptop for the day/week, before I leave the house I have to remember to deauthorize my desktop, and the virtual machine licenses. Then when I get back home, I have to do the same for my laptop licenses.

At best, it’s an inconvenience… when I remember to do that. If however, I don’t remember to deauthorize, then I get to wherever I was headed, open up my laptop, and stare at the screen realizing there isn’t much I can do about it, until I either get back home, or unless I send a support ticket to Ansca.

Either way, it’s at least a few hours of development time lost.

The only other option I can think of, is to sign up for another new account and use the public build temporarily, until I get back to my development machine (either desktop or laptop depending on the day) and then just copy/paste the project code. Of course, that’s not the most ideal process - both because it fills up the Ansca user database with extraneous accounts, and also because it means I’m jumping back and forth between stable builds and dailys (while I usually rely on specific features only in the daily builds, like tinting for example).

The limit of switching per year seems like an even worse idea, and a much bigger limitation. As far as I can tell, Ansca is 100% okay with people authorizing and deauthorizing… as long as only 2 licenses are active at any given time.

If you limit the number of switches, it means I could only transfer the license from my desktop to my laptop and back again ONE time. [import]uid: 49447 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 59059[/import]

#9

p.s. @JayantV “I guess Pro developers must get an additional one for Windows in comparison to the Indie 2-machine licenses”

as far as I’m aware, both Pro and Indie accounts have the same limitation of 2 machine licenses. And just to clarify, a virtual machine does in fact count as it’s own machine.

I haven’t tried building to Android on OSX yet… can you actually build both IPA and APK in OSX? If so, that automatically puts Windows users at an extreme disadvantage, since they would need to use both licenses to target both platforms.

One other workaround I can think of, would be to set all virtual machine instances to use the same Mac Address (I believe that’s how Corona tracks machines). So theoretically, if all virtual machines share the same MAC address, Corona won’t be able to tell them apart. I may test that out so see if it’s a valid workaround. [import]uid: 49447 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 59061[/import]

#10

@Producerism,
I am aware that each running instance is a license. My thoughts here are not in favour or against the idea, just a thought about something.

When I purchase Office for example, Microsoft offers that I can install it on a Desktop machine and a machine at home, now they call is the Laptop and Desktop license.

I do not see that any company would offer the flexibility that we are asking for where we can install stuff on VM’s that we can build, de-construct and rebuild.

I have an MSDN Premium subscription, so I have enough keys for the VM’s to test things with, but even there each VM that I build requires a key. What’s my point? My point is that maybe you have a case, but then if you have such a complex setup that requires you to change machines, too bad… Can you think of installing Photoshop on each of your machines and VM just because you use one or the other at some point of time, or just simple re-image it?

I still feel that there should be 2 licenses per OS, so a Pro Developer should have 2(iOS) + 2 (Win) licenses but once you install, you install (unless of course you lose a machine)

There should be CAL type licenses for those that need more, I had a client that was looking for a mass deployment in a learning environment, you can image how difficult that 2 license things can become. So if there is an option like extra CALS on the license, then additional machines can be added at a price.

just my thoughts…

cheers,

?:slight_smile: [import]uid: 3826 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 59080[/import]

#11

+1
and I am speechless as to no-one from Corona staff seems to be concerned about so many pro developers pain… [import]uid: 69481 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 68177[/import]

#12

+1
:slight_smile: [import]uid: 10884 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 72153[/import]

#13

+1

My experience is also: it can take time til you here from Ansca
So it should be in Anscas interest to provide this service. [import]uid: 70114 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 72171[/import]

#14

+1

A minimum of 2 activations should be allowed per subscription. I have a mac desktop but these days working more on another machine. I have to use a released trial version on second machine and since I am using storyboard API, I have to maintain two versions with a lot of code comparison/merging…yikes. [import]uid: 12109 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 72187[/import]

#15

+1 [import]uid: 76282 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 80502[/import]

#16

+1 [import]uid: 9133 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 81078[/import]

#17

This is a massive issue.

Work machine + work laptop in use. I need to make a change at home and don’t have laptop with me (I rarely do) = I’m stuck for days until they can deauth.

I have a personal account as well as work. I use windows to dev, OSX to submit. I recently installed Lion, I’m then unable to submit for up to a week.

As more and more users come on board with Corona this will become more and more of an issue. I appreciate the very small argument of this being open to abuse but would anyone really bother for $199, really? And even if they did, how many people is this going to p*** off to prevent that absolute minority?

A big fat +1 for me [import]uid: 61422 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 87318[/import]

#18

+1 for me too!

Before the windows version came out, I had corona on a virtual machine. Since then I have to deauth/auth every time I switch from my macmini to macbook.

As deauth seems to take cycles from real support/developers I have never sent in a request to get the vm one killed…

I would be happy to service my own request if it were on our own web admin page.

thanks! [import]uid: 9070 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 87327[/import]

#19
  • lost my old notebook and now that shit :frowning:

pls deauthorize my other computer :confused: neeeeeeed corana sdk [import]uid: 66760 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 87541[/import]

#20

+1 [import]uid: 44965 topic_id: 15934 reply_id: 88124[/import]