Stirling-PDF requires reinstallation

[nebulon]

We published the all new Stirling-PDF app with a new appstore package id. The app cannot get updated anymore, since OpenID integration is now only part of the enterprise edition, so it cannot be the default.

This means the current package will not be able to receive any more updates and if you want to keep getting new app versions, you have to reinstall the app from the store. The old package is not listed anymore and the new one is the only one shown in the store.

[Teiluj]

I know that this are fairly fresh changes. However I am not clear if using Cloudon's OIDC still works with this new package.

If it is, then I am also not clear on whether this requires an enterprise license from the get go or not, and what is left of the "grand-fathered" OIDC accounts originally created.

If not, then this is a disappointment (from Stirling - not from Cloudron) and contradicts my understanding of what @froodle said here when I mentioned the topic and tried to anticipate these changes.

[nebulon]

Given that in Cloudron the packages have to work both on update and fresh installation, we decided to release a new package without oidc since the fresh installation won't work due to upstream changes around the licensing.

[Teiluj]

I hear that and I appreciate the work that has been done on both Cloudron as well as Stirling-PDF's part (the new version looks like quite the upgrade).

However, it does not gives me clarity on where things stands with regards to OIDC/SSO enable instances, which are now subject to the change.

If I am to try to make sense of this, the new version of Stirling-PDF comes with changes of the following order:

1. Either you stick to an unlicensed/free-licensed private instance (requiring log-in)

• you get 5 user max
• you still do not get seamless authentication (SSO) with your OIDC/OAuth provider
• you do not get access to advance/enterprise features, but only basic ones (the definition of which I am not certain of, for now as well as future release)

2. Or you change to a licensed private instance

• the price is either per month per server (83,25 Euro - No SSO) or per month per user (6,67 Euro - SSO included)
  This is a steep steep price increase compared to the prior version of the software / previous license.
• you get access to advanced feature

3. Or you get to run a public instance with no login requirement

• possible performance impact on server
• degraded security
• access to only basic features.
• is it still limited to 5 concurrent users?

Don't get me wrong - I understand the predicament for open-source developers to make a living.
However I do think a different approach, both taking care of the situation set by previous license conditions, as well as, not price-locking features that were previously free would have greatly changed the perception of this situation - We are now clearly in the ssotax.org category here.
This also sets a precedent in handling this type of situation, which does not inspire the best of confidence for the future ones.

At this stage, unfortunately, I cannot recommend this software anymore, nor can I continue using it/providing it to my users/customers. Sad face.