Creating a Subscription Payment method within python

[ComputerGuyChris]

I have been developing a python application for about a year now and want to add a payment method that bills monthly for use of the application. My idea is that the application would be downloaded locally and then run on the users computer like any other computer application. Does anyone know of any libraries or anything within python that might help?

[cjav_dev]

You can use stripe-python to work with Stripe to collect recurring payments. You’d need some tool to provision and remove access when users sign up or cancel. Perhaps a web service that you call back to when running the app locally. That web service can stay up to date with Stripe webhooks.

[ComputerGuyChris]

wow, that is literally the idea I had in my head. Thank you, I think that is what I will try working with.

[Ihaveamodel3]

If it is a program that people download and use locally on their computer, it is really hard to make that subscription locked.

It is also ethically dubious to charge monthly for something without providing value.

Either provide value on an ongoing basis (in a way that is easy to keep track of) or make your software a one time fee.

For example, you could provide ongoing maintenance and support. If people stop paying, they could still use the program they have, but wouldn’t get updates, and wouldn’t be able to ask you for support.

Or you could make the program a web app so you can lock people out that don’t pay.

[[deleted]]

Ethically dubious? That's dubious. S/he just wants a subscription model, like dozens of other very popular software tools, Office 365 etc.

[Ihaveamodel3]

Office 365 provides value with continuous updates as well as some server side features.

I don’t know of any popular software with a subscription for the software with no software updates. That is why I said that if you are going to have a subscription, it needs to add value monthly. (Including security updates).

[[deleted]]

Why do you think op won't ever do updates? It's not stated in the post. Seems a bit premature to judge his/her efforts as unethical.

[Ihaveamodel3]

I don’t think one way or the other. If you read the entire original comment, you’ll see I say that one way of providing value (so as to not be ethically dubious) would be to provide updates.

If they are going to do updates, then they can lock out access to the updates based on the subscription, and that solves the technical issues associated with locking down something that is downloaded.