Simply Plural is Shutting Down: What Can We Do?
Aside from searching for alternatives and/or developing our own, not much it seems. Only one of the available alternatives functions remotely similarly to Simply Plural, and the devs have been known to be not the greatest.
That is why I'm proposing we all email Apparyllis asking them to make the code for Simply Plural (any code that doesn't expose personal info mind you) open source so folks have the chance to make their own alternatives to Simply Plural.
That is all. We don't need to ask for anything else, nor should we. The dev of Simply Plural has made it clear they don't want to work on the website/app anymore, so we should respect that and the only thing I feel we can ask for without stepping on toes is for them to give US (those of us who use the app) the chance to make our own versions of it.
And I think we should all make many versions of it, because a monopoly on something that acts primarily an accessibility tool is extremely dangerous.
If Windows can have Mac OS and Linux as competitors/alternatives, if twitter can have Bluesky as a competitor and an alternative, etc., then things like Simply Plural should too.
This is the only contact information I have found for Apparyllis (that doesn't involve going to their Discord, which I have no desire to do).
The page is in German but can be translated using Google Translate, so I will be copy-pasting both the untranslated and translated versions of the text in the above screenshots for accessibility.
Apparyllis UG(haftungsbeschränkt)
Friedrich-Ebert-Straße, 214
47800 Krefeld
Vertreten durch:
Geschäftsführerin Céleste Peeters
Handelsregistereintrag:
Registergericht: Amtsgericht Krefeld
Registernummer: HRB 18360
Google translated version:
Apparyllis UG (limited liability)
Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 214,
47800 Krefeld
Represented by:
Managing Director Céleste Peeters
Commercial register entry:
Register court: Krefeld District Court,
Register number: HRB 18360
I am also posting an email template for people who might not know what to say.
Simply Plural - Open Source Code?
I have just learned that Simply Plural will be shutting down in the near future, most likely mid-year. I was wondering if it would be possible for the dev to make the code open source (any code that wouldn't expose personal data) so other devs can have the chance to make their own versions of the app? There are almost no 1 to 1 alternatives to Simply Plural and the one available is run by controversial devs who will (unintentionally or otherwise) make people who use their alternative feel unsafe.
There being a monopoly on accessibility tools for systems is, in my opinion, quite dangerous.
Simply Plural should have more 1 to 1 (or at least really similar) alternatives, kind of like how Mac OS and Linux are alternatives to Microsoft Windows, Bluesky being an alternative to Twitter, etc.
Please consider making at least a useable portion of the code open source, so people have a chance at being able to build something they feel safe and comfortable using.
Thank you for your time and patience.
NOTE: If you do not wish to use a template and instead want to write your own email, I'm going to ask that you remain respectful and non-aggressive in your communications.
Do not send threats, serious or not. Do not send insults.
I think that's all for now. I will be muting notifications for this post, as I'm sure there will be people telling me I'm "wasting my time" and blah blah blah.
I don't care, it's my time to waste. This issue is important to me, and unless we get a definitive Yes or No answer, I will continue to push for open source as an option.
