[Galaxy Note 3 Android Development] Yank555:
I won't say there's no truth in what you said (your whole post, religous followers etc.), because partly there is, but let me just explain that the above bit is not true, at least by far not for every dev.

I had threads here (on xda) for my kernels at some point (i9300), and some got downloaded up to 10000x (for a single version) ... yay ... well not really yay, just ok good to know.

Now I've stopped (whatever the reason) to have threads here, and I only upload my kernels on my own private forum with close to no advertising them anywhere, so they are a lot harder to find. I do advertise them here, because I know [MENTION=2332422]temasek[/MENTION] likes his users to have options and we've travelled a long enjoyable and fun way like this since i9300 times ;)

My main kernel atm, SlimLP for Nexus 5, which I use as daily, gets 5-20 downloads per version ... still yay ? Well I couldn't care less ;)

So why do I make the kernels, then ?

Simple, because

it's fun to make them

as it's a challenge ! And because I learn new stuff on an almost daily bases, and that is one very good reason. Oh and yes, because I want to run my device as I see fit of course, so I firstly make them for my very own personal use :D

Not because I enjoy seeing 10000 users using it, although yes it's a nice side-effect, but really not an essential goal at all.

So for that matter, at least the "a dev needs to have loads of users as a reason to exist or do his thing" is unfortunately an urban legend, not that some may not have that need, but then again, are those real "real devs" or mere cherrypickers looking for attention (and often come with a bad attitude of our stuff is better) ... I'll let you think about that.

I also maintain kernels for devices I don't use as daily driver anymore, like the hlte (CM and TW), so what's the point in doing that ?

Again, because it's fun to make them, and because I learn stuff, like how to port something from one device to another etc. and to help out other devs in this particular case (hlte), as I maintain faux123's hlte TW kernel to help him out as he's got too many kernels and too little time, for example (he does 99% magic, I just do the merge and compile for him and sometimes contribute a little).

Also as a favour for the few I know who want to use them or like to have them around, or for features I've made to be used by other kernel devs (like touchwake, fastcharge, led control, mdnie interface, cpufreq hardlimit...) in their respective kernels by picking in my repos in github, that's the main idea behind "open source" eventually.

And also, I refuse any kind of donations nor does my forum bring me any kind of income (it costs me actually), so there is no hidden commercial agenda behind all this either, like there may be for some. I don't want donations, because I don't need them, but I find it absolutely OK to show your appreciation to devs who may need financial help to go on having fun (buying their devices etc.) and providing you with cool stuff to enjoy your devices even more.

Please don't see this post as anything trying to be arrogant or whatever, nor don't feel the need to reply or argue, it was really not my intention to add any salt on this, but I just felt the need to honestly give a glimpse at this "other" side of the story.

JP.