Do you understand why you are wrong?
Asked by Kinto Soft:

\[Plugin developers vs Cyberpatrols: Chapter IV\]  

Read this question:  

https://answers.atlassian.com/questions/20015/pdf-macro-and-sharpview-macro  

The guy making the question perhaps would be interested in how to publish large PDF files on Conluence for free. There is a solution based on alternative software approach and providing a similar result.  

But giving such information, would be considered as an advertisement, as it happened in the past a lot of times.  

Who is the looser? A plugin developer who does not advertise a free alternative or the guy who needs a solution?  

Have a nice day!


Answers:
author: Jeremy Largman
body: Hi Pablo,

I don't think anyone should refrain from suggesting a plugin in an *answer* . I think that's perfectly appropriate and I've done it myself - it's a genuine answer. That's different than generally advertising a plugin as a new *question* where there's no context and it's clearly an ad*.* Once we fix up [ANSWERS-139](https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/ANSWERS-139) and have a proper, appropriate way (rather than a workaround) to advertise a plugin, we should hopefully have a nice balance.

Does that seem ok?

UPDATE:

We've now published a guide for marketing a plugin:   
<https://developer.atlassian.com/display/MARKET/Plugin+Marketing>

comments: author: Radu Dumitriu
body: That's flamebait. You shouldn't bother answering again to the same question.


author: David Peterson
body: Are you saying you were prevented from suggesting a plugin that was relevant to the discussion because it was viewed as an advertisement? Seems a bit strong-handed...

comments: author: Jared Farrish
body: Or, that he wasn't allowed to suggest an alternative to a commercial product. (I can't figure out which.)


author: Nic Brough -Adaptavist-
body: There's a bit of a grey area between "valid pointer to plugin that might help" and "advert", but there's been some postings that are clearly adverts and have nothing to do with helping the original question (or subsequent ones). Other referrals to the plugins that were advertised have been absolutely fine though.


author: Alvaro DAlessandro
body: Hi everyone,

I'd like to take this thread as an opportunity to raise another point here: how can I have access to anyone interested in developing a custom plugin ?

comments: author: Nic Brough -Adaptavist-
body: Ah, well, that's different. We are missing a place to say "here's a new plugin", and then discuss support and features of those plugins.

But "answers" is definitely a place to ask for help. If you want someone to (help) write a plugin for you, then there's a few things I'd do

1. first, look through the Atlassian partners page to see if there's someone who may help there - <http://confluence.atlassian.com/display/APW/Partner+Directory+Home>
2. See also "experts" - relatively new, I've not quite worked out what the difference between a partner and an expert is yet (simply because I've not had time to read anything recently), <http://www.atlassian.com/resources/experts>
3. Finally, ask here. The negative tones in this thread are about inappropriate adverts, not genuine questions. Asking for people interested in writing plugins for you is perfectly fine, although I'd suggest posting a rough outline of what you want, and why existing stuff doesn't work if you've tried any of it.


author: Jeremy Largman
body: Nic sums it up well.

Experts is new branding for partner. They're the same thing.


author: Nic Brough -Adaptavist-
body: Ah, I thought it might be, but I haven't had time to read much recently, so I didn't want to say that without knowing!


author: Ellen Feaheny [AppFusions]
body: Pablo -

Jerry making the question specifically calls out SharpView.   
There's no advert abt it - that was his question.

No one makes any customer buy a plugin - its the customers choice, always - so not sure why bringing awareness of solutions to common problems is wrong at all.

It informs, period. And I think the purpose of this forum is that.

Best,

Ellen

AppFusions

[ellen@appfusions.com](mailto:ellen@appfusions.com)

comments: author: Radu Dumitriu
body: Don't get upset. Pablo is a kind of *Don Quixote*- he always has a Quest !

Man, how I deserve to be down-voted (and blamed, cursed, etcaetera).


author: Kinto Soft
body: Ellen,  

I don't try to say that you advertise your plugin. Reading the original post, it's clear that the AppFusions guy is trying to answer/help, not advertising.  

Unfortunately, I chose that question in a sort of random example to go on a parallel theme. Thinking on war terms, I would say these are collateral effects.  

I also opened another question in order to don't disturb the original post and minimize the number of victims.