I'm a long time TM user… user #2532 to be precise ;) Can't leave without TM, made all my friends switch to it… I have a couple bundles (HTML + CSS) available for it. It's the one program that's ALWAYS open on my mac. And I don't mind that much the lack of updates. It worked fine when I bought it and it still does work just as fine now…

That being said, putting TextMate aside, and just considering Macromates the Company, I think just by your users' feedback, it should have become clear to you by now that you're doing something wrong about your PR… I think it would be a good idea to consider it an integral part of your business. I'm not saying you have to post about TM 2.0 every 3 months or anything like that… But, for instance, you could just slightly reword your first long comment in this thread and make it a blog post (so people would actually find it!). That would most likely be sufficient for most people. Just redirecting your energy from posting comments on this unrelated thread to making real blog posts would go a long way… I understand you think your time is better spent working on coding, but that's a programmer's perspective, not a business owner's perspective… Granted, you have such a solid product that neglecting the business side of things might not affect your bottom line… but why take the chance?

I think you used the words "waste of time" while referring to blog posts etc… That's pretty reveling… In absolute terms, I agree. But your customers are people… with feelings… I don't think it's a waste to dedicate some of your time to just making them happy. It might seem silly, counter-productive, etc… but it's not.

Anyway, I think you're brilliant, and I don't really care if you don't have great "people's skills" ;) I'm just watching from the sidelines you and the angry customers going in circle, each ones making valid points and not understanding each others… so I thought I'd chime in to say that I think you're the one who should brake that circle and give them what they want. Ultimately, even if they are completely wrong (I don't think that's the case, it's more of a different perspective), it doesn't matter. Just put on your business hat for a little bit, put the argument to rest by giving in a little, and then you can get back to work without distractions like angry blog posts in the back of your mind.

Just my $.2, take it for what it is ;)

Thanks!!!!

it really comes down to the fact that you can't please everybody, and unfortunately the internet is prone to amplify the voices of a-holes and trolls. you could very well release TM2 and have an equal number of folks raving about your audacity to release something not as clean & brilliant & easily-customizable as TM1. how dare you! i paid 50 clams 5 years ago and this is how you thank me? etc.

i've been keeping an eye on Espresso, but i could easily see using it alongside TM2 (which i'd also pay for, i've got 4 years of daily use out of TM1! #3635!), especially once Espresso picks up some of CSSEdit.

you've said your piece, try and ignore the jerks. i'm sure you're aware there are thousands of happy folks to every vocal commenter.

I don't think this has anything to do with "not caring about customers," and I don't think Macromates needs a public relations employee! I'm just saying that visible communication and progress matters. Allan brought up the Duke Nukem Forever comparison again in a recent comment here — well, DNF's development house, 3D Realms, just shut its doors. Not to put too fine a point on it, but this perhaps suggests that DNF is not a good role model to follow. :)

I think the OSS community has raised the bar as to what SEEMS like a living project.

Not complaining, just a comment.

Allan is vocal enough if you know where to find him. The same goes for Ciaran.

I too am anxious for TM2, but not so much for the new features. I fine building whatever snippet I need when I need it. What I am anxious for is the continuity between 1.5 and 2, how would my current workflow change, would the uptake be smooth or labored… So do I mind that Allan is taking a while? Not at all, in fact it eases my mind somewhat thinking that perhaps he is making the upgrade path as smooth as possible for those of us who rely on TM like it's our right arm.