e-Sword Creator Rick Meyers Endures Questions from Rueben Gomez
Rick Meyers, the talented programmer behind e-Sword, the free Bible software that found its way into the iPad app store, endured some questioning from Rueben Gomez of Bible Software Review. Under the word “endure” was meant as a friendly jab at brother Gomez.
The interview reveals some exciting things coming for e-Sword HD and I am thankful to Gomez for publishing this Q&A.
Most interesting to me is that Meyers hopes to add the ability to use user-created modules. e-Sword has a huge community of users who have created a vast library of user-created content. Like many, my copy of e-Sword has dozens of user-created modules that I’d like to use on my iPad.
Meyers also indicated that some more scholarly modules will come including Greek and Hebrew texts.
The most interesting exchange between Gomez and Meyers is below:
BSR: Given the fact that e-Sword has traditionally been considered freeware, how did you come to the conclusion that you were going to charge $4.99 for the iPad app? Is this a change in your philosophy as a Bible software developer?
RM: e-Sword is still free, so no change there. Everyone who begged me to create an iPad app said they would pay for it. So I made the large investment in development costs to create the app, thus I am holding them to their word
I don’t fault Meyers for charging. He’s given me so much by creating e-Sword, which I used exclusively for many years before God blessed me with my position at Christian Computing Magazine that gives me a chance to play with the best Bible Software on the market for nothing. I’m happy to fork over $5 for an excellent app and hope it grows in the number of excellent books available.
