Are we better off?

I think so. I'm a critic when it comes to software and products that I use. Some time ago, I've complained a few times that Sonar suffered from an infrequent and less agile development cycles, and that there was less information available of each release. My understanding is that Sonar is not quite as modular as it wants to be, and that there's some challenges around that, but it seems to be finding its way to a more agile cycle. 

Here's what I like:

• More frequent updates, but slimmed down in new features - less to break in each iteration.
• More focused updates. Since there's fewer changes in each iteration/revision, there's less testing that has to be done to ensure nothing else broke.
• QA and Beta testers can be better utilized by this focus.
• Support can better be trained on what's new and be better prepared to answer questions or solve problems that are typically similar. No mass influx of Support calls when a release comes out.
• Bakers can revisit reported issues more easily because there's probably fewer of them reported, and a shorter list of what changed.
• Well-documented changes of each release.
• Rollbacks; if it breaks your Sonar experience, just revert! Easy!
• Less suffering of bugs and their workarounds. If the bug/fixed are patched quickly, you don't have to vent frustration of impatience.
• Posted update news and eZine. We now get to see more of what's coming and what's being fixed in each release.
• When you can see the future, you can decide when you want to continue receiving updates, upon renewals.
• Lowered learning curve of new features. Again, the fewer there are in each release, the less you have to learn or re-learn!
• More focused, current forum topics. Topics are more routinely focused on what's in the latest release. Rather than spewing feedback, complains, praises, questions, concerns, excitement etc. each year of massive changes, we can reduce the stampede approach when each new release is delivered!
• Perhaps this model may be a step toward a very modular update approach where Sonar isn't just one process, or is abstracted from other areas of coding, meaning that routine changes/patches/updates are able to take place without upgrading Sonar altogether.
• And not least: It's still NOT a subscription model.

What I don't like:

• My constant checking for new updates. heh.
• I'd still like to see a list of reported issues not fixed in the current release, just in case I stumble upon the same problem someone else reported, I can at least know Cakewalk is working on a fix.

Want to add anything else you like?

overall I think it is working out well, my only gripe is the time spent once a month or so evaluating, and then usually installing the update<G>. I haven't run into any problems, so it has just been the time to run the install, but some months that has been a bit of a push.

All things considered, that's a pretty minor thing!

I guess I don't analyze it quite so deeply. I've been making music and enjoying the new features. What do you mean by Sonar wants to be more modular?
 
I think Cakewalk took a bold step to introduce the purchase model they have chosen. I believe it benefits the end user far more than it does them. The monthly or yearly "non-subscription" plan holds them to a certain standard or expectation which I have to admire.
 
 
It's a commitment to roll out a new model every single month. Usually the improvements are substantial beyond mere functionality with plugs and the common bugs. These improvements have more than offset the cost of the software if purchased separately, moreover all additions are designed to work inside of Sonar.
 
Go price vocal alignment or drum replacement software. Go price the better plug-ins if they were sold separately and you can see the value start to add up. Look at purchasing some of the comparitive software instruments separately...it starts to add up. It's becoming less and less necessary to shop for any additional plugs or effects.
 
There are very specific directives involved beyond simply eliminating bugs as feature requests trickle in. The competition does this whenever, however, wherever and this would be the less stressful route to take for them.
 
This is real progress that bridges the gap between end user and software engineer which can only be a good thing.
 
 
 
 

Starise
The competition does this whenever, however, wherever and this would be the less stressful route to take for them.

 
+1.  I agree completely.  Plus, Cakewalk is continually demonstrating that they DO actually listen to what their customers want and try to provide those wants/requests in each or future updates.  
 
That says a lot about the company and helps to cement (at least in my case) customer loyalty.

Hi. I am very happy with the new model / release cycle we have now. It has been increasingly more stable and snappier on my end. I like taking in a little (of the features) at the time, and in my mind it is easier with smaller releases.
I would not like to go back to "the old way".
All the best.

Model - great.  Software - great.  Sunny day - great.  Harley ready to go - priceless.

Enjoying the journey, recognizing there will never be what we call a FINAL destination....

For me the new system works way better than the old once a year updates, which for me was more like once every 3 years because I'd skip versions. So now when I have time I can hit the big button and see what happens. It's a huge bunch of stuff in this first year alone. I have not done monthly more like every 3 months, so that's every 3 months instead of 3 years. 
My only gripe is my own lack of time to explore these features. I do a lot of stuff arse backwards still. I keep promising myself I will spend a week just learning and stop recording until I'm back up to snuff.  

I absolutely love this model.
 
Stability has increased along with the new features - I'm throwing all manner of different projects at Sonar and it just sits there saying, "that all ya got?"
 
I agree with Johnny on one point "My only gripe is my own lack of time to explore these features"
 
Amen to that!!

No complaints from me.