Finale ceases development

[benwiggy]

MakeMusic's CEO has released a statement that Finale has ceased development. They recommend switching to Dorico, and offer a cheap crossgrade to all users.

Scoring Notes has the full story.

https://www.scoringnotes.com/news/makem ... of-finale/

[odod]

I did this earlier lol

viewtopic.php?p=12188&sid=637e4d3763828 ... 255#p12188

[hautbois baryton]

Not only ceased development but will only support authorization until August 25, 2025. So the clock is ticking until the software is truly dead.

[benwiggy]

Sorry, @odod, I didn't see that.

Not only ceased development but will only support authorization until August 25, 2025. So the clock is ticking until the software is truly dead.

That just means you won't be able to authorise a new installation: your existing authorised installations don't "phone home" and will continue to work as long as Finale remains compatible with your OS.

[hautbois baryton]

...or until you have a computer crash, or get a new computer, or need to reinstall for some reason.

[benwiggy]

A crash won't affect it. There is (on Mac, at least) a little invisible file that contains the authorisation. As long as you keep that, it will work.

[Harpsichordmaker]

There are three threads now on this subject, maybe an admin should conflate them.

So Finale is dead and Sibelius doesn’t seem in a perfect shape with Avid not giving it attention, the auth engine working half of time, and its overall lack of new development and big fixing.
Finale is endorsing Dorico which could become the only commercial engraving software in a few years. I am reading Musescore has much improved, it could become a competitor?

[benwiggy]

I am reading Musescore has much improved, it could become a competitor?

I can certainly foresee Dorico and MuseScore being the two main players: MuseScore is the perfect price for faculty and students; while Dorico keeps giving value where time is money.

[NeeraWM]

A crash won't affect it. There is (on Mac, at least) a little invisible file that contains the authorisation. As long as you keep that, it will work.

Could you please elaborate on this?
It would prove a great guide for those in need in the future.

[benwiggy]

The file that holds the authorization data is /Library/Application Support/MakeMusic/.regdata27.txt

NB: top level Library, not user Library. The file is invisible because it starts with a dot.

Finale checks this file at startup, and compares the codes with one it generates at the time, based on your hardware. As long as your hardware doesn't change, the file will work.

When you install Finale, a default version of this file is created, which gives you the 30 days demo. On first launch, if you don't register, the file is modified with a code that represents the date. At that point, the demo clock starts ticking.