Growth Statistics for 1.8.6 and Future of NFC (Archived)

Note as of 9-22-19. The dynamics of NFC have changed a lot since this post was originally made, so I recommend anyone curious about the current dynamics of the project come onto the Discord Server to find out more about how the project is currently progressing and the plans that are in the works. -Logan

    New Frontier Craft has been a three year long project for me so far. On average, I would say every week I put in at least 12 hours, if not closer to 15. There were weeks I did nothing for NFC, but there were weeks I clocked in over 40 hours of development trying to push an update out. Those numbers add up to me putting in 1600 to 2000 hours into NFC's development alone, not including things like playing NFC with friends on the server. Granted, hours I put in earlier in NFC's development were inefficient as I was still learning Java and figuring out how Minecraft worked. I also started this project when I was 16, and now I am almost 20, I was quite a different person back then and hence have refined, reverted, or heavily modified a lot of the things I initially added. Multiple times I have come to a point to giving up on New Frontier Craft, but somehow I've kept going with it whether it was a wild turn around, a new light of motivation, or an answered prayer. Ultimately we've ended up with 1.8.5 as the version I will launch NFC with, and I am confident we have the ability to really grow with this version. I am putting no effort into growing the mod, and we're getting a new player on the server everyday. For a mod for Beta, that's quite interesting. Not to mention the new players are loving 1.8.5. I can only imagine how much the community will start growing when all of us actually start pushing NFC out for the 'net to see.
    I will joyfully continue NFC as if it were a job like I am now if NFC can prove it has the ability to grow, then I can be confident that the work I continue to pour into this will be profitable in some way in the future. Although facts don't lie - I will be taking statistics and setting goals to determine if NFC will continue to be a serious project or become a hobby. If NFC becomes a hobby, it is very it will get pushed aside and not continued. I have a big idea for a different project I'd work on instead.
    Now I do plan on making the source more open over time with NFC - recently we have gotten a second developer! But the source is still private - but if development stagnates for a while, I'll release the source for you guys and consider it a great learning experience and that I'm grateful to have met all of you. On the other hand, if NFC becomes more popular than expected, I have no idea what to do because I'll be in college lol... ANYWAYS - Assuming 1.8.5 hits one of the end goals, 1.8.5 may not be the only version I examine growth data for, although I believe once we have a solid and stable community, growth will be steady and I won't need to do this weird thing again. I have to draw the line at some point though so then NFC doesn't end up being a black hole of time and money for me. I may do simpler goals in the future just to keep growth as a priority.