Twitter: "Set Doucheyness to full" 

"As some of you may have already noticed the download link for the Tweetbot for Mac alpha no longer works. Twitter’s latest API Changes means now we have a large but finite limit on the number of user tokens we can get for Tweetbot for Mac. We’ve been working with Twitter over the last few days to try to work around this limit for the duration of the beta but have been unable to come up with solution that was acceptable to them. Because of this we’ve decided its best for us to pull the alpha."

The recent Twitter API changes were restrictive, but there were at least rumors that Twitter was being "cool" about working with the existing developers and apps out there. You know, so Twitter's users don't suffer.

But this is a sign that Twitter is going full speed ahead on their doucherocket.

I get that they want to dissuade new developers from entering the space. I think it's stupid and short-sighted and that, in the long run, Twitter is condemning themselves to a world where they'll be a new AOL or Friendster. But I get that this is how they think they need to make money (rather than, say, making it possible to have developers build their apps in way that is complementary to Twitter's advertising/revenue model).

This is just capricious, though. How should devs test their apps? A small group of beta testers with a required "Revoke Access" at the end?

I expect that, over the coming 12-24 months, a lot of folks Twitter usage will start to erode. Not enough for Twitter to feel it in their numbers, but it'll be the early adopter, bleeding edge folks. The folks who get covered in the media, who set the tone for "what's cool." The folks who Twitter built their business on the back of.

Once a high profile user (i.e. celebrity) defects, I'm guessing it'll be enough to get the ball rolling.

Twitter will revise these ridiculous requirements. It's just going to take some time.

If I were Facebook, I'd be looking at building a status-type application and embracing the developer community.
(I don't think app.net is the answer, but maybe it'll ruffle a few feathers before imploding.)

(Via The Tapbots blog.)