DonationCoder.com
Encyclopedia
DonationCoder.com is a website hosting a community of programmers and software fanatics. It supports a donation-based model to organize and finance software development, and is one example of Donationware
.
The community develops and finances its own free software, software reviews, podcasts, and a diverse programming school. Funding is accomplished using a grant-like system of micro-donations. All donators to the site receive their donation back as DonationCredits which they can then trade amongst themselves to support different projects and reward activities contributing to the community. All members are considered equal and simply donate an amount they feel comfortable with.
The community also fosters collaboration on free services, programming contests, and academic projects.
The site has an active forum which focuses on developments in software, and hosts a Programming School section which features challenges in several languages to help motivate people to teach themselves how to program (or learn a new language) and share their creations with others. Users can comment on each others code as they progress through the school.
DonationCoder has been recognized by LifeHacker and several other well-known and reputable blogs for its adherence to the principles of freeware
and open source software. Many well-regarded utilities have been produced by the coders that frequent DonationCoder, especially during the New Apps for the New Year (N.A.N.Y.) initiative that the site hosts annually.
Most of the software developed and discussed on the site is for Microsoft Windows
, even though the developments in other platforms
are followed.
Donationware
Donationware is a licensing model that supplies fully operational software to the user and pleads for an optional donation be paid to the programmer or a third-party beneficiary . The amount of the donation may also be stipulated by the author, or it may be left to the discretion of the user,...
.
The community develops and finances its own free software, software reviews, podcasts, and a diverse programming school. Funding is accomplished using a grant-like system of micro-donations. All donators to the site receive their donation back as DonationCredits which they can then trade amongst themselves to support different projects and reward activities contributing to the community. All members are considered equal and simply donate an amount they feel comfortable with.
The community also fosters collaboration on free services, programming contests, and academic projects.
The site has an active forum which focuses on developments in software, and hosts a Programming School section which features challenges in several languages to help motivate people to teach themselves how to program (or learn a new language) and share their creations with others. Users can comment on each others code as they progress through the school.
DonationCoder has been recognized by LifeHacker and several other well-known and reputable blogs for its adherence to the principles of freeware
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
and open source software. Many well-regarded utilities have been produced by the coders that frequent DonationCoder, especially during the New Apps for the New Year (N.A.N.Y.) initiative that the site hosts annually.
Most of the software developed and discussed on the site is for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, even though the developments in other platforms
Platform (computing)
A computing platform includes some sort of hardware architecture and a software framework , where the combination allows software, particularly application software, to run...
are followed.
External references
- DonationCoder Website
- DonationCoder Software Blog
- DonationCoder Forum
- gHacks.net Column on DonationCoder
- DonationCoder programming school forum
- Long article describing the experience of this website's first year
- LifeHacker.com Column on DonationCoder