Summary
DonationCoder.com, a website combining in-house-developed free and open source software, with weekly software reviews and daily software blogs has just opened its doors.
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DonationCoder.com is a new and unusual attempt to build a community of developers and users funded entirely by voluntary donations.
In its opening days, the site has released an eclectic collection of unique freeware tools for windows (Process Tamer, Find&Run Robot, Drag&Drop Robot, Google Translator Boomerang), and an open source cross-platform encryption tool for irc; more developer tools are on their way.
Visitors will also find a series of blogs focusing on various aspects of software, from coding, to girls & videogames, to obscure software finds, updated daily.
The site also has an unusual take on reviewing software. Each week they pick a single category and evaluate candidate programs (commercial, shareware, freeware, and open source), and present an award to the best program in its class. The reviews are comprehensive and typically lots of screenshots and demonstration movies. Past awards have included Best Firewall, Best Online Music Service, Best File/Folder Sync Tool, Best Website Monitoring Software, and a special award for Excellence in Open Source (a recurring series).
The site is entirely donation-based, accepts no advertising or commissions, and occasionally negotiates for software discounts on behalf of members.