Bountysource: Crowdsourcing Platform for Open-Source Software

In this blog post, we will explore Bountysource, a crowdsourcing platform for open-source software. We will discuss how to start a project on Bountysource, the history of the platform, and how it works to improve open-source projects through bounties and fundraisers. Let's dive in!

What is Bountysource?

Bountysource is a funding platform for open-source software that allows users to improve the open-source projects they love by creating and collecting bounties and pledging to fundraisers. It connects developers and users who want to see particular open issues or feature requests addressed and provides a mechanism for rewarding developers who create solutions.

Starting a Project on Bountysource

To start a project on Bountysource, you can follow these steps:

1. Sign up for an account on Bountysource.
2. Create a new project by providing the necessary details, such as the project name, description, and relevant tags.
3. Segment your project into self-contained tasks to make it easier for developers to contribute.
4. Create bounties for the tasks you want to incentivize developers to work on. Bounties can be funded by users who want to see those tasks completed.
5. Spread the word about your project and the bounties to attract developers to contribute. You can use social media, developer communities, and other channels to increase visibility.

History of Bountysource

Bountysource was started in the 2000s and went through several changes and ownership transfers over the years. Originally written in PHP, it switched to Ruby on Rails in 2006. In 2012, Bountysource relaunched as a service using the GitHub API to focus on being a trustee for software development bounties. The platform was acquired by CanYa, a cryptocurrency company, in 2017. In 2020, it was further acquired by The Blockchain Group.

How Bountysource Works

Bountysource operates through two main mechanisms: bounties and fundraisers.

Bounties

• Users fund bounties to address specific open issues or feature requests in open-source projects.
• These users spread the word about the bounty, enticing developers to create a solution.
• Developers create solutions and submit them on Bountysource.
• Bountysource tracks these solutions and determines which one gets accepted by the open-source project.
• Once a solution is accepted, Bountysource pays the bounty to the developer who created the solution.

Fundraisers

• Fundraisers can be created by anyone and are typically used to raise money for new projects, big updates to existing projects, or to raise money for bounties.
• The fundraiser creator spreads the word about the fundraiser to their communities.
• Anyone can make a pledge to a fundraiser, helping it reach its funding goal in time.

By combining bounties and fundraisers, Bountysource provides a platform for developers and users to collaborate and improve open-source software.

Conclusion

Bountysource is a crowdsourcing platform for open-source software that allows users to create and collect bounties, as well as pledge to fundraisers, to improve the projects they love. It provides a mechanism for developers to earn rewards for addressing specific issues or feature requests, while also enabling users to support new projects and big updates through fundraisers. By leveraging the power of the community, Bountysource contributes to the growth and development of open-source software.