Win a Microsoft Visual Studio Team Suite Package Worth Over $10,000

DonationCoder is running another whopper of a coding contest, with the help of Chris Hanscom (who runs veign.com).

The prize is a copy of Microsoft Visual Studio Team Suite with MSDN Premium subscription (almost every application from Microsoft!), worth over $10,000!

So what do you have to do to enter?

• Code a new, never-released application, using one of the free versions of Microsoft Visual Studio Express.
• Provide the source code for your application (but you do not need to release this publicly if you don’t want to).
• The winning program must be freeware or donationware.
• Code any kind of program you want.
• Post a reply to this forum thread and email mouser stating your intention to enter, well in advance of the deadline.

When is that deadline?

July 1st, 2008

Oh, my! That’s not too far away, so go read about the full contest rules and information and get coding.

Good luck!

DonationCoder N.A.N.Y. 2008 Programming Challenge

This is a challenge for anybody with any kind of coding skills, even at the beginner level.

The challenge is to release a new freeware/donationware application on or before January 1, 2008.

It was a lot of fun last year and it got quite a bit of publicity. It was covered by ShellCity.net, CybernetNews.com, and ghacks.net, along with many other sites & blogs.

So if you can code, you might want to take the challenge this year.

I have been a member of DonationCoder for quite some time now, and it has been a wonderful experience for me.

One of the great things about this site and the community behind it, is the feedback you get from users, which helps you to improve your software and make it the best it can be. It is a kind of co-operative endeavor, with the end users and the developers working together as a team. You don't have any idea how great of an experience it is until you experience it for yourself, either as a user or a developer.

This entire team approach of software development brings the developer and end user together in a way that most people never have seen or experienced before. The results are amazing.

When you are coding for an unknown mystery user, it is easy to assume what he will want and like and what he will use your software for, having no clue what he really wants, likes, or needs. The reality is that you end up coding for yourself, and hoping the end user has the same tastes as you. It is quite easy to become disconnected and out of touch, when you are just coding and posting your creations on your own personal site for others to download, with no real interaction with the people you are writing for.

And as software users, it is easy not to think of developers as approachable people that will listen to you and consider your comments & suggestions seriously. It is also too easy to think of software as not having a human element behind its creation. This can lead people to not really care where their software comes from or appreciate the amount of work that goes into making it. It's this not caring attitude that can be an element contributing to the issues with software piracy that exist today. It's a bit harder for a user to bring themselves to pirate software, when they are hit with the reality that the stuff they are using actually has a 'face'.

Now before you get the wrong impression of what this is all about, let me explain what it isn't. This isn't a situation where a coder creates, users make demands, coder submits to demands, working himself to death and becoming resentful...or all he gets as feedback is bug reports or complaints. It's not like that at all.

And it's not a matter of users getting everything they want, which results in a bloated application full of useless features, that does everything except make your bed for you.

This is ongoing honest discussions, with not just feature requests, but an explanation of why they want the features, discussions between the developer and the users about which would be the best features to add and/or remove, and discussions on how the best way to present them would be.

Many of these discussions are between the users themselves, where they have to make up their minds and come to an agreement of what they really want & need, as a group. And the developer helps with guiding them and keeping things realistic and explaining what is or isn't possible, or what is or isn't within the limits of their coding abilities.

When something is outside the coder's abilities, there are other developers on the site that can be helpful and provide resources to learn from, and share some of their knowledge & experience so that you can do things you thought were impossible, and learn a lot in the process.

And the users really do appreciate the developers that will listen to them and be honest with them, with many showing that appreciation with donations. But don't do this for the money, because you will never get rich from freeware or donationware. Do it instead for the experience and the fun it will be, and the greater sense of connection to the people you are coding for, and how it will help to keep you from losing touch with your userbase...or the realities of real world software use.

So think about something you can make and accept the challenge today. You have about 3 weeks to come up with something you can release. And if you are out of ideas, you can take a look at the Coding Snacks section of their forum and maybe fill a request for a small tool that someone needs.

http://www.donationcoder.com/Forums/bb/index.php?topic=11206.0

Best of the Web 2006

Here is my list of my best website discoveries of 2006:

1. donationcoder.com

Seriously...that's it!

Nothing else matters. Nothing else can compare, in my mind.

Anybody that has been reading my blog knows I love that site and it has become my online home.

But I am just one person, and my opinions on what is best would only reflect my opinions. If you want a great list of what is best try this one:

DonationCoder.com's Best of the Year 2006 list.

It contains the best

• software


• websites


• essays


• debates


• flash games


• humor


• fun


• gadgets


• programming stuff


• entrepreneur related articles


• and more

all selected from their fantastic forum postings of the past year.

This isn't the usual single person who just comes along and gives their opinion of what they think is the best...you can find that on any other website.

What makes this list special is that this is a huge community of dedicated enthusiasts that has collectively scoured the internet for the best of everything. No single person could have come up with a list like this, and it sure would have taken them a lot longer than a year to put it together if they tried.

If you would like to become part of the team and possibly contribute to the Best of 2007 list, register on their forum and become part of the community. You won't regret it.

It is my best discovery of 2006.

http://www.donationcoder.com/2006/

NANY Challenge: New Apps for the New Year

Mouser has set the challenge:

To pledge, create, and release a new application for January 1, 2007.

It doesn't matter how big or small...just has to be something new.

http://www.donationcoder.com/Forums/bb/index.php?topic=6231.0


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This might be just what I need. I said I'd do it. Maybe this will be good for me...push me out of my slump.

Now...what to make?

I am actually nervous about this. I can't think of anything to make...nothing is inspiring me...nothing saying to me "Get your bitch ass into your IDE and make some code!"

I want to make something fun...something different...something that will make people smile.

Maybe something that will make people that don't feel like smiling, smile.

If I can manage to make something that will make me smile, it should work for others, too... since smiles don't come easy for me, lately.

I think I know what I am going to do...I can see it forming in my head...yes...I know what I'm going to make. :-)

You all will be smiling soon.

Win MS Visual Studio Suite (worth over $10k) !!!

Quoting mouser from DonationCoder.com:

Chris Hanscom from Veign.com (and a longtime member of DonationCoder) has generously donated a super-tricked out version of Microsoft's Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite with MSDN Premium Subscription for us to give away to one very lucky programmer.

The suite includes includes every piece of software that MS makes for development purposes: Visual Studio, all Microsoft Operating Systems, all software development platforms, lots of MS applications (all the Office products), mappoint, SQL Server, and also includes the full MSDN library on DVD plus online access. It's valued at over $10k.

- click here to enter -
deadline is November 25th, 2006

----------------------------------------------

NOTE: This giveaway is for serious programmers only, but you do not need to be a supporting member of DonationCoder.com to enter. If you have friends who are programmers but don't hang out at DC, please feel free to send them the link - we'd like the prize to go to someone who can really put it to use.

The prize cannot be resold and will be issued in the winners name with licensing being controlled by Microsoft. As Microsoft is issuing the subscription, Veign and DonationCoder cannot be held liable for anything relating to this giveaway (to include, but not limited to, cancellation of subscription by failing to follow the licensing rules set forth by Microsoft or by attempting to resell any software included in the subscription). So we ask that only serious programmers enter.

(from DonationCoder.com)

Digg this here.

Companies Pay for Good Reviews and Praise

The discussion began back in February for us, on DonationCoder.com, but the latest chapter is quite hilarious.

If someone offered you cash or a freebie to say nice things about their products on forums or in your blog, could you, with a clear conscience, do something like that to your readers? Even if it was a crap product? Would violating their trust be worth it in the long run?

Joel Spolsky didn't think so. Sprint gave him a free phone to write about. And he wrote about it in the most brutally honest way imaginable.

Way to go, Joel, for your honesty and not compromising your integrity for a free phone. You've earned +10 internet points from me.

New Software Release: Instant Boss

I have finally finished the first version. This is based on a request made by JacobB over at the DonationCoder.com coding snack forum.

This will time your work/break cycles, reminding you when to work and when to take a break.

The defaults are 10 minutes of work, 2 minutes of break, and this is repeated 5 times for a total of 1 hour.

These values can be changed to suit your needs. The program will remember the values you used during your last session.

Start by entering in the values you desire:

The first box is for how long you want to work.

The second box is for how long you want your breaks.

The third box is for how many times you want to repeat this cycle.

Click Apply to set the new values.

Click Work to begin.

In the statusbar you can see where in your work cycle you are, followed by how long you have worked this session, followed by how long you have worked since you started using Instant Boss.

Instant Boss will tell you when it is time to take a break. You will have the choice to keep working a little longer, take your break now, or skip your break and begin next work period.

If you decide to keep working, it will count up and add this to your total work time. You can then decide when to take a break by clicking the take a break button.

If you decide to skip your break, it will begin the next word period in the cycle.

If you decide to take a break now, it will begin your break period.

At the end of your break period, you will be told to get back to work and offered a few choices.

If you decide to work, the work timer will begin.

If you decide to take a longer break, it will extend your break by 50%, and remind you again when your time is up, to get back to work.

If you click cancel, you will have to start work manually by clicking the work button again.

There is a pause button in case you are interrupted by phone calls or other things that need your attention. This can be used during both work or break periods.

The reset button...use with caution. This will stop all timers and reset everything to default values of 10-2-5 so that you may begin again. It will not reset how long you have worked today, nor the total time you have worked since you started using the Instant Boss program.

Clicking the X to close the program will result in it being minimized to the system tray. The only way to exit is through the right click menu on the tray icon. All of the button options also appear on that menu.

For power users, there are command line parameters you can use to preset the values when you run Instant Boss.

Example:"C:\Program Files\Instant Boss\InstantBoss.exe" 60 15 3
(there is a space after the last quote and a space between each number)

You can either use this from the Windows Run dialog or use it as shortcut targets. The numbers correspond with work-break-repeat, in that order. Please use only numbers, no letters.

Screenshot:

 

Visit Instant Boss homepage.

This is donationware. If you like it and find it useful, please consider making a donation to me to show your appreciation. Your donations is the only money I make for all of my time & effort invested in creating my software.

Donate to author of Instant Boss

Calling all C++ programmers

DonationCoder is holding a big C++ contest with many categories you can enter. Everyone that enters will get something, even if their project doesn't win.

This contest has some really good sponsors and the prize list is pretty cool.

Deadline for entry is July 14, 2006 August 14, 2006*, so head on over there and check it out and enter. Not that many have entered yet so right now your chances of winning are pretty good.

Even beginners have a chance of winning. You can enter the small utility category if you have an idea and feel like learning something. So if you have been putting off learning C/C++ now might be a good time to start hitting the books.

http://bcbcontest.donationcoder.com/

*deadline has been extended another month, for those that aren't quite ready and to give others a chance to still enter

Surprise, surprise!

I just found out that donation credits at DonationCoder are worth more than I thought. Here I was thinking my 170 credits were worth $1.70 when they are really worth $17.00!!

WOW!!

StopWatch

I have been spending a lot of time over at DonationCoder.com.

They have this great 'coding snacks' forum where visitors can request small utility programs and volunteers will create them. It's a great way to get project ideas, or kill a bit of time doing what you know you love to do...code stuff.

Someone there requested a stopwatch with a global hotkey to control it. They wanted it to either always stay on top or be able to be minimized to the system tray.

Since I had already done a stopwatch like this, all it needed was the addition of a global hotkey and the request would be filled...so that's what I did.

The hotkey is Ctrl-Shift-F9.

Hitting this will start/pause/resume, depending on the current state of the clock.
This will even work to control the stopwatch if it is minimized to the tray.

Enjoy!

Download: StopWatch

comments & suggestions welcomed

Translator Boomerang

Over on DonationCoder.com, mouser just released a new version of Translation Boomerang. This uses Google's free web-based translation service to translate a statement or word into up to 9 languages and back to English. If you have never heard of it or used it, it's a must try program.

This is not a serious translator...it's quite funny!

The following is the output, step by step, from English to each language and back to English, for 5 loops. The first line is my original English phrase. The last line is the farthest thing from the first that I could have imagined.

Available for wild sex.
================================================
Available for wild sex.
================================================
Available for the wild sex.
================================================
Available for the wild sex.
================================================
Available for the wild sex.
================================================
Land available for sex.
================================================
The land which can be utilized because of characteristic.
================================================
The ground it could be used because of quality.
================================================
Because it can use local quality.
================================================
Because it can use local quality.
================================================
Because it can use local quality.
================================================
Since it can employ local quality.
================================================
Since it can employ the local quality.
================================================
Since that it can use the local quality.
================================================
It can be used to the local quality.
================================================
As for that it can use for local quality.
================================================
The tube printed style of writing hazard it will be able to use a local quality to that.
================================================
Editorial dangerous pipeline to India using local quality.
================================================
Editorial dangerous piping to India with local quality.
================================================
Publishing dangerous pipe to India with local quality.
================================================
Dangerous pipe of edition towards India with local quality.
================================================
Dangerous tube of the edition towards India with local quality.
================================================
Dangerous pipe of the edition for India with local quality.
================================================
The risk of pipeline quality of the local edition of India.
================================================
Danger of quality of pipeline of the Indian local section.
================================================
Question danger of pipeline of humane local profile.
================================================
Charities pipelines, may local image.
================================================
Next dear ear lines, know local picture.
================================================
The considered following lines of the ear, know the picture local.
================================================
Considered afterwards lines of the ear, know people of the country of image.
================================================
The lines later on considered of the ear, know people of the country of the image.
================================================
The lines later in the considered one of the ear, know peoples of the country of the image.
================================================
Lines later in one ear, and knows people in a country profile.
================================================
With one ear later as for line, knowing people of profile of country.
================================================
In the line the tube printed style of writing or is knowing 1 return route and the people of the profile of the nation in.
================================================
The Bank is one of the editorial was printed circuit and the people of the whole country's image.
================================================
The bank is the editorial was print plate and the people of the complete picture of the country.
================================================
The bank is the publishing one was plate of the impression and the people of the complete picture of the country.
================================================
The bank is of edition was flat impression and people of the complete image of the country.
================================================
The bank is of the edition was flat impression and people of the complete image of the country.
================================================
The bank is of the edition was smooth impression and person of the complete image of the country.
================================================
Bank of Edition impression smooth and full picture of a country.
================================================
Edition impression of the country being smooth, the bank of complete image.
================================================
The impression which the smooth nation sells, the bank of the image which is complete.
================================================
Impression of a national marketing, banking image is completed.

Dreams can and do come true

I officially became a 'professional' programmer! A professional gets paid for what they do...doesn't matter if they know what they are doing, or if they can do it well, or how much they get paid...they are still technically a professional if they get paid for it.

Over on donationcoder.com there is a coding snacks forum where people submit requests for small utility applications that would take an hour or less to create. I spotted one that would be a quick request to fill...all I would have to do is add a few lines of code to an existing application I had already written. It was for a stopwatch that would either stay always on top, or min to tray, that could be controlled with a global hotkey. I had already made one that stayed on top and could be minimized to the tray...just needed to add the hotkey to it and the request would be filled.

I didn't do it for money...didn't expect to get any either. But when I announced that the request was filled and posted a download link, about 5 minutes later I got an email from mouser, the guy that runs the site. He put $0.50 in my micropayments account in appreciation of my work! The next day, someone else I don't even know added another $0.10!

I know this isn't much...and most people would laugh at an amount so small, but it meant a lot to me. Another $0.40 and I will have made my first dollar as a programmer. And this wasn't because people HAD to pay me...it was because they WANTED to. I think that makes it even more special to me.

I will frame that first $1 when I get it and treasure it forever...it means that much to me. It's a personal goal accomplished...a dream fulfilled.

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Follow up: April 27, 2006:

I recieved another 100 credits today, so now I have gone past the $1 mark :-D

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Follow up: Friday, June 2, 2006:

When I originally made this post, and the previous follow up, I thought the scale for donation credits was same as US currency and that 100 credits was $1...turns out I was very wong. 10 credits = $1...so it wasn't $0.50 that mouser gave me, but $5.00! And that $0.10 I thought I got the next day was really $1...and the additional 100 credits was $10! WOW!

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Follow up: Saturday, September 9, 2006:

I have recieved my first dollar, signed by mouser. It is now in a frame, hanging above my desk. :-D