Is something shady going on at Bountysource? Has it ever paid out?

> Is something shady going on at Bountysource?

I don't believe so. Their support is, well...poor, in terms of web site problems etc.

But it happens slowly.

> Has it ever paid out?

Yes, paid bounties $714

Other stats:

active bounties $100

active bounty 1

bounty hunters 25 [not very active]

total bounties on our issues $2,320

Most of that is Multi-threaded Geometry rendering [$1,060] (discussed below)

> Has any prepaid Bounties ever resulted in a improvement of OpenSCAD??

Recent Activity

Sharma-Hrishabh was awarded the bounty on Feature request - When Editor Pane hidden add Export STL Icon to preview icon list ($10).

OpenSCAD 1 month ago

Sharma-Hrishabh submitted a claim for Feature request - When Editor Pane hidden add Export STL Icon to preview icon list ($10).

OpenSCAD 1 month ago

Fat-Zer started a solution on Output same info from GUI via command line ($50).

OpenSCAD 2 months ago

leebradley started a solution on Output same info from GUI via command line ($50).

OpenSCAD 9 months ago

ixil started a solution on cheatsheet or part of documentation should be part of app to work in offline mode ($25).

OpenSCAD 10 months ago

thehans was awarded the bounty on Preferences CGAL & Polyset cache size limit ($15).

OpenSCAD 1 year ago

thehans submitted a claim for Preferences CGAL & Polyset cache size limit ($15).

OpenSCAD 1 year ago

kintel was awarded the bounty on OpenSCAD has switched to French for macOS Sierra ($9).

OpenSCAD 1 year ago

kintel submitted a claim for OpenSCAD has switched to French for macOS Sierra ($9).

OpenSCAD 1 year ago

t-paul was awarded the bounty on Initial release of 3D Mouse/joystick support ($50).

OpenSCAD 1 year ago

t-paul submitted a claim for Initial release of 3D Mouse/joystick support ($50).

OpenSCAD 1 year ago

t-paul was awarded the bounty on Feature request: echo function for debugging ($50).

OpenSCAD 1 year ago

t-paul submitted a claim for Feature request: echo function for debugging ($50).

OpenSCAD 1 year ago

t-paul started a solution on Feature request: echo function for debugging ($0).

OpenSCAD 1 year ago

TLC123 contributed $120 to OpenSCAD.

OpenSCAD 1 year ago

thehans was awarded the bounty on STL export, wrong facet normal values ($50).

OpenSCAD 1 year ago

thehans submitted a claim for STL export, wrong facet normal values ($50).

OpenSCAD 1 year ago

JustVic was awarded the bounty on Noise when rendering complete #featurerequest ($75).

OpenSCAD 1 year ago

JustVic submitted a claim for Noise when rendering complete #featurerequest ($75).

OpenSCAD 1 year ago

JustVic started a solution on Noise when rendering complete #featurerequest ($0).

OpenSCAD 2 years ago

kintel was awarded the bounty on List comprehension and let() issues ($25).

OpenSCAD 2 years ago

kintel submitted a claim for List comprehension and let() issues ($25).

OpenSCAD 2 years ago

MichaelAtOz was awarded the bounty on Document that `resize` can be very slow ($10).

OpenSCAD 2 years ago [NOTE this was used for testing bountysource]

MichaelAtOz submitted a claim for Document that `resize` can be very slow ($10).

OpenSCAD 2 years ago

MichaelAtOz started a solution on Document that `resize` can be very slow ($0).

OpenSCAD 2 years ago

> Can we have some guidance from head developers what issues that can benefit

> from Bounties so we all can bandwagon and pile up stacks for some actual

> progress?

Discussed below. (just my opinion tho)

> If someone put Bounties on a unsolvable issue Bountysource take the money

> and its virtually guaranteed to never pay out.

No. If necessary 'we', with agreement of backers of course, can claim such a bounty to

redistribute such 'dead-end' funds to others. I did that once on one of mine.

> Can we have some clarification what issues will never happen at any amount?

>

Difficult to say, some hungry dev may turn up one day...

As this is Open Source there are opportunities for many things to be done, if someone has the skills and motivation. There are some things which go against the 'vibe', but from what I see such are pointedly commented on. Others may be best achieved with complementary language improvements, but such also needs devs (e.g. Function literals, and structured class like concepts).

> For now, I rather do something like a monthly PayPal donation and trust

> OpenSCAD to spend it well at will.

>

I'm probably commenting here above my pay grade, given I don't know the hosting costs etc but...

I'm sure such a donation would not be refused, but OpenSCAD is unfortunately reasonably funded.

The Bountysource balance (unallocated) is health. So a PayPal donation is probably better than Bountysource, more flexible.

I said unfortunately, because as you have concluded money doesn't necessarily attract developers.

I, and others, backed large amounts to the multi-threading issue, it has attracted two attempts.

The first didn't even want the money, as it would conflict with his employment practices.

That issue still seems to require some CGAL improvements, the last attempt has cache corruption issues. So even $1000 is not attracting devs like moths to a light. That 'reasonably funded' is not able to throw $000's at many issues.

Core developers are doing it out of 'love' or some other illogical bent.  ;)

These core developers do it in their spare time, but have little of that.

Developers do what they think is necessary, and of interest.

I just help out, where I can, to help this interesting community.

I suspect the particular mix in OpenSCAD; OpenCSG, CGAL, Clipper, Qt, C, C++, 3D intricacies, and the mix of development support tools, is a skill set hard to find. (I'm no expert on the skills field)

So Bountysource is not like a consulting contract.

Perhaps making some larger bounties may attract someone. It is hard to know what value to put on issues.

The other thing is that Bounty issues need to be better spec'ed, to make it clear what is to be done, and acceptance criteria etc. But that also needs some of those developer skills.

Bountysource is, at face value, a neat idea, but difficult in reality.

Happy to expand on anything if needed. (in my pay grade)