Don HO - 2007-08-05

I was notified the release of a new system which helps the projects (features) get done :
http://micropledge.com/

The principes of such system are :

1. Anybody (include the developers. ex : http://micropledge.com/projects/notepad--column-mode-edit ) can do a feature request (to create a new project) on microPledge.
In order to get the feature he/she needs done, users pledges by putting an amount. If there's more people who need this feature, there'll be several pledgers on the same feature request.

2. Several developers may be interested in the same feature request (ex : http://micropledge.com/projects/notepad--ftpsftp-client ).
a bidding will take place, regarding their expected target amount and the time to do such feature. Once the target amount is reached, the developer start to implement this feature.

3. The total amount will be held by microPledge until the user(s) gets the binary with the new feature he/she demanded. A vote of the pledgers will make microPledge decide if the developer deserves this recompense.

I'm convinced that such system can change a common situation of a lot of open source projects : some features which are demanded by a lot of users, never get done.

In the case of Notepad++, I always try to make the software meet the needs of the most of users, if the features are interesting to me.
By using the pledge system, it mays add another important factor on the balance.

Don