Volunteer Programmer

How does it work?

You email me with a detailed project proposal. I turn it down without even considering it – wait, just kidding. I decide whether I want to take it on. If I do, I'll eventually either send it to you, or post the code online so that everyone can benefit. The code will be under the BSD license unless there’s a good reason not to use it.

What I will do:

• Objective-C, C, JavaScript, PHP, MySQL (in order of competence); other languages on a case-by-case basis
• Stuff that I think would be fun
• Small utilities
• Small patches to open source programs
• Small SIMBL plugins
• Debugging a personal project
• Code that you turn around and sell for millions

What I won’t do:

• Big stuff: I’d generally like to spend a couple hours max per project.
• Boring stuff: I’m doing this for fun. No, I won’t reformat your COBOL.
• Homework: Although I will help you learn if you show some initiative.
• Windows/Linux: Mac and web dev only, unless it’s something I find especially interesting.
• Fancy GUIs with graphics and animation: Too much of a pain. You can expect any utilities to have a bare-bones interface.

Volunteer projects I’ve already done for friends:

• A small app that integrated with Facebook to collect statistics on friends
• A small feature addition to open source graphics tool Pixen
• A dual-column text editor for altering documents and comparing changes (similar to FileMerge)
• A utility for dumping an online dictionary into an Apple Dictionary file
• A bugfix patch to open source SIMBL plugin KeyWurl
• And more…

Once you have put together a detailed project description, feel free to email me.

Disclaimer: If you send me a really sweet idea, I may turn around and sell it for millions myself. And if I do, you’re out of luck. That’s the risk you take. But I think that’s pretty unlikely to happen. If you send me some of your code, I promise I will do my best to keep it confidential.