I’m pleased to announce that, thanks to a pledge from Enova Financial at the newly-minted “Patron” level, we have achieved our fundraising goal of $25,000. Thanks to Jim “Decibel!” Nasby for putting together the contribution that put us over the top!
I’m thrilled to find that this approach to getting a project going actually works. I’ve had the idea for PGXN for a long time, but knew that I was never going to be able to make it happen unless I could get help. So putting things together, writing a spec and project plan, and putting together the fundraising site with a prominent “fundraising thermometer” and contribution levels…well, it really paid off.
So for others of you with ideas of projects you’d like to take on, but don’t have the tuits without financial assistance, take heed! With a bit of work up-front and a the design of some compelling rewards for contributors — as well as a simple way for folks to donate (perhaps use Kickstarter or FOSSExperts)— you too can make your dream a reality. Well, that and personally seeking out potential funders and lobbying them. It takes some doing, but the payoff is well worth it.
And the payoff here is that I’ll actually be able to make PGXN happen. We already have the upload site up and running (with more features in the works), and now we have the funds for me to make the final design become a reality, as well as the command-line client.
And it was made possible by everyone who has supported us:
And special thanks to Josh Berkus for suggesting the fundraising approach, and to making suggestions and helping out as I created the infrastructure to make it happen. And also to Gavin Roy for the founding contribution from myYearbook that really got things kicked off.
Other folks who have helped with feedback and comments as development has got underway include
My thanks to you all! Watch this space for further developments. I aim to have the project complete this winter, with a formal launch no later than PGCon.