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I write software. This is my full-time work, and I have no other "job." Examples of projects that I have created include MUTE, Monolith, Transcend, and silk --- and these are only the projects that have been released during the past year. I release all of the source code that I write as free software (free as in "freedom") under the GNU GPL so that others can learn from my work and make use of my source code in their own projects. I also release all of my software in compiled binary form (in other words, "ready-to-run") as free web downloads (free as in "without cost"). I never charge anyone money for my software, and I am strongly committed to giving my software away for free to everyone. You can read more of my thoughts on free distribution My spouse, baby, and I live a very simple, inexpensive lifestyle. We have already honed our expenses down to just under $10,000 per year, and we plan to keep reducing our expenses in the future. We have no car on purpose. We have unplugged our refrigerator. We cook all of our food from scratch using inexpensive bulk ingredients. We have started to grow our own food in our backyard garden. We buy almost no material possessions, and what we do buy, we buy used. You can read more about our simple lifestyle. Our food budget is currently $423 per month. Thousands of people download copies of my software each day, with tens of thousands downloading my work each month. If a tiny fraction of these people (say, 423) could afford to send me just one dollar per month, I would be able to feed my family. In addition to food, our budget includes $265 per month for utilities (including heat, water, electric, Internet, and telephone) and $140 per month for taxes on our house. Thus, if just 828 people could give one dollar per month, I could completely support my family and continue my work indefinitely. If you would like to support me and my work on an ongoing basis, and you can afford a dollar per month in your budget, you should consider subscribing. I have set the default subscription rate to $1.34. After PayPal's fees ($0.30 + 2.9%), that rate gives $1 to me per month. Feel free to set your own rate, either lower or higher, below (though be aware that any donation less than $0.30 is swallowed completely by the PayPal fee). |