I'm just going to leave this right here.

A few extra details:

• On Monday, June 24th, Linux Tycoon will be submitted to the Android, iOS and Windows Phone stores.
• On that same day, Linux Tycoon will be made available for download for Ubuntu Touch and Firefox OS.
• Also.  On that very same day.  Linux Tycoon will be made available as a web app, playable from any modern browser and just about any platform.
• Linux Tycoon has been completely re-written in the Free, Open Source HTML5 app building suite, App-Make-inator.
• Full source code, under the GPL, will be released.  (Joining the source code that is already available for the modern desktop and DOS versions of Linux Tycoon.)

That's right.  All of that "Linux Distro Simulation And Management Game" goodness.  Free.  And Open Source.  And made possible entirely by donations from the awesome, freedom loving people of the world.

Filed under: App-Make-inator, Games, Linux, Open Source | Comments Off

Donating to Open Source projects feels great.  No doubt about that.

But you should get something for your donation [other than great software], right?  When you donate to PBS you get a coffee mug... so what would you get, as a perk, when donating to Open Source software (like the projects on this site)?

Well, I had a few ideas that you can now choose from the Donation Page.  And I think they're awesome.

1) Name a Distro in Linux Tycoon

[You give me a name. It becomes a default distro in the next version of Linux Tycoon.]

2) Have a Character named after you.

[Tell me your name. That name will be used as a character in Road-Sign Hank or 2299 (game or comic). You can let me know if you have good/bad guy preferences... but no guarantees are made as to the survivability or alignment of your character.]

3) Bryan Says Anything on Video

[You have 140 characters. I will say it. On YouTube. No guarantees on how I will say it.  But it will be said!  This is your chance to put words in my mouth.  Use this power wisely.]

4) Custom Limerick Video

[Give me a name and/or a topic.  I will write an original limerick and recite it on video. No guarantees of any kind.  Other than it will be a limerick, and it will be based on what you requested.  And end up on YouTube.]

5) Buy A Bryan For a Day

[You can choose from any of the projects at Lunduke.com. Games, apps, videos, anything. I will provide you with a To-Do list for that item. You will tell me the top 2 most important items to you. I will spend one full day working on those items.]

The various items require different donation levels (as they require different amounts of time/investment from me).

The first 4 are just plain fun.  The 5th item ("Buy A Bryan For a Day") is your way of helping to direct effort towards the projects you care most about.

You can donate over on the Donation page... or just right here.  Every dollar goes towards supporting the Open Source projects here (Apps, Games, etc.).

Filed under: Open Source | Comments Off

With everything here being Open Source, funding is certainly going to be an interesting challenge.  You can see the results of the first full week of donations here.

The short version: Donations are, at present, almost good enough.  Not quite.  But super close.  In fact, improving things by just 20% would do the trick.

So, the question is: What is the best way to improve the funding enough to fully cover expenditures, and continued development, long term?

With that in mind I'd love to hear your thoughts!  Do you have ideas of great ways to fund Open Source projects?  Let me know via email or on G+ or Twitter.  I'd love to hear your ideas.

Here are a few ideas I'm currently considering:

• 24 Hour Open Source Telethon [Highlighting the many Open Source projects out there with folks from those projects stopping in to talk about it.]
• Hats, Shirts and Posters [Everyone likes clothing with logos and sayings from Open Source projects... right?]
• Support Contracts [Need help?  Wham-O!]

Got some ideas?  Know of other Open Source projects who have had success with a particular route?  Let me know!

Regardless of what options I end up utilizing, going forward, I'll publish a big list of everyone's ideas later this week.  That way others can benefit as well.

In the mean-time: Donations show you care.

Filed under: Open Source | Comments Off

Today, Illumination Software Creator 6.0 has been released into the wild -- for Linux, Windows & MacOS X.

What it is:

Illumination Software Creator is a visual programming environment focused on rapid prototyping (and development) of native applications on a wide range of platforms.  Without writing any code it is possible to build native apps for iOS, Android, Desktop Linux, Maemo, HTML5 and Flash.

You can grab installers and packages from the Download Page.  More information, including examples and video tutorials, are here.

Looking for source code?  Well, it just so happens that the full source code is available, under the GPL.  Links are on the Download Page as well.

What's New in 6.0:

• Re-introduction of the iOS (Objective-C / Cocoa Touch) target, with custom layout options for iPhone and iPad.
• Re-introduction of the Android (Java / Android SDK) target.
• Re-introduction of the Python/GTK target, with custom layout options for Desktop and Maemo/Tablet apps.
• Bug fixes and improvements.

Illumination Software Creator is Open Source (under the GPL license) with development made possible thanks to donations and contributions from people like you.

Take a moment to consider donating to help further development.  Every dollar goes directly towards building new features, bug fixing and support costs.

Filed under: Illumination, Open Source | Comments Off

THRILL!  As I fix bugs.

MARVEL!  As I figure out how to build packages for Arch and Fedora in the Open Build Service.

DELIGHT!  As I say things, occasionally, that amuse myself.

This weekend I'm sitting down to get some work done on my Open Source software.

And you can watch.

When:

This Sunday, May 2nd at 1pm Pacific Time (4pm Eastern).  We go until I get too tired!  Or "a few hours go by".  One or the other.

What:

I'll be working on:

• Setting up packages for Linux Tycoon, App-Make-inator and others for Arch, Fedora, etc. in the Open Build Service.
• Fixing bugs reported from users in various games and apps.
• I'll be screen sharing the whole thing.  So you can spy on me.

Where:

As an On Air Hangout.  You can catch it over on G+ or my YouTube channel.

Filed under: I am awesome, Open Source | Comments Off