The 5 Open-source Projects You Can Support with Kivach and Cryptos, Episode III

Kivach is a user-friendly crypto charity platform based in Obyte. It’s especially designed to support open-source software projects on GitHub since a lot of them are running solely on donations. Besides, Kivach provides a unique feature: cascading donations. Anyone can donate, and that includes the recipients.

They can give away a part or a total of the coins to any other open-source project(s) they want on GitHub, automatically. So, the donations can flow as a cascade across multiple repositories and collaborators. With Kivach, all GitHub developers can support each other, and the recipients don’t even need to know it beforehand. The received funds will stay pending until they’re claimed in an Obyte wallet by the rightful beneficiaries.

On the other hand, donating with Kivach is as easy as filling in the repository name on the platform and pressing “Donate.” You can select any Obyte-based token to do it or use external assets like Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) and Ether (ETH) through the Counterstake Bridge. Now, let’s learn about some interesting projects to donate to!

Inkscape

Inkscape is a powerful open-source vector graphics editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux, released in 2003. It provides a useful alternative to proprietary software like Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW. With millions of users worldwide, Inkscape has established itself as a go-to tool for graphic design, illustration, and vector art creation. Its intuitive interface and extensive set of tools cater to both beginners and professionals.

The software is maintained by talented designers, developers, and enthusiasts from around the world —for free. These contributors work together to enhance Inkscape's features, fix bugs, and ensure its accessibility. They accept monetary aid through the Inkscape Fund, managed by the NGO Software Freedom Conservancy.

All donations are tax-deductible in the United States and are mainly used for infrastructural costs and important events. On Kivach, they appear as inkscape/inkscape.

Darktable

Darktable is an open-source photography workflow application and raw developer that was first released in 2009. It has since grown into a powerful and widely used tool for photographers and image enthusiasts. The software offers a comprehensive set of tools for managing digital negatives, processing raw images, and non-destructive editing. It’s available on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Its features include support for various camera models, powerful color correction and tone mapping, and an array of export options. Darktable has amassed a substantial user base over the years, with photographers and artists relying on it for their image editing needs. Its popularity can be attributed to its user-friendly interface, constant updates, and the fact that it's completely free to use.

Currently, there’s no official channel or NGO to donate to darktable. However, their team used to accept donations for assisting important events worldwide. Kivach could be especially useful in this case, as long as you notify them about the donation. They appear as darktable-org/darktable on the platform.

LMMS (Linux MultiMedia Studio)

This one is a free, cross-platform, and open-source digital audio workstation (DAW) used for music production and composition. It was initially released in 2004 and has since become a popular choice for musicians, producers, and sound enthusiasts.

It offers a wide range of features, including a variety of built-in instruments and effects, support for MIDI and VST plugins, automation, and a user-friendly interface. It allows users to create, edit, and arrange music, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced musicians. LMMS has a growing user base due to its accessibility and feature-rich environment. Musicians from different genres and backgrounds appreciate its versatility.

To support its development, LMMS accepts donations through PayPal. These donations help cover server costs, fund development efforts, and ensure that LMMS remains a powerful and free tool for music creators worldwide. Users who value open-source music production software often contribute to keeping LMMS thriving. If you want to contribute and avoid the expensive PayPal fees, use Kivach. They appear as lmms/lmms there.

0 A.D. Empires Ascendant

Sometimes, we may forget that games are software too. Some of them are even open-source software, such as the real-time strategy video game 0 A.D, created by the independent studio Wildfire Games —a group of volunteer game developers. It was first released as an alpha version in 2009, and now it’s in its version 26 (not stable yet).

It stands out for its historical accuracy, engaging gameplay, and high-quality graphics. The game allows players to experience ancient civilizations, build and expand their cities, conduct battles, and delve into the rich history of antiquity. It’s available for Windows, Linux, and macOS; without costs. Despite not having a final version yet, 0 A.D. has won the title of “Favorite Open-Source Game of the Year” by Gaming on Linux in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

To sustain the project, 0 A.D. accepts donations through the NGO Software in the Public Interest (SPI). These contributions are tax-deductible in the US and help to cover development costs, server expenses, and support ongoing work on the game. They accept PayPal and USD credit cards, but you can avoid those fees with Kivach by looking at 0ad/0ad.

Mastodon

Besides open-source projects, we can also find some decentralized platforms on Kivach as well. Mastodon, a decentralized social media platform, is one of them. It was officially released in October 2016, as a response to concerns about centralized social media giants and their handling of user data and content moderation. It’s often viewed as a decentralized alternative to Twitter/X.

One of Mastodon's distinctive features is its federated architecture. It consists of interconnected instances, each with its own rules and moderation policies, allowing users to choose an instance that aligns with their preferences. Users can communicate seamlessly across instances, creating a diverse and interconnected network.

The Mastodon project is maintained by a homonymous German NGO led by its creator, Eugen Rochko. To support its development and infrastructure, the project accepts donations through Patreon. These contributions help maintain the servers, fund development efforts, and ensure that Mastodon continues to offer a decentralized and privacy-focused alternative to mainstream social media platforms.

Then again, you can donate with cryptocurrencies and lower fees through Kivach —and inform them about it. They appear as mastodon/mastodon on the platform.

Check and donate to more projects!

The mentioned projects above are only some suggestions. Did you know that developers started 52 million new open-source projects on GitHub in 2022 alone? Besides, GitHub developers made over 413 million contributions to open-source software during the same year. You can explore and discover more tools by yourself, and just type them on Kivach to donate.

Additionally, you can check our previous lists:

• Kivach Donations: 5 GitHub projects it has helped so far
• How You Can Support Key Open-Source Initiatives With Kivach
• 5 Open-source Projects You Can Support With Kivach — and Cryptocurrencies

Do you know any other interesting open-source projects that may need help? Please comment on them below, on our Telegram channel, or via Discord, so we can cover them in future articles for potential donors to know!

Featured Vector Image by studiogstock / Freepik