5 Open-source Projects You Can Support With Kivach — and Cryptocurrencies

A wide array of useful digital tools is available without cost, for anyone. Passionate developers and volunteers make this possible in the environment of open-source software, but there’s not much they gain in exchange for it. These projects are often struggling to find funding to keep afloat, and that’s where the Kivach platform in Obyte may help.

Kivach is a pioneering open-source cascading donations platform designed to empower individuals and organizations to fundraise for various causes efficiently and transparently. It operates on the principle of "cascading donations," where donations received on GitHub can be distributed across multiple projects or recipients.

This is because those recipients can donate 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.

Kivach offers a user-friendly interface, allowing users to allocate funds in cryptocurrencies to specific initiatives, fostering a community-driven approach to philanthropy. All that the contributors need is an Obyte wallet, some crypto funds, and the name of the GitHub repository. Let’s explore some of them to donate!

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

GIMP (from General Image Manipulation Program) was released in 1998 by Spencer Kimball and Peter Mattis. It’s a robust open-source software used for graphic design and image editing, rivaling commercial software like Adobe Photoshop. Its capabilities include image retouching, photo enhancement, and even support for advanced techniques like layers, masks, and filters.

This tool supports various file formats, including PSD, and offers extensive customization options with a plethora of plugins and extensions. It's a favorite among graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, and hobbyists alike, offering professional-grade tools for free. Currently, it’s mainly maintained by the developers “Jehan” and Øyvind Kolås. Jehan is the main developer, and he’s creating (and raising funds for) an animation movie named ZeMarmot, along with the artist Aryeom.

Of course, they accept donations to keep working on the project. To avoid Patreon fees, you can donate through Kivach with cryptocurrencies. They appear as Gnome/Gimp. Remember that it’s important to tell them about the donation, though, so they can claim it with their own Obyte wallet —a pre-existing one or a new one.

Blender (3D Modeling)

This is a versatile and open-source 3D computer graphics software used for a wide range of applications, including 3D modeling, animation, rendering, compositing, and more. Released initially in January 1994 as an in-house application by the Dutch animation studio NeoGeo, Blender became open-source in 2002, allowing users worldwide to contribute to its development.

Blender's development is led by the Blender Foundation, a non-profit organization that oversees the project's direction and ensures its commitment to open-source principles. It has a global community of developers, artists, and enthusiasts who continually refine and enhance the software. Blender has gained immense popularity for its professional-grade features, including support for character animation, physics simulations, and a powerful node-based compositor.

To support Blender financially, users can support the Blender Development Fund, where donations can be made to directly fund the software's development. Contributions are used to pay developers, support infrastructure, and ensure Blender's continued growth and improvement. They accept Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ethereum (ETH), and Litecoin (LTC). In Kivach, they’re available as blender/blender.

Kdenlive (Video Editor)

This is an open-source video editing software that offers a comprehensive and user-friendly platform for video editing and post-production. It was first released in 2002 by Jason Wood and has since evolved into a powerful video editing tool for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. Kdenlive is known for its intuitive interface and robust feature set, including support for multiple video and audio tracks, transitions, effects, and a wide range of video formats.

Its development is driven by a community of passionate contributors and developers who work collaboratively to enhance its functionality and performance. The project is part of the larger KDE Community, which promotes several open-source software projects, including the image editor Krita.

To support Kdenlive financially and contribute to its ongoing development, users have the option to make donations through various channels. Typically, Kdenlive accepts donations in traditional money, but its repository is available on Kivach too as KDE/Kdenlive. This way, you can use some of your crypto to support them. \

Xfce (Desktop Environment)

Xfce is a lightweight and open-source desktop environment designed for Unix-like operating systems, known for its efficiency and speed. It was initially released in 1996 by Olivier Fourdan and has since evolved into a mature and user-friendly desktop environment. Xfce provides users with a simple yet customizable interface, making it a popular choice for users who prefer a responsive and resource-efficient desktop environment.

Xfce's development is primarily driven by a community of dedicated contributors and developers who work collaboratively to maintain and enhance the software. The Xfce project is known for its commitment to providing a stable and user-focused desktop experience while using fewer system resources compared to more resource-intensive desktop environments.

To support the development of Xfce and help its ongoing improvement, users can make donations to the project. These contributions are essential for covering development costs, infrastructure maintenance, and ensuring that Xfce continues to provide a lightweight and efficient desktop environment for users who value performance and customization. Donors can send them funds via Open Collective, which may take a 15% fee for fiscal hosts.

Of course, it’s also possible to send them crypto funds via Kivach, without high fees. They appear as xfce-mirror/xfce4-terminal.

Tor (Privacy Browser)

Well, if you don’t know this one, you likely have been living under a rock. First things first: no, Tor (short for The Onion Router), isn’t solely to access the Darknet. It’s free and open-source software that enhances online privacy and security by routing internet traffic through a global network of volunteer-operated servers. It was initially developed in the mid-2000s by the United States Naval Research Laboratory and has since evolved into a global community-driven project.

The Tor network conceals a user's IP address, making it challenging for anyone to trace their online activities, providing anonymity and bypassing online censorship. The Tor Project, a non-profit organization (NGO), leads the development and maintenance of the Tor software and network.

To support Tor financially and contribute to its mission of providing online privacy tools for everyone, individuals can make donations to the Tor Project. Their website provides various options for donating, including one-time and recurring donations, as well as options for corporate or institutional support. They accept Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Dash, Dogecoin, Ether, Litecoin, Monero, Stellar, and Zcash.

In Kivach, you can find them as torproject/tor. Besides, in case you don’t know, the Obyte wallet is integrated with this privacy browser to protect your personal data. You can activate its use to obscure your transactions just by adjusting the proper switch in the section “Settings (Global Preferences)”.

Now, you can explore Kivach and GitHub yourself to support more essential open-source projects. Your cryptocurrency contributions can fuel innovation and ensure these tools remain accessible to all. 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 Freepik.