Show more screenshots »

Nextsprocket.com is a marketplace for open source tasks. Anyone requiring a task to be done in open source can post a task on the Nextsprocket.com site. They can set a reward amount to be awarded to the person completing the task. The site consists of two sections, one where users can browse the open source tasks that have been posted by others, and one where users can submit open source tasks. There is a convenient top menu bar on the home page of the site for choosing the section. Also, the home page contains a search box where users can search the open source tasks which have been posted.

Each individual task listing has a title, a detailed description, the name of the user who submitted the task, and a reward amount. There is also a button for submitting a solution to the task – if more than one person submits a solution, the person who submitted the task chooses the user who receives the reward amount. When a task is posted, the user posting the task must choose one of several open source licenses which the code will be placed under upon completion of the task. The person submitting the solution to the task retains the rights to the code up until the time that the reward amount is awarded. At this time, it goes under the chosen open source license type. Also, at the time of awarding the reward amount, the Nextsprocket.com site takes a 3% commission on the award amount to support the site.

Nextsprocket.com was founded by Tommy Chheng in February 2010.

Competition to Nextsprocket.com comes from freelance sites like Elance.com, Guru.com and Rentacoder.com. These sites allow users to post projects and receive bids from freelancers to complete the projects. Although not devoted to open source projects, they provide the most direct competition to Nextsprocket.com. All three of these site charge a commission to the service provider, but it is higher than the 3% charged by Nextsprocket.com.

Pages are free of clutter, and navigation is intuitive. All of the features used by the site work well, and the search feature returns useful results. There is no advertising displayed on the Nextsprocket.com site.

Registration to the Nextsprocket.com site is free and is required to use the site. The registration process asks for username, email address, first and last name and password. Validation of the email address is not required.

There is no premium membership offered to the Nextsprocket.com site, and users with a free account have access to all features of the site.

Nextsprocket.com is recommended to anyone who needs an open source programming or documentation task completed. It is also recommended to programmers who wish to earn extra money by completing open source tasks. The site supports the open source community by providing a place where service providers and buyers can connect with one another.

• Users can post an open source task that they need completed
• A reward amount is posted with the task, to be paid to the person who completes the task
• When a user submits a solution to the task, the user receives the reward amount
• The task must be licensed under one of the open source license types specified by the site
• The site takes a 3% commission on the award amount for support of the site

comments powered by Disqus