I am sure some of you might have heard of TopCoder, but most of you probably have not.
For those of you that have not heard about it, you would probably be very interested in it, especially those who are interested in programming contests over the internet, and also developing software components for money.
TopCoder is a programming contest site. Simple as that. They have contests very frequently...like every week. Many, in fact most, of them involve some sort of prize, and most of the time that prize involves cash.
They also, however, develop software. Therefore, since they develop software, and are also a programming contest website, they allow some components of their software to be developed by contest programmers. There is always a very large list of software components that they want developed for their software that they are developing. They put a component on the list, along with the amount of cash they will pay to the person who develops the best version of that component.
You then attempt to develop that component, and turn it in to their judges, the best version of the component will be included in the software they are developing, and you will also get paid for the work you did.
I have seen software components range in payment from $50 to over $1000, depending on how much work it takes to develop that component.
Anyways, thought lots of you would be interested, since a lot of prize money is involved, and membership is free, too.