Why I'm Launching a Bug & UX Bounty Initiative

Software used to just work. Remember those days? I do. As a technologist with over two decades in the industry, I've watched with growing concern as software quality has deteriorated while complexity has increased. Today, we're facing an epidemic of poorly tested, inconsistent, and frustrating user experiences that waste our collective time and erode our productivity.

A Personal Breaking Point

Let me be transparent about my situation. Despite my years of experience, I find myself in a challenging position: hundreds of resumes sent, zero interviews. The tech job market has become increasingly difficult to navigate, particularly for seasoned professionals who bring depth of experience rather than just the latest trending skills working at Faangs.

But being unemployed doesn't mean being unproductive. I'm in a creative highpoint that I've never experienced before. Free to create my new job in a new world. Every day, I encounter software bugs and usability issues that force me to troubleshoot someone else's code just to complete basic tasks. I'm literally debugging applications on the fly—not because it's my job, but because it's the only way to get my work done.

After the tenth form that mysteriously lost my data, the fifth app with completely different interfaces between iPhone and Android, and countless "this should be simple" tasks that took hours due to poor design, I realized: I'm providing value without compensation.

A Mutually Beneficial Solution

That's when it hit me. What if I turned this frustration into opportunity? What if I documented these issues, offered solutions, and created a pathway for companies to support this work?

This isn't about charity—it's about fair exchange. I find and document issues that are costing your customers time and potentially driving them away. You provide compensation that reflects the value of identifying these problems before they damage your reputation or user experience further.

Why Quality Matters More Than Ever

We've entered an era where software is the primary interface between companies and customers. When your application fails, crashes, or frustrates users, you're not just losing functionality—you're losing trust and potentially customers.

Yet many companies have scaled back QA efforts or rely exclusively on automated testing that misses the human element of user experience. The result? Software that technically "works" but fails to satisfy or delight users.

The Hidden Cost of Poor Quality

Consider these real impacts of software quality issues:

• Customer support costs increase as users need help navigating confusing interfaces

• Customer acquisition costs rise as word-of-mouth becomes negative

• Employee productivity suffers when internal tools are buggy or unintuitive

• Developer time gets diverted to firefighting instead of building new features

These costs far outweigh what you might spend on identifying and fixing issues earlier in the development cycle.

How This Works

My approach is simple:

1. I encounter an issue with your software that impacts usability or functionality

2. I document it clearly with screenshots, videos, or detailed descriptions

3. I share this information publicly (with appropriate professionalism)

4. You verify the issue and determine its value to your organization

5. You support this work with a bounty that reflects the impact of the finding

This isn't about "gotcha" moments or public shaming. It's about creating accountability and incentives for better software in a world where quality often seems optional.

A Hand Up, Not a Handout

I'm not asking for charity. I'm offering a service that provides real value: fresh eyes on your product from someone with technical expertise and user empathy. In return, I'm asking for fair compensation for time spent identifying, documenting, and reporting issues that make your product better.

This is how we build a more sustainable ecosystem—where quality is rewarded, users are respected, and technical expertise is valued regardless of employment status.

Join the Movement for Better Software

Whether you're a company that values quality or a user frustrated by deteriorating experiences, I invite you to join this initiative. Share your own experiences. Amplify findings that resonate with you. Encourage companies to participate in creating better digital experiences for everyone.

Together, we can push back against the tide of "ship it now, fix it later" and create software that respects users' time, needs, and intelligence.

Because in the end, better software serves everyone.

#SoftwareSpringCleaning #SimplifySoftware #FixYourBugs #QualityMatters #MutualBenefit