What is ExamLab
ExamLab is a non-profit project which provides many services for Java programmers and SCJP/OCPJP exam candidates. The core of the ExamLab project is its exam simulator that has attracted over 150,000 people. ExamLab is available on http://www.examlab.org
Who we are
The ExamLab project was started in 2008 with a free desktop software that runs on Windows platform. As the earliest step it supported only the Sun Certified Java Programmers (SCJP) 5.0 exam. One of the main objectives of ExamLab was it simulates the real exam interface assuming it gives the candidates more comfort in the real exam. After having over 60,000 downloads, it released another free version to support SCJP 6.0 exam in 2009, yet as another desktop application runs on Windows.
Due to some unavoidable reasons related to limited resources, the project was temporarily discontinued at the end of the year 2012, and re-initiated as web-based exam simulator in the mid of 2013, giving users more comfort to simulate the exam without having to download anything to their computers. With that migration, more useful features like "Get an Online Tutor" and "Do an Assignment" are introduced in parallel to the running of ExamLab test simulator.
I, Devaka Cooray, am a computer programmer, web developer, and software architect. I founded the ExamLab project in 2008 with 360 questions I wrote and an exam engine software I made.
Why we need your support
The mission of the ExamLab project is to reach Java education to more people.
I founded the ExamLab project for the prime and only interest of helping people to learn Java and gain their certifications. I started it with a desktop application and I, personally, was impressed as it has reached over 100,000 users in a relatively short time.
As it was growing on, my inbox started filling up with thousands of emails from people who wanted to buy the project or have their ads placed on the exam, and my response was a repetitive no. I like to see people coming here and getting some help thanking the project from their inside. I don't want to see people getting distracted or 'purchasing' ExamLab at their expense. And yes, I think I am right and I fulfilled my mission.
Seeing from the other end, we still need funds. As we are now running wholly on the web, we have much more expenses than ever since. I am heading up to pay through the nose as the server costs getting higher everyday. With all the expenses incurred, I need to keep ExamLab running forever, and yes, with seamless tinkering, new features, and improvements done all the way costing more and more. I need your help in that part, to sustain the seamless running of ExamLab.
Whatever you can donate, is going to be a 'saving' for someone in the future as it is only your donations can keep ExamLab running.
Previous fundraising
Our last fundraising campaign at Indiegogo did in a way helped us to cover up the initiating costs even though it didn't cover up the server expenses in that period.
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/support-examlab-project-to-keep-it-running-forever/x/3933466
Where your donations go
All your donations will be used to keep ExamLab running with more and better features introduced over the time.
We have to spend the costs incurred in struggling to get the discontinued ExamLab project up as a web-based project.
Our hosting costs us more and more as we are getting increasing number of user accounts created everyday, and lots of people doing web based exams at the same time.
It costs us to hire experienced and really talented people to provide tutoring services.
It costs us to hire experienced and really really talented people to review assignments.
There will be more features in future, and we need more funds to make them happened and provided for free.
What else you can do to help
Spreading the word of this cause will indeed be a real help. Please share this via emails, Facebook, and Twitter. I thank you all for all sort of helps you do to keep ExamLab running forever.