Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about contributing, simulations, and funding.

Contributions are welcome in the following areas:

  • Optical Scientists & Students – Help create accurate simulations. No coding required.
  • Programmers – Improve our codebase and add new features
  • UI/UX Designers – Improve interface design and usability
  • Web Developers – Enhance site performance and functionality
  • Educators – Provide feedback and educational insights

Important: All our code is on GitHub, and we encourage contributors to work through GitHub. Visit our organization at github.com/visuphy to see our projects.

To contribute, email visuphy@gmail.com with your interests and how you would like to help.

We welcome simulations that deepen understanding of optics, lasers, and photonics. This includes:

  • Geometrical, Gaussian beam, and wave optics
  • Polarization, interference, and diffraction
  • Ultrafast lasers, pulse shaping, and dispersion
  • Fiber optics, nonlinear optics, and related photonics topics

How it works: Each simulation is its own GitHub repository. When you build a simulation and it's approved for VisuPhy, you'll receive admin rights to manage your repository under our GitHub organization.

Important: Please contact us at visuphy@gmail.com before starting your simulation to ensure it aligns with our current needs and avoid duplicate efforts.

VisuPhy is a volunteer open-source project.

While we don't have formal contracts or regular payments, we occasionally distribute funds to our most active contributors when donations allow. These distributions depend on:

  • Available donation funds
  • Level and consistency of contribution
  • Impact on the project

Donations help cover project costs and support continued development.

Currently, Buy Me a Coffee is the only way to donate to VisuPhy. We don't accept donations through any other platform or method at this time.

You can donate here:

Support VisuPhy on Buy Me a Coffee

Donations are used to maintain and improve the optics simulations.

Donations may be used for:

  • Website hosting and infrastructure – Keeping our simulations online and accessible
  • Domain and service costs – Maintaining our web presence
  • Contributor payments – Occasional payments to active contributors when funds allow
  • Development tools – Software and resources needed to create better simulations