Understanding Optimization

Our smart optimization algorithm ensures fair cost distribution while respecting everyone's pledge limits.

How It Works

When multiple people pledge to a server, we calculate the optimal payment distribution to minimize costs for everyone while staying within pledge limits.

Example Scenario

Without Optimization:

• User A pays: $20
• User B pays: $10
• User C pays: $0 (server already funded)
• Total collected: $30

With Optimization:

• User A pays: $12 (reduced from $20)
• User B pays: $12 (increased from $10)
• User C pays: $5 (their full pledge)
• Total collected: $30 (meets server cost exactly)

Key Principles

1. No one pays more than their pledge: Your pledge is your maximum, never your minimum
2. Fair distribution: The algorithm balances payments across all pledgers
3. Real-time updates: Payments adjust automatically when people join or leave
4. Transparent: You can see exactly what you'll pay before committing

When Costs Aren't Met

If total pledges don't cover the server cost:

• Everyone pays their full pledge amount
• The server owner covers the remaining difference
• Server owners can adjust their target cost or seek more pledgers

Viewing Your Optimized Payment

To see your optimized payment amount:

1. Go to the server page
2. Look at the "Your Pledge" section
3. You'll see both your pledge limit and actual payment amount
4. The difference shows how much you're saving through optimization