Comparison of different active cryptocurrencies [closed]

Question

I haven't realized until recently how many different crypto-currencies have emerged the last years; coinmarketcap.com lists around 60 of them^* and it seems that it isn't even a complete list (for example allahcoin that I've read about recently at HN is not listed).

I guess most of them are derived from Bitcoin and are somehow different trying to solve a real problem, eg Litecoin being more efficiently mined to reduce energy costs, but some are simply clones with only minor twists if any at all, or trying to appeal only specific audiences (gaming community, sex shoppers etc).

I think it would be interesting for me and others, a simple comparison list that explains in a few words how the concept of each currency is different to Bitcoin and what problems are they trying to solve, and not other details such as market capitalization, initial reward, who created it etc.

Related lists:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cryptocurrencies (interesting but doesn't explain the differences of the concept)
• https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/List_of_alternative_cryptocurrencies
• https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=134179.0 (by far the most complete list and quite close to what I'm asking, but doesn't explain clearly IMHO in all items what are the differences from Bitcoin)

_{* Follows the list of currencies found in coinmarketcap.com that I'm interested in; description of additional active ones are of course welcome: Litecoin, MasterCoin, Peercoin, Nxt, Namecoin, Quark, ProtoShares, WorldCoin, Megacoin, Primecoin, Feathercoin, Infinitecoin, DogeCoin, Novacoin, Zetacoin, Devcoin, Anoncoin, Digitalcoin, Freicoin, Copperlark, Terracoin, Ixcoin, Cryptogenic Bullion, NetCoin, GoldCoin, Tickets, BBQCoin, StableCoin, Sexcoin, Fastcoin, Deutsche eMark, Unobtanium, MemoryCoin, Datacoin, GrandCoin, Yacoin, FlorinCoin, Mincoin, I0Coin, Tigercoin, BetaCoin, Luckycoin, TagCoin, Diamond, GlobalCoin, BitBar, CasinoCoin, EZCoin, Philosopher Stones, Phoenixcoin, Orbitcoin, Bytecoin, GameCoin, Argentum, Franko, HoboNickels, Noirbits, Joulecoin, CraftCoin, Elacoin, Junkcoin, Spots.}

Answer 1

You probably should start from the source by yourself, look here:

https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/network

2,523 forks of bitcoin. Greatest bump ever.

You should get source of 2 coins that you want to compare, and simply diff it. It is easiest way to understand what's the difference.

# git clone https://github.com/fastcoinproject/fastcoin.git 
# git clone https://github.com/asiccoin/asiccoin.git
# diff -Hrin asiccoin fastcoin

92,401 different stings. The more than 70% is a .ts files from /src/qt/locale/. Only names asiccoin and fastcoin are different (:

See,

# rm -fr asiccoin/src/qt/locale
# rm -fr fastcoin/src/qt/locale
# diff -Hrin asiccoin fastcoin 

16,955 different strings.

etc.

Look, here you can get algo: http://www.dustcoin.com/mining

Very good comparison list: http://www.coinwarz.com/cryptocurrency

The third one: http://coinchoose.com/

Also, check this bitcointalk thread: Cryptsy Survival Guide.

However, nowhere you can get full list. Forks are born every day, not only on github. There are 10-20 forks that I have meet, with hosting on google disk. 20-30 without sources.

Edit1: At the end, read this thread.

Edit2: Look what I've found http://www.poolwarz.com