Alternatives to SourceForge for Larger Projects? 79
DavonZ asks: "I have recently requested hosting from SourceForge for andLinux, a Windows based Linux distribution. Since andLinux is essentially an operating system, it is quite large (500MB for the first release), and SourceForge rejected the hosting request due to its size. Since andLinux will allow handheld development environments to be 'plugged in', hosting it could require gigs of space. I have looked into alternative distribution methods like ed2k and Bittorrent, but the FUD associated with such distribution methods can slow adaption of the project. I have also considered purchasing hosting, but that is costly, would require donations and the project is not yet presentable for even beta release...at least not yet. What alternatives to SourceForge are available for large projects like this that include the
'bells and whistles' that SourceForge has (CVS, forums, mailing lists, bug tracking, etc.)?"
Sneaker Net (Score:4, Funny)
Of course, you could just offer ftp access from your home account to seed the initial project.
Torrents aren't that bad, and if the project is noteworthy then people will seed for you.
Funny? (Score:2)
Why is this funny?
TIA
A Linux box and a cable modem (Score:5, Insightful)
The upshot of hosting it yourself is, you can set up a Google AdSense or Overture account and try to get some revenue coming in to help defray development costs.
No, sourceforge is closed source (Score:4, Informative)
Re:No, sourceforge is closed source (Score:2)
Re:No, sourceforge is closed source (Score:2)
Re:No, sourceforge is closed source (Score:2)
Usually in cases like this, what happens is that a 2nd party adds a whole bunch of code to a BSD-style-licensed project, and keeps their changes proprietary. In contrast, this is explicitly disallowed by the GPL, so there's no way VA could have closed the code unless the copyright holder of the origi
Re:No, sourceforge is closed source (Score:2)
Re:No, sourceforge is closed source (Score:2)
Re:No, sourceforge is closed source (Score:4, Interesting)
The SourceForge code was written by VA, for SourceForge. The GForge guy may be the "original author" in the sense that he literally wrote it, but he isn't the copyright holder.
For real entertainment, try digging up Eric Raymond's statement about the closing of the SourceForge code, where he furiously spins it as a glorious victory for open-source.
Re:No, sourceforge is closed source (Score:1, Flamebait)
Re:No, sourceforge is closed source (Score:2)
As one of Mr Raymond's much-touted reasons for using Open Source development is not reinventing the wheel it's a loss for OSS too. When it's closed, it's closed.
Re:No, sourceforge is closed source (Score:2)
Re:No, sourceforge is closed source (Score:2)
Re:A Linux box and a cable modem (Score:5, Informative)
Couple tips if you're going to be creating a Linux distro:
Tell DistroWatch.com and get yourself famous. That's more or less how I got well-known. I'm not sure if they do the Windows-based distros, but it's worth a shot.
Know the good BitTorrent sites such as mininova [mininova.org], one of my own favorites, and The Linux Mirror Project [tlm-project.org]. There's a ton of people on those sites who will download stuff just because it's there, and trust me, if you want instant fame that can be a very good thing.
If you need FTP, may I humbly suggest telling MadTux.org [madtux.org] about your project. I myself heard of them when they e-mailed an offer to host my project for FTP download, and they're very, very friendly people. They do have a fee for downloaders, but to get your distro's ISO's or whatever hosted with them is free. (Tell them that I sent you, they'll know what to do
May be a few other things I've forgotten, but those are the big ones. Good luck!
something else to try (Score:2, Interesting)
http://www.rapidshare.de/ [rapidshare.de] --> 100mb max size, limited downloads/hour, but it might work if you rar the distro.
http://www.megaupload.com/ [megaupload.com] --> real slow, 250mb max size
http://www.filefront.com/ [filefront.com] --> not sure if they allow non-game related stuff, send 'em an email. Their speeds are slow but not
Re:A Linux box and a cable modem (Score:1)
I did try all of those – ibiblio I've attempted about a thousand times – but none of them meet my needs. Either they've got size limits, or they don't have X feature, or else (in ibiblio's case) they never respond to my messages. I think I like Madtux myself, they're nice guys who know what they're doing, and they contacted me not the other way around (definitely a nice thing).
Standard Sourceforge Policy (Score:5, Informative)
...which brings up another good point: (Score:5, Interesting)
Incidentally, I was also going to suggest he put it on Savannah [nongnu.org], until I read this: Too bad he decided to help perpetuate non-Free software, eh?
Re:...which brings up another good point: (Score:2)
Re:...which brings up another good point: (Score:2)
rpath/Conary aim to solve this (Score:2)
Re:Standard Sourceforge Policy (Score:2)
Re:Standard Sourceforge Policy (Score:3, Informative)
Linux? (Score:3, Insightful)
As far as larger projects go, knoppix initially had great demand but the servers slow. Demand itself allowed the torrents to prosper and people could access the earlier knoppix CDs. Their servers seem faster now.
Host it on any given low bandwidth site, or better yet host all files somewhere online but put the downloadable ISOs on your home machine and elsewhere and allow the torrents to do their work. If theres demand it'll work beautifully. If theres no demand.. well.. you never needed the bandwidth in the first place.
PS I dont know of OSS hosting solutions other than sf.net.
Re:don't know about your location... (Score:2)
names (Score:2, Funny)
Re:names (Score:1)
Windows...andLinux. As in both in one OS.
I'd be interested to see it implemented. From what I read on the wiki, projects like this might help novice Linux users (like me) bridge the gap between Windows and Linux by not forcing them to dual boot or have a second PC.
Unfortunately, I don't have much advice in the way of hosting without knowing your bandwidth requirements. I could pimp a friend's site hosting company, but I don't know whether that's frowned upon here or how well it'd handle the lar
Berlios (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Berlios (Score:1)
No need to worry (Score:5, Insightful)
University firewalls (Score:2)
Anyone who even knows about Linux and/or alternative operating systems isn't going to shun your distro because its only available via P2P protocols.
Except people who live on campus at a university behind its stateful firewall, where BitTorrent, eDonkey2000, and eMule Kad Network protocols are often blocked or (if you're lucky) throttled to dial-up speeds.
What kind of proxy? (Score:1)
Proxy?
Located where? Wouldn't you have to rent an account on a server somewhere if your parents don't have a reliable always-on PC at home? Doesn't such an account cost $100 per year [anonymizer.com]? At that price, if you just want to do two or three legit torrents, it might be better to ask someone to burn a CD and mail it to you.
Re:University firewalls (Score:2)
Go take a look at... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Go take a look at... (Score:1)
Gna! (Score:5, Informative)
I host more 10 projects there since when Gna! first appeared two years ago.
Re:Gna! (Score:5, Funny)
Are you a programmer?
Are you need in need of web hosting?
If you answered "yes" to both of these questions, then GNA! might be exactly what you're looking for!
Re:Gna! (Score:1)
Find a "normal" host with a high transfer rate (Score:1)
well (Score:2, Funny)
Re:well (Score:2)
Re:well (Score:3, Funny)
berlios ? (Score:2)
your own hosting? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:your own hosting? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:your own hosting? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:your own hosting? (Score:3, Interesting)
Regardless, they still have the
Re:your own hosting? (Score:1)
In fact, start your site with a normal host, but offer download mirrors from these crap providers. Keep hammering them with downloads until they start crying! Then remind them how stupid it is to offer "
"Little"? (Score:1)
I wouldn't call 1&1 "little". In fact, they're part of Germany's biggest conglomerate of internet firms, aptly named "United Internet [united-internet.com]", which also own outfits like GMX and web.de
Re:your own hosting? (Score:2)
Re:your own hosting? (Score:2)
Obviously they are used to dealing with big companies where billing issues are less complex.
Host it Yourself (Score:2, Insightful)
It looks like you have two options, get a dedicated server from someone like EV1 Servers [ev1servers.net] for $99/month or setup your own box on your broadband connection (assuming you have broadband). I use EV1 and I would recommend them if you want a dedicated server and are willing to do your own system administration.
As far as software I'd recommend Subversion [tigris.org] for source countrol, Bugzilla [bugzilla.org] for bug tracking, and MediaWiki [mediawiki.org] for general documentation. I'm in the process of setting this up for my own projects right now.
Re:Host it Yourself (Score:1)
Still waiting on your other product... (Score:1)
Joke.
LinuxTracker.org (Score:2)
Dreamhost (Score:2, Informative)
mirroring (Score:1)
https://freepository.com/ (Score:2)
They would charge about $10 month if I'm reading the charts right.
host it on my vps for a while (Score:2)
bittorrent taint? (Score:2)
Re:Big pipe needed? --- PARENT IS A TROLL (Score:1)
iBiblio (Score:2)
Anyway, these guys have been around and hosting things like this for at least 10 years. Talk to them [ibiblio.org]. You may need to host bug tracking and forums at a different site, but they can definitely handle a distro-sized download. Ask them about the stuff you want; I think they'll consider making pretty much any open tool available for you.
SiteForge Collaboration Platform (Score:2)
Here is its homepage, which is running the SiteForge software: http://www.sitelliteforge.com/siteforge [sitelliteforge.com]
Are you sure? (Score:1)