Alternatives to SourceForge for Larger Projects?

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.)?"

Comments

Sneaker Net

[LiquidCoooled]

Best and simplest is a good old CD rom :)

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.

A Linux box and a cable modem

[corbettw]

You're probably going to have to host it yourself, at least until it's far enough long to find someone willing to donate space/bandwidth. You'll have to install some forum software yourself, like phpBB, of course. Isn't the software SF runs itself Open Source? If so, why not download that and put it to work?

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.

Re:A Linux box and a cable modem

[martinultima]

I second the notion to just host it yourself on a Linux box, and use BitTorrent to handle stuff. I was in the exact same situation as you once with my own distro, Ultima – and look where it got me. I've had over 8000 downloads now, all running off 384k uplink, a 700MHz Duron, and endless BitTorrent seeding :-)

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, one of my own favorites, and The Linux Mirror Project. 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 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!

Standard Sourceforge Policy

[AKAImBatman]

If you read the rules, you'll find that Sourceforge doesn't allow Linux distributions. (Or operating systems for that matter.) According to their site, the specific issue isn't the size, but rather the amount of redundant data each OS creates. Sourceforge would much rather host the individual projects for the OS and let other sites host the distributions. That way they don't end up carrying three hundred plus copies of GLIBC. (All incompatible with each other.)

No, sourceforge is closed source

[Anonymous Coward]

VA closed the code years ago. But there is a fork from the original author at gforge.

Berlios

[Spy der Mann]

They got SVN, and compared to sourceforge, they're relatively fast.

No need to worry

[stinerman]

The FUD created about BitTorrent and ed2k is just that. 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. BitTorrent was designed with the exact situation you have in mind. Use it for its intended purpose.

Go take a look at...

[c0l0]

http://www.berlios.de/

...which brings up another good point:

[mrchaotica]

Surely his 500MB of data isn't all unique. Why doesn't he just host the diffs, and provide links to the base software that's hosted elsewhere? Heck, he could even write a script that would automatically retrieve and assemble it!

Incidentally, I was also going to suggest he put it on Savannah, until I read this:

This web site (called Savannah) is a central point for development, distribution and maintenance of Free Software that runs on free operating systems.

Too bad he decided to help perpetuate non-Free software, eh?

Gna!

[knipknap]

I can very much recommend Gna!. They are fast, they are secure, the site is well maintained and the developers are very responsive. You have choice between SVN, CVS and Arch, backups exist, you can host files and a homepage, ...

I host more 10 projects there since when Gna! first appeared two years ago.

Re:Gna!

[Anonymous Coward]

What a tragic name.

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!