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Former MS Employees Explore OSS

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the different-gig dept.

Roberto Andressi writes "A few former Microsoft employees have launched a Web site that evaluates open-source projects. The site is intended as a way for first-time OSS users to 'get their feet wet' before diving into the large community of open source projects out there. The site, Ohloh, will provide background information on a prospective project. The folks behind the site even plan to include a lexicon of terms for very new users. " From the article: "'We collect from the infrastructure the open-source community uses to develop the software,' Ohloh co-founder and CEO Scott Collison told CNET News.com. 'It also serves as an open-source directory. You can find open-source projects and compare them, and gradually find one that's right for you.' The site could appeal to developers who are frustrated by the number of open-source projects that lack clear explanations. Ohloh also seeks to help developers make a build vs. buy decision by offering code analysis, said Collison, who along with co-founder Jason Allen, previously worked at Microsoft."

2 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Why link to ZDNET Asia? by assantisz · · Score: 5, Informative

    This link is much faster (that is if you are in the USA, of course): Web site that evaluates open-source projects.

    1. Re:Why link to ZDNET Asia? by ozbird · · Score: 5, Informative

      The big problem with a lot of OSS project sites is the lack of basic information about what the software even *IS*.

      Hence sites like freshmeat.net - my first port of call if I know the kind of application I want, but not which one (or even what the available options are.)

      Maybe I'm getting cynical, this has the distinct smell of astroturf. How "Ohloh" can you go?