by Minh Tran

Created on: June 16, 2010

For people who are interested in open source softwares, SourceForge.net is a familiar name. Many aspiring programmers have chosen the site to showcase their talents. Thus, users can find a lot of interesting and useful products there.

According to Wikipedia, SourceForge.net is a source code repository operated by Sourceforge, Inc., and that it acts as a centralized location for software developers to control and manage open source software development. The company owning the site allow the open source developers post and host their products for free. That is to say softwares displayed on the site are open source and as the hosting is without charge, are free. It should be mentioned that there are some conditions with which a user has to comply, the most notable one being the company and the developers will not be responsible for any damage the softwares may cause for the user's computer. However, after weighing the pros and cons, one can say that it is a fair deal.

The softwares on the site are neatly categorized and their diversity is really impressive thanks to the number of active coders and projects (the site has 169281 projects and more than one million registered users according to Wikipedia). Furthermore, many programmes are multi-platform and hence are not confined to only one operation system. A casual computer user can find all s/he needs here from office to entertainment applications. Not all programmes are fully developed but users are informed about what the softwares' abilities and limits. Besides that, every product has a readme file in which the developers list all the known problems of the programme so that the users know what kind of risks they are taking. Therefore, all one needs is some attention to the instructions.

On the technical side, another meaning of the tag "open source" of SourceForge is that the codes of all softwares post on the site have to be made available to everyone. It is really meaningful for professional programmers or those who like to experiment with codes. In addition, every programme has a kind of diary that records the stages through which it is developed including its problems. SourceForge is also a site not only to download softwares but also to get help from other users, most of whom are computer experts. They are generally friendly and helpful, and one can learn a lot from them.

For those who have a small budget (and do not mind spending a little time to figure out things) or simply prefer open source softwares, SourceForge.net is definitely a site worth visiting

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