Now, we also have to decide what to do."This is the GIMP project's official statement on SourceForge's actions in regard to "abandoned" projects on their service.
It is archived in the GIMP Developer mailing list archive.
We are fully aware that since their launch in 1999, SourceForge had been providing a valuable service to the Free Software community and that this service may still be relevant to some Free and Open Source Software projects today.
The GIMP project did benefit from this service: SourceForge was the place to download the Windows installer for GIMP for many years and we appreciate it as an important part of GIMP history.
When it comes to distributing GIMP, our goal is to make it as easy as possible for users to install GIMP.
We do not want our users having to dodge any "offers" or to worry about possibly installing malware in the process.
With our shared history, it was painful to watch the invasion of the big green "Download" button ads appearing on the SourceForge site. Our decision to move the Windows installers away from SourceForge in 2013 was a direct result of how its service degraded in this respect.
The situation became worse recently when SourceForge started to wrap its downloader/installer around the GIMP project binaries. That SourceForge installer put other software apart from GIMP on our users' systems. This was done without our knowledge and permission, and we would never have permitted it. It was done in spite of the following promise made by SourceForge in November 2013:
"we want to reassure you that we will NEVER bundle offers with any project without the developers consent." (emphasis in original)
To us, this firmly places SourceForge among the dodgy crowd of download sites.
SourceForge are abusing the trust that we and our users had put into their service in the past.
We don't believe that this is a fixable situation.
Even if they promise to adhere to the set of guidelines outlined below, these promises are likely to become worthless with any upcoming management change at SourceForge.
However, if SourceForge's current management are willing to collaborate with us on these matters, then there might be a reduction in the damage and feeling of betrayal among the Free and Open Source Software communities.
An acceptable approach would be to provide a method for *any* project to cease hosting at any SourceForge site if desired, including the ability to:
completely remove the project and URLs permanently, and not allow any other projects to take its place
remove any hosted files from the service, and not maintain mirrors serving installers or files differing from those provided by the project or wrap those in any way
provide permanent HTTP redirects (301) to any other location as desired by the project
This is not unreasonable to expect from a service that purports to support the free software community."
Sourceforge.net and Bundled Downloads
Moderator: Rathinagiri
- Rathinagiri
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Sourceforge.net and Bundled Downloads
This is an extract from Gimp.org
East or West HMG is the Best.
South or North HMG is worth.
...the possibilities are endless.
South or North HMG is worth.
...the possibilities are endless.
- esgici
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Re: Sourceforge.net and Bundled Downloads
My humble opinion is : GIMP seems to be justifiedRathinagiri wrote:...
Now, we also have to decide what to do.
In our side: we do never been need to SF;
and I don't think that SF add some "value" to our product / project.
Our site successfully keep and publish our product / project.
The only precaution may be on keeping too many old versions,
and again in my humble opinion, this isn't necessary nor important.
Vİva HMG
Viva INTERNATIONAL HMG
- Rathinagiri
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Re: Sourceforge.net and Bundled Downloads
Thank you Esgici.
IMHO, it is better to have a good public hosting site to distribute our project files since it might be faster in many countries. It may also act as a backup.
IMHO, it is better to have a good public hosting site to distribute our project files since it might be faster in many countries. It may also act as a backup.
East or West HMG is the Best.
South or North HMG is worth.
...the possibilities are endless.
South or North HMG is worth.
...the possibilities are endless.
-
- Posts: 682
- Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2013 6:33 pm
- Location: Argentina
Re: Sourceforge.net and Bundled Downloads
Hi Friends
I must agree with Esgici.- His argument is reasonable and strong.-
About old versions, just for HMG History they must be keept.-
IMHO versions since 3.046 must be preserved.-
With regards.
Eduardo
I must agree with Esgici.- His argument is reasonable and strong.-
About old versions, just for HMG History they must be keept.-
IMHO versions since 3.046 must be preserved.-
With regards.
Eduardo
- srvet_claudio
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Re: Sourceforge.net and Bundled Downloads
+1Rathinagiri wrote:IMHO, it is better to have a good public hosting site to distribute our project files since it might be faster in many countries. It may also act as a backup.
Re: Sourceforge.net and Bundled Downloads
It's sad that all in internet spin around money in these times.
I can give place for hmg on my server, but, as Rathi said, it's more secure to have public hosting.
I can give place for hmg on my server, but, as Rathi said, it's more secure to have public hosting.
- Roberto Lopez
- HMG Founder
- Posts: 4004
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:43 pm
Re: Sourceforge.net and Bundled Downloads
+1 too.Rathinagiri wrote:Thank you Esgici.
IMHO, it is better to have a good public hosting site to distribute our project files since it might be faster in many countries. It may also act as a backup.
Regards/Saludos,
Roberto
(Veritas Filia Temporis)
Roberto
(Veritas Filia Temporis)
Re: Sourceforge.net and Bundled Downloads
+1Rathinagiri wrote:Thank you Esgici.
IMHO, it is better to have a good public hosting site to distribute our project files since it might be faster in many countries. It may also act as a backup.
BPD
Convert Dream into Reality through HMG
Convert Dream into Reality through HMG