Where do you go when you need an open-source library or module?

Question

For applications, I usually head off to SourceForge, GoogleCode, and FreshMeat. But is there anywhere that deals exclusively in free libraries?

A similar discussion is ongoing for Java, but I'm curious about all languages - Java, PHP, .NET, Ruby, C/C++, etc. It doesn't even have to be OO.

Answer 1

Add CodePlex to that list for .NET projects.

Answer 2

C++, use Boost C++ or QT. Boost has a very good license for proprietary systems.

Answer 3

@Forgotten Semicolon: CodePlex appears to deal mostly in applications. I'm looking for libraries/classes/modules only.

Answer 4

@Thomas Owens: CodePlex does have a good deal of libraries (and applications, of course). As far as .NET OSS libraries they'll either be there or at GoogleCode.

Answer 5

@Forgotten Semicolon: Ah. I see that libraries and projects are all mixed in. OK. I saw a bunch of apps and figured it was mostly apps. Deeper digging showed a good mix of both.

Answer 6

I usually check http://apache.org first. There is a limited number of projects, but they're all high quality and you're guaranteed to get a license that is friendly to commercial development, which pays the bills.

Answer 7

Most ruby libraries are hosted at RubyForge. It's free and rubygems culls from there by default.

Ruby developers (particularly Rails plugin writers) have also been using GitHub a lot ever since Rails development moved over there.

Answer 8

I usually look on SourceForge and krugle.com

Answer 9

In recent months, I've found the Apache Commons to be an excellent resource for free-licenced Java libraries.

Answer 10

Mainly Google and Sourceforge, although thanks to the horrible new design I normally use Google nowadays.

Answer 11

Codeplex is good

Answer 12

Since you mentioned all languages I would put in a plug for RIAForge which is a collection of Open-source libraries for Adobe technologies. Mainly focused on Coldfusion and Flex, but there are sections for Photoshop and Fireworks as well.

Answer 13

For python development I always check the Python package index a.k.a. cheeseshop.

Answer 14

Even if you know that you will get a certain library/app/framework/DB at a certain FORGE(sourceforge, freshmeat, codehaus, googlecode, etc), using Google to search for them is much faster.

you can use site:www.sourceforge.net "search term" to search for a certain thing.

It also helps in finding documentation for a certain thing "site:springframework.org AbstractTransactionalDataSourceSpringContextTests" will take you directly instead of discussion in other sites.