How to create an open source repository

Question

Hi,

Time ago I started to develop a project and now I would like to make it open source. I am not familiar with open source contribution so I would really appreciate if anyone of you could suggest any good source (book or web tutorial) where I could learn how to setup a repository and arrange everything neccesary in order to make possible open source development.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Visit Google Code. Setup a project there and learn how to use Subversion. When you're comfortable using Subversion and Google Code, you can setup your own Subversion/Trac server.

Answer 2

These days one of the more popular ways of running an open source project is to let a website such as SourceForge or Google Code (and there are many others) host the project. Most provide services such as code hosting using a variety of repository formats (CVS, Subversion, Git, Mercurial, etc...), mailing lists, bug trackers, wikis and more. The idea is that you are busy writing code, you shouldn't have to deal with mundane system administration tasks like maintaining source control or web servers.

Answer 3

Easiest way to start, create and maintain a repository is to open a project on SourceForge, or CodePlex (if you intend to have a .Net project). You can also try Google Code.

Answer 4

In addition to SourceForge, Google Code, and Codeplex, I would add GitHub.

As others have indicated letting someone else host this for you is the easiest way to go about getting an open source project up and started. As for guidance on the different options out there:

1. Source Forge - Never used them, but I know they've been around for a long time and they claim to be the largest.

2. Google Code - Can use subversion or mercurial for version control. Good code review tool too. Good option for choice and tools.

3. Codeplex - .NET stuff goes here. Hosted version of team foundation server.

4. GitHub - Centered around git, the distributed source control system developed by Linus for Linux development. Great for parallel development if you plan on having lots of folks working on it, but to be fair mercurial offered by Google Code is also parallel.

Here's an interesting article by Rob Conery about moving his .NET based open source project to github. If I remember right he had used Google Code and Codeplex previously. Have I successfully plugged my favorite? :)

In any case, don't worry about doing it yourself, a lot of hosting companies have one click installs for subversion. However hosting it will give you the following advantages:

1. Source control system set up and managed for you
2. Code review, and other collaboration tools are common
3. Generally you get a page to provide downloads to potential end users
4. Visibility and a community of potential contributors. I'm assuming you'd like other people to help you.

Hope that helps.