Rescue in sight for BerliOS OSS repository

The fate of the BerliOS open source software (OSS) repository is still undecided after all: a non-profit development association that is to be created before the end of November could ensure the repository's future operation. Currently, potential founder members of a new organisation are negotiating the details and implementation of the project with decision makers at Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems (FOKUS), who had originally planned to shut down BerliOS at the end of 2011.

According to the current state of negotiations, the Fraunhofer Institute has particular problems with staff funding, and volunteers would need to take over the work of current Fraunhofer employees. The institute says that it will provide power and bandwidth, as well as the existing servers, free of charge for the time being, but that it won't invest in any further system development – the development association will need to find a provider or server location in the long term. However, they are confident that future sponsors can be found because the amount of data isn't exorbitant.

Founded in 2000 by FOKUS, the BerliOS project supports open source developments and is intended as a mediator between users, developers and manufacturers. The repository currently hosts over 4,700 projects and has 50,000 registered users.

(djwm)