Sourceforge.net introduces a paid subscription system

Sourceforge.net operates 75,000 open source projects, and claims 780,000 registered users, and has been providing this service for free for several years. Sourceforge is considered by many in the community to be a critical piece of the Linux infrastructure, a monoculture which makes some of our colleagues (your editor included) a little nervous.

As of today, they now have a subscription option available where, if you subscribe ($39 annually, or $6.95 per month) you have access to the following features:

1. Advanced Searching: Subscribers can search all aspects of a project, including Boolean and dictionary based stem searching
2. Direct Download System: Subscribers can quickly and easily download software directly without a Web page
3. Priority Tech Support: Subscribers will receive priority support placement, enabling quicker resolution for any site issues
4. Project Monitoring: Subscribers will receive automated e-mail notifications of any changes that happen to a project, including new bug reports, forum postings and support requests.

More features are planned throughout the coming year.

More revenue for the company may indeed provide additional incentive for new features and improved infrastructure.

Another web property owned by Sourceforge's parent company, Slashdot.org, introduced their own subscription-program some time ago, and appears to have been successful while not detracted from their site at all. Our hope is that the same will be said of Sourceforge.