SourceForge went through a major reputation rehab. Back in the mid-2010s, it faced heavy criticism for bundling adware with project downloads, especially after taking over abandoned projects and wrapping them in installers. That move alienated a lot of open-source developers and users.
But in recent years, especially after being acquired by BizX in 2016, SourceForge made a concerted effort to clean up its act:
- 🧹 Removed bundled adware: They stopped using their controversial DevShare installer.
- 🔒 HTTPS everywhere: They enforced secure connections across the site.
- 📦 Project integrity: They now let developers maintain full control over their projects and downloads.
- 🧪 Malware scanning: Downloads are scanned for malware, and results are shown transparently.
- 💬 Community trust: They’ve worked to rebuild trust with open-source maintainers and users alike.
It’s a good example of a platform recognizing its missteps and making a genuine effort to course-correct.