Freepository, the on demand source code repository hosting service I run, is five years old (actually almost six years old now… time flies). While working on Version 3.0, I began reflecting on how it came to be what it is.

Freepository is a free (as in speech and beer) service that provides on-demand cvs repositories. Members register, create their freepositories, upload files and begin working in a version controlled space – within seconds. For free, no strings attached. This is pretty compelling for those developers who need to work from various locations while securely accessing their source code with team members that may be anywhere on the planet, but can’t afford their own server or a hosting package.

When I conceived freepository back in early 1999, I knew it would become important to many, many people. I had visions of it becoming huge (it isn’t huge yet, but it is big and used daily by thousands globally), and in fact started a software tools company around the promise of web-enabling the software development infrastructure. The company failed to close its A round and that was the end, or so it seemed.

Freepository still had my interest – and my heart. This was real, and I vowed to continue it. The people who used it every day had no where else to turn for free, secure cvs hosting that was easily used by anyone anywhere. Other hosting services popped up, some with incredbily deep pockets for marketing, and freepository was immeditaley compared to them, even though it was here first. That was painful, and still rubs me a bit, but that’s life. Often the only difference between mass use of a mediocre product and small, but fanatical use of a great product is the marketing effort (translation: money) that is available to each.

Since its introduction, freepository has added a few features that have truly revolutionized secure source code hosting. Using plugins or sserver-aware clients, members can now access their freepositories using the web, Eclipse, Netbeans, WinCVS. TortoiseCVS, CVSNT or freepository’s own cvs command line. Securely, over a 1.544Mb pipe. Backed up daily, with highly responsive email support. And when you’re done, click a button and take your source code with you (its yours, not mine). All somewhat quietly, project by project, over the years.

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