The Gimp abandons SourceForge due to installer wrapper

[A Guy]

In the past few months, we have received some complaints about the site where the GIMP installers for the Microsoft Windows platforms are hosted.

SourceForge, once a useful and trustworthy place to develop and host FLOSS applications, has faced a problem with the ads they allow on their sites - the green "Download here" buttons that appear on many, many adds leading to all kinds of unwanted utilities have been spotted there as well.

The tipping point was the introduction of their own SourceForge Installer software, which bundles third-party offers with Free Software packages. We do not want to support this kind of behavior, and have thus decided to abandon SourceForge.

From now on, Jernej Simončič, who provides the installer packages, uploads them to our FTP directly, and from there they will be distributed automatically to our mirrors. Please check Downloads page for updated information. GIMP - Windows installers will remain active for the time being and direct users to the new download locations.

Source

A Guy

 

[Kari]

Kudos to Gimp Team, this move is something I wholeheartedly support .

 

[lehnerus2000]

I found out about this a couple of days ago, when I discovered that GIMP 2.8.8 was available.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

First it was CNET, now it's SourceForge. We are running out of good sites to get safe software.

 

[4wd]

Argh, SourceForge too! & CNET is a pain, got some invasions from there, even after being careful.

Some good sites: tucows.com & filehippo.com (strange, both using the names of some quite gentle, vegetarian 4 legged creatures lol )

 

[Kari]

strange, both using the names of some quite gentle, vegetarian 4 legged creatures lol

Just for posterity from an old geek who downloaded his first free software from Tucows about 20 years ago: The name is an acronym of The Ultimate Collection Of Windows Software.

 

[4wd]

Another one with no addons: MajorGeeks.com - MajorGeeks

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Argh, SourceForge too! & CNET is a pain, got some invasions from there, even after being careful.

Some good sites: tucows.com & filehippo.com (strange, both using the names of some quite gentle, vegetarian 4 legged creatures lol )

Actually, hippos are anything but gentle.

 

[Gary]

Another one with no addons: MajorGeeks.com - MajorGeeks

This is where I get all of my freeware. All of those other places want to add a DL manager or toolbars.

 

[kado897]

I've seen others moving from Sourceforge too.

 

[Lee]

Have never cared for them, and when looking for somewhere to download software like Gimp I use Softpedia (knock on wood. . .

 

[smarteyeball]

Kudos to Gimp Team, this move is something I wholeheartedly support .

Adding extra BS to installations is a disturbingly annoying new trend.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there.

ABSOLUTELY PLUS for THE GIMP

-- It's not only Source Forge - but a lot of sites now seem to have the trick of misleading or almost impossible to find downloads for the software you want. I can even tolerate a few adverts but when you really almost need a Ph.D in Computer Science in order to find the download you want - then it's time to abandon that Site --Cnet is another one that does similar.

Another nasty trick is to advertise FREE download --the Download might be free but the software isn't !!. And yet another one is to point to direct downloads on some of those file sharing sites which ask you to PAY for a faster download --I'm sure you've all seen this sort of stuff.

The latest HORROR is now that an increasing number of sites require you to watch an UNSKIPPABLE VIDEO for a few seconds (probably the time you have to watch the video will be significantly increased if people accept this latest intrusion) before you can go to the next section to get the download.

At this rate - it will soon be safer and much less hassle just to use the TORRENT SITES !!!!. That would be a turn round for the book !!!!.

Well I'm glad that for one THE GIMP (excellent program too BTW) is fighting back. In any case I don't like "embedded" or proprietary installers -- I just want the .EXE/.ZIP/.RAR or even the windows install .MSI file - we shouldn't NEED proprietary installers -- who knows what sort of malware those things *could* contain. Internet speeds are fast enough these days that we don't need "helper applications" to resume an interrupted download.

Again - WELL DONE "THE GIMP".

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Kari]

The latest HORROR is now that an increasing number of sites require you to watch an UNSKIPPABLE VIDEO for a few seconds (probably the time you have to watch the video will be significantly increased if people accept this latest intrusion) before you can go to the next section to get the download.

As a consumer I know the companies most likely do not care about my feedback but not to give feedback at all is for me not an option, so I keep complaining.

Past few weeks these non-stoppable and non-mutable videos have been my number 1 complaint. I have sent screenshots like below to 5 different companies during the last 4 weeks, formally informing them that I have blocked their sites from all my computers and stopped using their services because of these video ads I can not and will not avoid(*): two Finnish and one German online newspapers, one bank (yes!) and a local car dealership.

Additionally I have sent same complaints to about half a dozen online services I do not count as essential services I would need, but instead non-essential services I would like to use but refuse to do so due this video ad matter.

The screenshot is from my complaint to Failbook:

​

Kari



(*) I do want to get ads as long as they are not disturbing and not stealing the focus on an online page. I am pro online advertising, pro targeted advertising, as long as the journalistic content on online newspapers and magazines, and the business content on other commercial sites comes first and advertising is done tastefully.

Check our Seven Forums, it's a good example of advertising done right: No ads for registered members, for guests ads that are easily separated from the forums content, in a subtle way that does not steal the focus.

 

[Tews]

Well said Kari!

 

[A Guy]

Kari, I agree, and this shouldn't be necessary, but have a look

How to Disable Annoying Autoplay Media in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer « Internet

A Guy

 

[Kari]

I'm a stubborn, angry old geek with very simple browsing and surfing principle: The site is not for me if it requires extra steps from my side to make it tolerable. I rather avoid these sites.

Kari

 

[A Guy]

As long as you don't cut off your nose to spite your face

A Guy

 

[Lee]

If you are running an ad blocker there are download sites that will ask you to turn off the add blocker for that site be four you can download a program/application. . .not going to happen. . .:devil2:

 

[Kari]

Fellow geeks, I apologize for taking this discussion to a path which could quite easily lead us all to break the rules of the SF (especially rule #14).

As I feel myself guilty in this sidetrack to off topic, may I suggest we'll go back to the topic: Bundled scrapware when downloading and installing software.

Kari