Collab.Net sourceXchange Completes First Project - Test Suite for Apache Web Server; New sourceXchange Marketplace Offers Enhanced Interface for Collaborative Open Source Development.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 2000

Collab.Net, a leading provider of collaborative services for emerging open source software markets, today announced the completion of the first project, a test suite framework for the Apache Web server, on Collab.Net' sourceXchange, the premier, collaborative marketplace for financing and managing open source software development over the Internet. Collab.Net has also completed a major revision to the sourceXchange Web site to provide a new design, improved user interface, and new functionality.

Hewlett-Packard Company sponsored the development of the test suite framework for the Apache Web server. The project was built on top of an existing open source testing tool and completed within six weeks. Encouraged by the success of this initial project, HP has posted several additional RFPs (Request for Proposals) on the sourceXchange site that focus on building components based on its e-speak open software platform.

"HP chose to partner with Collab.Net because of the company's expertise in the open source community and because we wanted to make a contribution to the open source development model," said Carl D'Costa, marketing manager at HP's E-speak Operation. "The sourceXchange process allows us to receive high-quality proposals from open source developers and get our deliverables in a timely, cost-effective manner. We were very pleased with the sourceXchange process and look forward to using the site for additional e-speak projects in the future."

The test suite framework for the Apache Web server will benefit both Apache developers and Apache users. For Apache developers, the test framework can be used to quickly check if a new build of the Apache server is functioning correctly. For Apache users (Webmasters), the test framework can be used to quickly test if a new Web site is working as expected.

"As the Apache Web server is becoming more widely adopted, a test suite is something that is becoming a necessity for the Apache Community," said Brian Behlendorf, Collab.Net's co-founder and CTO. "Clearly it was also a need for HP as they start deploying Apache commercially. Funding this project through sourceXchange helped ensure that the test suite was not an overnight hack, but a long-term solution."

sourceXchange Uses Open Source Community Processes

sourceXchange distills the best practices learned from many years of experience in open source software development projects. It is designed to facilitate the same type of community input that goes into successful open source projects. Launched in December 1999, sourceXchange has over 5,000 total registrations, with close to 1,200 active developers. The sourceXchange marketplace allows open source developers to match their expertise to committed buyers with well-defined, financially backed open source projects.

Another key open source concept embedded in sourceXchange is Peer Review. Each project has a Peer Reviewer assigned to give important feedback and guidance through the Open Source process from other developers experienced in a specific area. In addition the Peer Review process provides an objective third-party to review the developed code and ensure that it meets the project specifications.

sourceXchange is an interactive Web application that guides both the sponsors and the developers through the process. Key features include: on-line guidelines and templates for generating sponsor RFPs, context sensitive help, searchable RFP listings and discussion forums, secure access levels for the sponsor and developer teams, formal project management with milestones and deliverables, and the ability for international developers to participate in the sourceXchange process. Companies that have sponsored projects on sourceXchange include: Hewlett-Packard, Novell, Ricoh, Galactic Marketing, Sparks.com, and Walnut Creek CDROM.

About Collab.Net

Collab.Net is a leader in creating new open source markets by combining open source community expertise with business excellence. By utilizing the essential collaborative processes of the open source community, Collab.Net supplies customers with products and services that facilitate well-organized, open source development. Collab.Net provides a developer marketplace, hosting services with development lifecycle management capabilities and professional services to facilitate collaborative, open source software development among a worldwide community of developers. Brian Behlendorf, co-founder of the Apache Software Foundation co-founded Collab.Net in July 1999. For more information, see www.collab.net.