ROS2 Hosting / Open Source Lab

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I’ve noticed that the main ROS2 apt repository appears to be hosted by Oregon State University’s Open Source Lab, which appears to be facing a funding issue, and may shut down later this year if it does not receive it.

I’ve seen some threads online regarding other projects hosted by the OSL, but haven’t seen anything from the ROS community. Hopefully it won’t come to it, but are there plans to migrate hosting if the funding is not received?

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Hi @TSNoble,

Thanks for your note. Open Robotics has had a close relationship with OSU OSL for many years, and they directly informed us last week of the funding challenges they are facing. OSU OSL hosts significant portions of the ROS and Gazebo project infrastructure. If additional funding is not secured, their potential shutdown later this year would indeed require critical action from us.

We want to assure you that the Infrastructure PMC, OSRA TGC, and OSRF management have started working to analyse the impact of OSU OSL’s potential shutdown and actions we need to take for our projects. In the meantime, we are also doing what we can to help with OSU OSL’s fundraising needs. We strongly encourage organisations and individuals within the Open Robotics community and the broader open-source and tech ecosystem, who rely on or benefit from OSU OSL’s services, to consider supporting them directly. OSU OSL is seeking $250,000 in committed funds to continue its operations.

Donations can be made via their website, and corporate sponsorship inquiries can be directed to donations@osuosl.org. The OSU Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, offering potential tax advantages for donors.

We will share more news as this situation develops.

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Update: We have received the good news that OSU OSL has secured funding through next year! They also outlined the plans for long-term support of their work in their post, and we will continue to do our part to help as much as we can.

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