SourceForge, the venerable open source repository and vendor, just got a shot in the arm by agreeing to acquire the newer, more social networking-minded Ohloh for an undisclosed amount.

We’ll be reporting more on the deal as we learn more about it, but it clearly makes sense. Actually, we saw SourceForge and Ohloh coming together already, albeit from different ends of the open source repository and community spectrum and also more competitively in our reports covering both companies. SourceForge holds the most well known and largest collection of open source software, yet it has lacked some of the newer features — both for open source developers and for enterprise and other users — such as cross-project communication and data on projects and activity. Ohloh, on the other hand, was founded more recently in 2004 and, among a new breed of open source developer and code communities, was still building up the size and sources of its directory. Ohloh has nevertheless managed to build up a community of open source software developers, encouraged cross-project communication and collaboration and perhaps most importantly in terms of commercial open source software, has provided the useful data on open source projects, contributions, developers and activity that enterprise users and vendors have been craving.

So will the joining of these two open source-centered companies deliver the best of both worlds? That will be the challenge for SourceForge as it integrates Ohloh’s technology and code, some of which is open source itself. SourceForge, which announced lackluster earnings and pointed to another ‘new strategy’ with its latest quarterly results, will also have to ensure it embraces and elevates the Ohloh approach, which was successful by serving both the communities of developers that it connects and tracks, but also by serving the enterprise users, vendors and investors that want to deeply investigate open source software and trends.

SourceForge is largely a media and e-commerce company with its Slashdot and ThinkGeek properties, and it has struggled a number of times to translate its immense open source repository and brand into enterprise success. There are some indications the company will look to connect its media and advertising to open source developers. I believe the far greater opportunity lies in taking the Ohloh approach and making money by connecting developers and users and providing insight on open source software. This would give SourceForge a good chance of finally seizing this opportunity and also perhaps serve to bridge the history and success of open source software with its future and potential.