Hello everyone and welcome back to the Cognixia podcast. Every week, we get together to talk about the latest happenings, bust some myths, discuss new concepts, and a lot more from the world of digital emerging technologies. From cloud computing to DevOps, containers to ChatGPT, and Project management to IT service management, we cover a little bit of everything week after week, to inspire our listeners to learn something new, sharpen their skills, and move ahead in their careers.
In today’s episode, we talk about the future of open source. The early years of software development fostered a spirit of open exchange and collaboration. This meant engineers could freely access and modify code created by others, regardless of location or affiliation. This open environment facilitated knowledge sharing, troubleshooting (like squashing bugs!), and continuous improvement across the software development community.
In September 1983, Richard Stallman launched a project that would fundamentally alter the software landscape: GNU. This operating system emerged as a free alternative to the dominant Unix systems of the era. Stallman’s vision was driven by a core belief: software should be open and accessible to all. He saw a growing trend towards proprietary software and copyright restrictions, and GNU was his response. This philosophy – that unrestricted access to code, free from commercial limitations, would benefit the world – became the foundation of the free software movement.
Fast forward four decades. Today’s tech landscape is dominated by proprietary software, generating billions for tech corporations. Many everyday technologies, from complex language models like ChatGPT to seemingly simple smart thermostats, function as black boxes for consumers. Against this backdrop, Richard Stallman’s vision of a free software movement might appear like a utopian ideal, overpowered by commercial forces.
However, the story doesn’t end there. In 2024, the free and open-source software (FOSS) movement is not only enduring but thriving. FOSS has become a cornerstone of the tech industry, playing a crucial role in innovation and development.
Open-source software (OSS) has become a ubiquitous element in modern technology. A staggering 96% of codebases now incorporate some form of OSS, demonstrating its widespread adoption. This collaborative spirit extends to platforms like GitHub, the world’s largest hub for open-source development, boasting over 100 million users worldwide.
Even within the commercial sector, the value of open source is recognized. Amazon Web Services (AWS), a major cloud computing platform, actively supports the development and maintenance of open-source projects. This commitment was further solidified in December last year when AWS pledged its patent portfolio to an open-use community.
This trend towards open-source collaboration comes at a time when public trust in private tech companies is declining. In response, organizations like Google, Spotify, the Ford Foundation, Bloomberg, and even NASA have established new funding initiatives. These efforts not only support open-source projects but also extend the principles of open collaboration to scientific research endeavors – a movement known as open science.
The widespread adoption of open-source software (OSS) has brought benefits and challenges. While OSS has become a cornerstone of modern technology, its long-standing leadership and diversity issues require critical attention.
Many early OSS projects adopted a “benevolent dictator for life” (BDFL) governance model, where founders wielded significant control. However, concerns have arisen about the potential for such models to be abused, with some BDFLs facing accusations of misconduct. For instance, Richard Stallman, a prominent figure in the free software movement, stepped down from his leadership role due to controversy, though he later rejoined the board.
Another ongoing challenge is the lack of diversity within the open-source community. Most participants continue to be white males from developed nations. Furthermore, some projects can be unduly influenced by corporate interests, potentially hindering the collaborative spirit that underpins open-source development.
Another major hurdle lies in securing sustainable funding for open-source projects. Many critical projects rely heavily on volunteer efforts, raising concerns about their long-term viability.
Despite its challenges, the open-source software movement endures as a vibrant hub of collaboration within a highly competitive and fragmented tech industry. The core strength of OSS lies in its core ideal: empowering individuals around the world to work together not just on software development, but on a vast array of projects.
This collaborative spirit extends beyond just the code. Tools like mailing lists, online chat platforms, and open version control systems were pioneered within open-source communities and have become widely adopted best practices across the tech industry. The landscape of open-source software has evolved into a collaborative ecosystem where corporations are not just users, but also key contributors. Major projects like Kubernetes, originally developed by Google, and Meta’s React framework exemplify how internal solutions can be shared with the wider tech community to foster innovation.
However, this partnership between open-source and corporations isn’t without tensions. While companies leverage the vast benefits of OSS, a potential conflict arises between their pursuit of profit and the public good. Companies have become adept at utilizing open-source technologies, and integrating them into their operations. At the same time, they continue to prioritize and profit from proprietary software. In some cases, companies might attempt to present their closed-source work as open-source, a practice known as “openwashing.” This lack of transparency undermines the core principles of the open-source movement.
The concept of “free software” has evolved beyond simply the absence of cost. The phrase “free as in puppy,” coined in 2006, emphasizes the shared responsibilities between creators, users, and the software itself within modern open-source projects. Just like a puppy requires care and attention to thrive, open-source code depends on funding and dedicated maintainers. These maintainers form the backbone of the project, addressing user requests, fixing bugs, and ensuring the project’s growth and stability.
The increasing complexity and significance of many open-source projects have necessitated a shift from single-handed leadership or small small-group governance. Effective management requires a broader range of skills and expertise. Additionally, the motivations and needs of open-source contributors vary. Individuals who excel at creating code may not possess the same skillset for ongoing maintenance. Project founders may not have the desire or capacity to lead indefinitely.
The open-source software movement has undergone a significant transformation. In the early days, engineers dominated the scene, collaborating primarily through code and message boards. Today, open-source projects thrive on a more diverse range of expertise.
This growth necessitates new roles beyond coding. From fostering project growth and advocating for wider adoption to cultivating a welcoming and inclusive community, these expanded areas require dedicated individuals with specialized skills. This shift ensures the long-term health and sustainability of open-source projects.
Today. Open-source software presents a fascinating paradox. While it fosters valuable collaboration and innovation, it can also create a competitive advantage over proprietary efforts. A leaked Google document, for instance, highlighted how open-source communities have accelerated the development of large language models (LLMs) beyond what private companies could achieve alone. The document argued that open source lowers the barrier to entry, allowing individuals to experiment and contribute with relative ease. This concept aligns with the recently introduced idea of “Time till Open Source Alternative” (TTOSA), which measures the time it takes for an open-source equivalent to emerge after a proprietary product launch. Researchers estimate an average TTOSA of seven years, with the trend accelerating due to user-friendly platforms like GitHub.
However, open-source’s collaborative nature comes with its challenges. Our modern infrastructure relies heavily on open-source software, which often struggles with limited funding despite rapid growth. The traditional belief in open source is that a large community (“many eyes”) can quickly identify and fix bugs. While this holds in many cases, the system can become overburdened when software affects millions and is maintained by a small, under-resourced team. A prime example is the 2021 security vulnerability in a popular Apache library, which exposed millions of devices to hacking. This incident crippled major tech players and disrupted large portions of the internet, highlighting the potentially severe consequences of inadequately supported open-source projects.
Open-source software has journeyed far from its initial, iconoclastic phase. However, ensuring it evolves into a movement that truly embodies the principles of openness, reciprocity, and accessibility requires thoughtful planning, investment in both finances and community building and the ongoing tradition of collaborative self-improvement that has always been a hallmark of OSS.
The increasingly interconnected and diverse nature of our world underscores the critical need for skillsets that enable asynchronous collaboration across teams and technologies, all in pursuit of shared objectives. If this trend continues, the technological landscape of 40 years from now might be vastly more open – potentially paving the way for a more positive future.
So, we can confidently say that open source is still going strong, and could likely get stronger in the years to come. And, with that, we come to the end of this week’s episode of the Cognixia podcast. We will be back again next week with another interesting and exciting episode.
Until then, happy learning!
