Category: 1. Software Industry
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Value capture dynamics in open source (Foster and Germonprez, IEEE Computer)
I’m happy to report that the 43nd article in the open source column of IEEE Computer has been published. As always, please consider writing an article proposal! Abstract This article discusses the evolving vendor dynamics in open source projects that create tension between vendors and cloud providers as they seek to capture value while also…
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Pros and cons of the AI bubble
Having lived through the dotcom boom and bust and some minor bubbles since then, I thought I’d review the current AI bubble from this perspective. My point is not to discuss the benefits of AI in general but rather the pros and cons of the bubble it has created. I also cannot answer the question…
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Quote on digital sovereignty for German Open Source Competition 2026
I recently participated in the opening panel (online discussion) of the German Open Source Wettbewerb (competition) for 2026. This participation had already triggered my earlier posts on open source and digital sovereignty and, less directly, on a European open source AI strategy. Now the organizers asked for a short quote to use for further marketing.…
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Open source and digital sovereignty
Digital sovereignty is on everyone’s mind these days, and open source is seen as a critical enabler. But how, and at what costs? First off, it is not just about open source code. Next to code, you also need to consider your data and where it resides. The code and the data dimension then create…
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Beware of an AI’s authoritative voice
Nothing drives home the silliness of this early (LLM) AI frenzy better than a personal experience. Here is mine. Over twenty years ago, when I was a student at Stanford and rather poor (think six digit student loan), I was trying to make a cheese fondue for my friends. Problem was that the original ingredients…
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Is commercial open source the right choice for your startup?
I’ll be on a panel at the UC Open Summit 2026 in a few hours. The moderator carved out for me the question: When should you make a COSS play? (She really liked that phrasing.) Here is my panel-size soundbite: The term “commercial open source” was coined as a marketing term by Clint Oram of…