Category: 1.2 Open Source (Industry)
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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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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…
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How to talk about open source without making a mess
Based on years of experience, and a fair bit of frustration, I have some recommendations about choice of words for journalists when writing about open-source software and its role in running data centers and enabling digital sovereignty. Open-source software vs. open source solution. This is the big one. Software is an artifact (code) and a…
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Open source community roles and community continuity (Matt Germonprez, IEEE Computer)
I’m happy to report that the 39th article in the open source column of IEEE Computer has been published. As always, please consider writing an article proposal! Abstract Open source communities are built on the engagement of people, and these engagements are subject to change. Open source communities can recognize and support role adaptation where…
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Why an open source requirement (“public money, public code”) is not enough for digital sovereignty
Open-source software can help digital sovereignty, but it is not enough. Many of the calls of open source enthusiasts, in my book, are even hurting, because they simplify and promise what can’t be promised. Myth: Open-source software will remove vendor lock-in and will make switching to alternative suppliers easy. Truth: All software locks you in,…
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The quotable guide to “why contribute to open source projects”
I provided the following quotes to the Open Logistics Foundation’s member magazine, where they were published in German and in somewhat modified form. Here are the original quotes. Managing your dependencies “Using an open source component creates a dependency on that component. If this dependency is important, the most effective way to manage the dependency…