Amanda Brock’s Post

This is a good article but I feel like the consumers of open source are just as much responsible for this dynamic as the producers. Companies open source things for marketing, for recruitment, or strategic reasons - not for OSS ideals like freedom. Rather than creating freedom from Big Tech, if anything OSS has entrenched Big Tech as they have learned to weaponise it. Other vendors contribute to forks for their own strategic reasons. Notice how most of the OpenTofu backers are competitors with HashiCorp. It’s not out of noble goodwill. Likewise, the consumers will pretend they pick OSS for those same ideals of freedom as in speech, but in truth they pick it simply because it is free (as in beer). 99.9% of people who chose to use Terraform in the first place did so because it was $0, not out of any utopian ideals about a free software community. All participants on both sides know what they are signing up for, but cry foul when the inevitable happens. Just as vendors should think twice before open sourcing, consumers should think twice before choosing something that only has one or two vendors behind it.

The free-software movement was born from one frustrated engineer’s simple, rigid philosophy: for the good of the world, all code should be open, without restriction or commercial intervention. Open-source software has come a long way since its rebellious roots: it has transformed the tech industry. Still, its future is very much in flux. https://trib.al/IF0AxoJ

In light of the recent turbulence within the WP ecosystem and the broader discussions around license changes in various open-source projects, there's something that needs to be said, even though it should be painfully obvious: The real value of any open-source project is not just its source code. It’s the community. https://lnkd.in/gpZS7Mha

How do open source companies win? -- If you're coming to State of Open Con, check out my talk on the subject on February 4th at 11:15am! One thing I've noticed about the conversation around open source companies is that it's often focused on the risks and the downsides open source companies have to manage. The logical takeaway is "why the hell would anyone ever start an open source company?" But of course there are also upsides to building an open source company. So this talk is going to be about what those upsides are and how to make sure you are taking maximum advantage of them. This is not a talk about managing risk or managing tension. It's a talk about using open source strategically to bulldoze your competitors, gain market share and still charge a premium on the premium stuff so you can 📈 . Come check it out!

I am a big fan of open-source software, but recently there has been a bit of an identity crisis brewing. Some companies moved their licenses to source-restricted types due to big businesses utilising the software while not contributing back to the community. I've often wondered how much contributions from other parties go into some of the popular open-source software out there. This small case study sort of proves my belief that many of the OSS out there are supported by the parent company with few outside contributors. In the three cases, only one had consistent contributions from outside parties. This is the tragedy of the commons at play. However, this tragedy can only occur in a capitalistic society, where people can seek personal gains at the expense of the community. Many large companies have grown successful because of public capital - whether financial or knowledge. We have all significantly gained because of OSS. It's in our best interest to ensure that these projects are well supported. https://lnkd.in/eBJTeV_2

Open source software is free, they say, is everyone in open source then working for nothing? -- no, obviously not. Well, how does it work then? This is one way. First, what is open source software again? It provides the code for everything from web servers to databases. Powers the internet. The "open" part means that the source code is publicly accessible, allowing anyone to view, modify, and distribute it, creating a collaborative environment where communities drive innovation and improvements. Doesn't mean that anyone can change the official version however. Only trusted "maintainers" have write access to the central repository. This ensures that all updates go through a strict review process. But there’s the thing: it’s often maintained by small teams or even individuals who volunteer their time. This can leave critical components vulnerable to security issues, including potential hijacking by bad actors. An example: early this year a component that was widely used on internet servers for years was hijacked in a very subtle manner, coaxing the original author and sole maintainer to retire, and then injecting malicious code into the component. Luckily it was discovered and rectified quickly. When an important open-source project lacks oversight, it’s at risk of exploitation. This is where initiatives like **Tidelift** and Germany’s **Prototype Fund** come into play. **Tidelift** addresses this by supporting open-source maintainers financially, giving them the resources they need to secure their projects, stay vigilant, and keep critical software safe. The same for the **Prototype Fund**. It provides grants to European developers working on open-source projects, focusing on security, software infrastructure, and civic tech. This funding gives developers room to address security and stability, reducing the risk of project hijacking. With funding committed through 2029, the Prototype Fund is fostering a more resilient, secure open-source ecosystem in Europe. We rely on open-source for essential services. Initiatives like Tidelift and the Prototype Fund help keeping digital tools we depend on remain safe and sustainable. 🌐🔐 #OpenSourceSecurity #PrototypeFund #Tidelift #DigitalResilience #EUInnovation

What you love is free software, not open source. "We in the free #software movement don't think of the #OpenSource camp as an enemy; the enemy is proprietary (nonfree) software. But we want people to know we stand for freedom, so we do not accept being mislabeled as open source supporters. What we advocate is not “open source,” and what we oppose is not “closed source.” To make this clear, we avoid using those terms." "We address this problem by publishing the defi nition of free software, and by saying “Think of ‘free speech,’ not ‘free beer.’”" https://lnkd.in/eFiG6449

Want to make your open source project more inclusive? Not sure where to start? 🐧 Inclusive Strategies for Open Source (LFC103) ☁️ has the answers! Enroll 🆓 today: https://hubs.la/Q02zRDvt0 #Inclusive #OpenSource

’Open source isn’t a free lunch’ — here’s why Dan Lorenc, CEO of Chainguard, says something bold: "It’s not a tragedy of the commons." What does he mean? Open source software doesn’t get weaker with use, like a public park that gets worn down. The more it’s used, the stronger it becomes. But here’s the catch: Free doesn’t mean safe. Even though open source doesn’t cost money, it comes with risks. If no one maintains it, it can leave businesses open to problems that could shut down operations. Lorenc has a clear message: "Don’t think filing angry GitHub issues is a plan." Companies need a real strategy. They must know what they are using and have a plan for when things go wrong. Governments are paying attention, but businesses have to step up too. So it’s time for companies to rethink how they use open source and avoid risky surprises. PS: If you are looking to build or enhance your IT solutions, then... DM “Innovate” and we’ll share how you can create innovative, secure, and scalable software for your business. #innovation #itsolutions

Want to make your open source project more inclusive? Not sure where to start? 🐧 Inclusive Strategies for Open Source (LFC103) ☁️ has the answers! Enroll 🆓 today: https://hubs.la/Q02zRzvr0 #Inclusive #OpenSource