Open Source: Mythen en Realiteit

Within the government, the term ‘Open Source’ has had a magical ring to it for decades.

It conjures up images of transparency, social responsibility, and independence from big tech giants. The European Commission’s ICT strategy gives considerable space to open source and sees it as a forerunner in the digital transition, focusing on openness, autonomy, and the citizen.

The Benefits of Open Source

To promote the use of open source software, all possible benefits are highlighted: continuity, vendor independence, market collaboration, (chain) cooperation, innovation, security, and even sustainability. Indeed, good open source software offers many advantages. It is not for nothing that almost every commercial software nowadays uses multiple open source components. It is often not economically viable to develop that functionality yourself, or there is simply no better alternative available.

But, as the saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

The People Behind Open Source

Open source software is built by smart, passionate people. But like everyone else, these people have responsibilities such as a mortgage, a family and other daily concerns. The communities that support open source projects are very diverse in composition and beliefs. Some projects are maintained by a single person, while others rely on contributions from employees of large companies who allow their employees to contribute to open source projects during working hours. However, the stove has to burn and the fridge has to cool, so somewhere something will have to be paid to all those people who put time and energy into open source software.

In addition, despite the often-mentioned peer review, bugs are inevitable. Examples of errors that had a huge impact include the bugs in Log4J, the Java Spring Framework and OpenSSL. These events showed how vulnerabilities in open source software can lead to global panic in some cases. It also happens that changes are made to make political statements, such as protestware unexpectedly popping up on users’ systems. There are also cases where developers sabotage their own code in protest against wars or against large companies that they believe profit from open source without giving anything back.

Risk management with Open Source

The key point here is that risk management is essential in any software choice, and open source is no exception. The risks are different, but certainly present. When choosing open source software, it is crucial to consider and manage these risks.

The Disadvantages of Open Source

While open source software offers many advantages, there are also disadvantages that should not be ignored. Dependence on volunteers and the possible discontinuity of projects are real concerns. Moreover, security risks can arise due to the open nature of the code and support can sometimes fall short compared to commercial software.

In the next section, we will elaborate on the specific advantages and disadvantages of open source software and how they relate to the needs of organisations. Risk management and a balanced approach are crucial here.

Conclusion

Open source software offers many advantages and can be a valuable addition to any organisation’s IT strategy. However, it is important not to ignore the potential risks and drawbacks. With a considered approach and good risk management, open source software can play an important role in the digital transition and achieving technological autonomy.