Want to affect change in large organizations? Don't create grand visions and set unreasonable expectations. Apply the lessons from open source: prototype, bootstrap, iterate.
Author: johnmark
The New Open Source Playbook – Platforms Part Deux
The post emphasizes the importance of "lift" in platform strategies, focusing on user and developer lift for technology products. It discusses aligning community strategies with specific goals and target audiences, using examples from Kubernetes and Hyperic to illustrate platform-community fit. The key takeaway is that proper alignment is crucial for achieving expected growth.
The New Open Source Playbook
The commercial open source landscape has seen a revival, driven by startups focusing on generative AI. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to adopt a strategic approach, evaluating platform ecosystems, open core, and product focus. Successful startups should prioritize community engagement and user adoption to ensure a sustainable business model, while carefully navigating intellectual property considerations.
Open Source is About to Undergo Substantial Change
Open source communities are facing an existential crisis as AI and agentic systems reshape the landscape. With code generation tools flooding the market, traditional notions of value and collaboration are crumbling. If we fail to adapt our governance models, we risk empowering monopolistic forces that threaten the very essence of open source innovation.
Open Source, AI, and the Global War on Fascism
The author reflects on the trajectory of open source amidst the rise of geopolitical tensions and authoritarian regimes. Initially thriving as a collaborative movement, open source now faces threats from nation-state actors exploiting its communities. Urging for transparency in data and AI models, the author calls for organizations to adapt to these urgent realities.
AI Native and the Open Source Supply Chain
I recently wrote 2 essays on the subject of AI Native Automation over on the AINT blog. The gist of them is simple: AI Native platforms are about to disrupt - and maybe disembowel - what we know today as devops AI Native platforms are about to dramatically increase the scope of open source ecosystems… Continue reading AI Native and the Open Source Supply Chain
The Revenge of the Linux Distribution
The evolution of software methodologies is evident in the shift from Linux distributions to reliance on freely available repositories. However, recent security incidents have exposed the weaknesses of this approach. As risk mitigation measures resemble those provided by Linux distributions, there is potential for their comeback in application development. This could reduce the risk of supply chain attacks.
Whither the OSPO?
What is the end result of an Open Source Program Office? Why, innovation and developer productivity, of course!
There is No Open Source Community
In January, 2006, I published this article on O'Reilly's OnLAMP.com site, which was recently shut down. I've always been proud of this essay, because I think I got a lot right. I'm republishing it now in the hopes that it will continue to educate others - and perhaps allow others to critically evaluate where… Continue reading There is No Open Source Community
Open Source and SaaS
Now that I work in an engineering environment tailored for SaaS development, I've developed a better understanding of the challenges they face when open sourcing their code. I wrote it up for OpenSource.com in a 2-part article, "How to decide whether to open source your SaaS solution." Some tidbits: The decision to open source code… Continue reading Open Source and SaaS