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.
Category: commentary
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
TechRepublic: Open Source and Corporate Funding
I have more to say about this. See the original article on TechRepublic. Basic argument goes like this, "individual developers working in their mom's basement no longer drive open source development! Now it's all about the corporate $$$$." My initial thought is "duh". I've always felt that the narrative about a decentralized army creating amazing… Continue reading TechRepublic: Open Source and Corporate Funding
Is Open Source More Risky?
There's been a long-running debate over open source and security, and it goes something like this: Pro: Open source is awesome! Given enough eyes, all bugs are shallow. This is why open source software is inherently more secure. Con: Hackers can see the code! They'll look at the source code and find ways to exploit… Continue reading Is Open Source More Risky?
DevOps is not enough
Or: My source code is your platform, and vice-versa. https://twitter.com/i/moments/897859467529912321 https://twitter.com/johnmark/status/897837253946466304
It’s the Ecosystem, Stupid
I published a bit over at OpenSource.com. Read the full article here. It's a plea to look externally and figure out how your technology relates to all that's happening in the greater ecosystem. There are still way too many companies who suffer from NIH and end up saddled with way too much technical debt. Don't… Continue reading It’s the Ecosystem, Stupid
