Desai emphasizes that companies must support the open-source ecosystem, either by donating cash to contributors and projects, offering free software and services, or giving developers paid time to work on projects. He warns that failing to invest in open-source projects could jeopardize the innovation they bring. Desai concludes by stating that open source is now at the heart of modern innovation and that every company must do its part to support it.
Key takeaways:
- Open-source software is driving innovation and is increasingly being adopted by both vendors and customers, who contribute back to the community in time, money, and software.
- Companies are increasingly demanding their vendors to be open-source or at least open-source aligned, meaning they invest in open-source technologies that support their business and offer free or open-source versions of their products.
- New business models are emerging for open-source-aligned software companies, such as offering software as a managed service, which allows for commercialization beyond maintenance fees while still giving customers the option to run it for free.
- With the increased reliance on open-source software, it's crucial for every company to support the open-source ecosystem by donating cash, software, and services to important projects and giving developers paid time to work on these projects.