Open-source software without clear governance: what should you look out for?
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Open-source software is software whose source code is freely available. Anyone can use, modify and further develop the software. Many companies, governments and individuals use this kind of software every day, often without giving it much thought. Yet open source also has a downside, especially when a project has no clear rules.
By 'governance' people mean the agreements about who makes decisions, how those decisions are reached, and who is responsible for the quality of the project. In a project without good governance, it can be unclear who may approve code or who decides on new features. This can lead to slow decision-making, conflicts between developers and a lack of direction. There is also a greater risk that a project becomes dependent on a single person. If that person stops, the project can grind to a halt.
Another problem is funding and maintenance. Many open-source projects are created by volunteers in their spare time. Without clear agreements about money, tasks and security, errors and security vulnerabilities can go unnoticed for a long time. This is a concern for organisations that use such software in their own systems. An article from tech-insider.org mentions this topic and describes six pitfalls, but the available source provides no further explanation. It is therefore wise to verify the precise points yourself before drawing any conclusions from them.
For users in the Netherlands, it is good to look at the activity of the project, the number of active developers and the way decisions are made when choosing open-source software. A project with clear rules and several people involved is generally better prepared for the future than a project that depends on one person.
Sources: tech-insider.org
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