Is Open Source Software Doomed to Fail?

Open source software (OSS) is software that is developed, distributed, and modified by anyone who has access to its source code. OSS has been praised for its benefits such as innovation, collaboration, and cost-effectiveness. However, recent reports have raised concerns about the sustainability and security of OSS projects.

According to a report by Sonatype, only 11% of OSS projects are actively maintained, meaning that they receive regular updates and bug fixes. This is an 18% decline from the previous year. The report also found that one in eight OSS downloads had a known risk, such as a vulnerability or a license issue. Moreover, the report revealed that the use of AI and machine learning components in OSS projects surged by 135%, which poses new challenges for quality assurance and ethical standards.

Another report by The Register highlighted the problems of OSS governance and funding. The report argued that OSS projects are often driven by self-interested volunteers or companies, who may not have the best interests of the community or the users in mind. The report also claimed that OSS projects lack proper oversight and accountability, which can lead to conflicts, forks, and abandonment. Furthermore, the report suggested that OSS projects struggle to secure adequate funding and resources, which can affect their development and maintenance.

These reports suggest that OSS is facing a crisis of trust and viability. If OSS projects are not properly maintained and secured, they may lose their appeal and value for users and organizations. This may lead to a shift back to proprietary software, which may offer more reliability and support. However, this would also mean losing the advantages of OSS, such as freedom, diversity, and creativity.

OSS projects need to adopt better practices and strategies to ensure their survival and success. Some possible solutions include:

• Improving software lineage tracking, which can help identify the origins and development of OSS components and their dependencies.
• Adopting network automation tools, which can help automate and optimize the deployment and management of OSS components.
• Enhancing security testing and auditing, which can help detect and fix vulnerabilities and risks in OSS components.
• Establishing clear governance models and policies can help define the roles and responsibilities of OSS contributors and stakeholders.
• Seeking alternative funding sources and models, which can help support the development and maintenance of OSS projects.

OSS is not doomed to fail, but it needs to adapt to the changing needs and expectations of its users and environment.