The previous year was a big one in the world of open source software. According to survey data, as many as 78 percent of companies run on some type of open source software, and only 3 percent use none at all. Those number are expected to rise and decline respectively in coming years. In order to get a picture of where open source software is headed, we are looking back at three trends from 2015 that are predicted to have a lasting impact.
Open Source Informs Technology Development
The world of open source software is so vast and varied that there are few corners of IT where it does not apply. Now that there are huge repositories of quality code available, companies are using it to form the foundation for all technology development. That shortens the development life-cycle, eliminates many common setbacks/obstacles, and requires fewer staff to be involved. Since these benefits are so significant, open source is likely to play a bigger role in all development processes moving forward.
Open Source Enters the Cloud
The cloud has had a transformative effect on every aspect of IT, and that includes open source projects. Applications created by the open source community are now increasingly available in an SaaS model, which makes it easier for both enterprises and individuals to access and deploy these applications. That is great for developers who now have a viable business model to monetize their projects. Open source is also focusing specifically on the cloud in a bigger way. Administrators of public, private, and hybrid clouds now have a number of open source resources at their disposal to improve the underlying infrastructure.
Open Source Earns Corporate Backing
As we mentioned earlier, open source is now a feature of most major enterprises. It’s a point worth exploring further. The usage of open source software to power business IT environments has doubled since 2010. Of the survey respondents with over 5,000 employees, 67 percent participated directly in an open source project. Finally, and perhaps most impressively, companies report that more than half of their engineers are working on an open source project. These figures are significant and underscore a trend that will continue throughout 2016 and beyond. An estimated 88 percent of companies expect to increase their contribution to open source projects. That is up from 56 percent just a short while ago in 2014.
Clearly this a great time to have experience and expertise with open source projects, especially if you’re looking for a job. Learn how to leverage this credential to help your career by contacting The Squires Group.
