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How Does Innersource Impact on the Future of Upstream Contributions?

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How Does Innersource Impact on the Future of Upstream Contributions?
FOSDEM 2020

Innersource is a growing phenomenon that is widely viewed as improvement over existing regimes of proprietary silos within for-profit corporate walls. The bargain it strikes is compelling but curious: developers yield benefits that please them regarding software sharing & improvement, while companies succeed in keeping their software crown jewels locked up & locked down. How will that impact software freedom? Will it increase or decrease upstream contribution? Will developers use Innersource as a jumping ground to FLOSS contribution, or will silos stay siloed? What can Open Source Program Offices do to mitigate downsides to Innersource in an effort to increase FOSS-curious employee retention and interest? This talk explores these issues.

Innersource is a growing phenomenon that is widely viewed as improvement over existing regimes of proprietary silos within for-profit corporate walls. The bargain it strikes is compelling but curious: developers yield benefits that please them regarding software sharing & improvement, while companies succeed in keeping their software crown jewels locked up & locked down. How will that impact software freedom? Will it increase or decrease upstream contribution? Will developers use Innersource as a jumping ground to FLOSS contribution, or will silos stay siloed? What can Open Source Program Offices do to mitigate downsides to Innersource in an effort to increase FOSS-curious employee retention and interest? This talk explores these issues.

Speakers: Bradley M. Kuhn