15.12.2021
 

New coalition and open source

GREEN LIGHT FOR OPEN SOURCE?

The new government has presented its coalition agreement. Particularly pleasing: the traffic lights are backing open source. One can still only speak of a tender seedling, but there is hope.

The starting position

First of all, it must be emphasised how important open source is for faster, more secure and better digitalisation. Cape IT has been relying on it for some time with the IT and service management system KIX, and at the European level, too, people are convinced of the open software structure: the GAIA-X project, which aims to create data sovereignty, data availability and innovation in Europe, uses open source; the German government supports this.

Even at a high political level, software with publicly accessible source code has found its way into this country, but so far there has been no requirement to carry this through nationwide. That could change now. Although the coalition agreement only mentions the new direction of travel in two sentences, these are at least enough to speak of hope. Urgently needed, especially in Germany there is a lot of catching up to do.

The details in the coalition agreement

Politics is a tricky game, and especially when parties as different as the Greens and the FDP have to pull together, there is a great danger that lazy compromises will emerge. Nevertheless, there are encouraging signs in the coalition agreement as far as the topic of open source is concerned.

The painstaking but important work of education and communication, which has been carried out for years with the Open Source Business Alliance, seems to be slowly bearing fruit. As was to be expected, some things remain vaguely described in the agreement, but the willingness to engage in dialogue and legislative procedures has been anchored.

For the coalition, digital education, which is to be improved, is just as much a part of this as the modernisation of immigration policy, as this should be designed to attract capable workers for modern digitalisation.

Wording and plans

Specifically, the coalition agreement states that "open standards" will be established for "public IT projects" and that "development contracts will generally be commissioned as open source". Furthermore, there is talk of a multi-cloud strategy, open interfaces and a "public administration cloud".

These few words alone indicate a rethink and a new understanding of the topic. The fact that this is being thought of in a pan-European context, and that the exchange of data and digital sovereignty have priority, is just as hopeful as the attitude that developments financed with public money must also be made accessible to the public.

No less hopeful is the goal of not involving untrustworthy companies in the development of critical infrastructures. This means that proprietary, closed software that cannot be verified will hopefully become less common in the future.

Alliance of technology and climate

Another topic that has been neglected too often (and for too long) in the interaction with technology projects is sustainability. The climate certifications now being sought for digital products are expressly to be welcomed. The useful life of countless devices must be significantly extended, open operating systems are needed and digital obsolescence must be abolished.

"We will continue to be available as a discussion partner for all these topics, in order to contribute our many years of expertise.

Not least the Corona pandemic has shown how important free knowledge and open source can also be for the health of citizens."

Rico Barth, Managing Director c.a.p.e. IT GmbH

First steps

The first steps into a new era have thus been taken. Politicians like SPD party leader Saskia Esken, who already spoke out in favour of open source two years ago, can now prove that words are followed by deeds.

Because from now on, it is important to create a corresponding basis, especially in the education sector, in public authorities and in many new projects - and as quickly as possible. "We will closely monitor developments in cooperation with other open source companies, actively stand by and exhort where necessary." Rico Barth assures.

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