When you open your laptop or phone, you probably don’t think about what’s running inside. But here’s the truth! most of today’s tech world is built on something called Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). Without it, companies like Google, Facebook, or even your favorite apps wouldn’t work the way they do.
Let’s break it down in simple words,
What is FOSS?
FOSS is software that anyone can:
- Use for any purpose
- Look into and learn from the code
- Share with others
- Change and improve
Think of it like a community kitchen. The recipe is open for everyone, you can cook it, tweak it, and share your version back with the world.
Free Software vs. Open Source
- Free Software (Richard Stallman and the FSF) talks about freedom, you’re free to control your software, not the other way around.
- Open Source is more about collaboration “hey, if we all share code, we can build faster and better” like Torvalds did.
Different vibes, same goal: keep software open and not locked behind walls.
How Does FOSS Actually Work?
FOSS works because of people. Developers from all over the world contribute to it. Some write code, some fix bugs, some just test and give feedback.
There are also governance models like:
- A single maintainer leading a project.
- A small core team making decisions.
- Large foundations (like Apache or Linux Foundation) managing hundreds of projects.
And yes, there are licenses that decide the rules:
- GPL → If you share it, your changes also stay open.
- MIT / Apache → More relaxed, you can use it even in commercial products.
How the World Runs on FOSS
Here’s the crazy part - the tech world would collapse without FOSS.
- Linux runs on most servers, supercomputers, and even Android phones.
- Apache & Nginx power most websites.
- Python, Node.js, Kubernetes, TensorFlow all are open source.
- Even giants like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon run on open-source foundations.
Simply put, the internet itself is standing on FOSS.
How Do People Make Money from FOSS?
You might be thinking: “If it’s free, how do developers earn?” Good question, even I had that. There are several models:
- Dual licensing → Free for personal use, paid for commercial.
- Support services → Red Hat makes billions by offering support for Linux.
- Sponsorships & Foundations → Companies donate money to keep projects alive.
- SaaS (Software as a Service) → GitLab, Elastic, etc. give open-source versions but also have paid cloud services.
- Donations & Crowdfunding → Platforms like WinRaR, Blender, OpenCollective let people fund projects directly.
So yes, free doesn’t mean zero money it just means money comes in different ways.
Communities and Foundations
Some groups play a huge role in keeping FOSS strong:
- Free Software Foundation (FSF) → Fights for user freedom.
- Apache Foundation → Manages big projects like Hadoop, Spark, Kafka.
- FOSS United (India) → Helps developers and startups in India build and sustain open-source (my fav<3)
- OpenForum Europe → Pushes for digital sovereignty and open tech policies in Europe.
These groups don’t just build software they keep the culture of sharing alive.
The Future of FOSS
FOSS is not slowing down, it’s growing bigger. Startups, big companies, and even governments are realizing they can’t depend only on closed tech. Open-source gives them control, innovation, and independence.
And programs like Google Summer of Code (GSoC) bring in fresh talent every year, letting students work on real open-source projects with mentors. This is how the ecosystem keeps renewing itself.
In the coming years, open source will be even more important for:
- Startups who want to move fast without huge costs.
- AI and deep tech where collaboration is key.
- Digital sovereignty—countries wanting control over their own tech stack.