There are other open-source programs underway in many verticals market like construction and manufacturing in the hopes of bringing software tools more open and interoperable.
Red Hat’s Johnson says an important consideration for the future of open source is continued collaboration and involvement. “Community projects are not just for the taking,” he warns. “Vendors must contribute ideas, time, (and) code to nurture and drive the communities and not exploit them. Many companies understand this, but it something to always keep in mind.”
Western Michigan University’s Rea makes a similar case. “As much as open source welcomes developers, there is another current in the development community (not always open source) that is harsh to people asking questions,” he says. “There tends to be a great deal of shaming as well, which, over time, has stopped new users from being more involved. This particularly applies to females.” However, Rea says this reality is changing and points to Linux’s recently updated code of conduct, as well as the revised ACM (Assn. for Computing Machinery) Code of Ethics, which will both help move the computing realm to a more welcoming place for all.
The benefit of creating tech that is open and inclusive will be huge, especially as society moves into an era driven by AI and autonomy. Rea says: “If everyone can see the code, then we have a much more transparent approach to items. We learn there are algorithmic biases, so we can work to minimize these as much as possible. This is becoming extremely important as artificial intelligence is making massive moves into decision processes—from loan approvals to driving cars down the road.”
Looking forward, NYU’s Lui says while there is sure to be some resistance to change, this doesn’t mean things won’t slowly move in the direction of open source. “As scientists see successful projects utilizing the open-source paradigm, more will follow suit. We hope that we can serve as a useful example to show how it can be done,” she says. “To be honest, it’s hard to imagine what wouldn’t be a positive about making technology or society at large more open, fair, and inclusive.”