posted in Technology

Shin@Shin@piefed.social

Open Source isn't enought, we need governance

This is a general view on the topic. I think open-source isn’t enough, we need also governance for the software we use, and create small pockets of freedom.

All feedback is welcome.

jeferson.me/blog/2026/07/31/cooperative-software
jeferson.meCooperative SoftwareWhat if the apps we use were owned by the people who use them? A dive into platform cooperatives, the internet we could have, and why open source and open protocols alone aren't enough.
Brave Little Hitachi Wand@yakko@feddit.uk

Replying to @⁨Shin@piefed.social⁩

There’s no reason there couldn’t be a national endowment for open source, the way there is (or was) for the arts. A non partisan governing body would direct and oversee funds towards projects for the creation, dissemination, promotion, and maintenance of open source software for the whole world. Funding could come from a big tech wealth tax, and governance could be drawn and elected by top maintainers as a bylaw. Just off the top of my head.

Obviously “reshape society completely” is a preferable option, I’m just daydreaming

Brave Little Hitachi Wand@yakko@feddit.uk

Replying to @⁨Shin@piefed.social⁩

That was the part of my answer I wasn’t as happy with, admittedly. The way things are in the states make it really hard to see how you’d set up a politically independent, impartial yet informed, and corruption-resistant governing body for any kind of pot of public money. Especially a pot of money that would be clawed away from tyrannical billionaires who would have every reason to want to ratfuck the thing or get their money back.