2026-02-03, 14:50–15:15, D.Aud
Your code is released with a free license, but your project runs on proprietary platforms like Slack, GitHub, Notion, or Zoom. Does it matter? In this talk, I will show how relying on non-free tools contradicts open source values, excludes contributors, locks your community into corporate ecosystems, and drives away idealistic contributors who care deeply about freedom. We’ll also tackle common justifications, like convenience or popularity, and show how they often mask deeper trade-offs.
The goal with this talk is to spark reflection and conversation about the tools used to build open source projects, not just the code we bring to life. I hope it encourages both new and experienced maintainers to think critically about how proprietary tools may, unintentionally, be limiting their communities and values. The audience will leave with a better understanding of the trade-offs involved and the motivation to make small changes that lead to more open, inclusive, and resilient projects. If more projects switch even just one of their proprietary tools to an open alternative, it strengthens the entire open source ecosystem by reducing dependency on tech giants and supporting community-owned infrastructure.
Whether you're starting a new project or maintaining a mature one, this talk will challenge you to think critically about the tools you use and advocate for open, community-controlled alternatives that align with the spirit of FOSS.
Jan is an advocate for openness and collaboration. He is running the company Open By Default where he helps other organizations on their journey to becoming more open. He has a history of working with open source at the Foundation for Public Code, open knowledge at and with Wikimedia and open data at Creative Commons.