Unlocking Possibility: The Case for Open Source in Government

Open source isn’t just a technical approach—it’s a values-based philosophy rooted in transparency, collaboration, and shared ownership. Rather than relying on black-box systems that restrict flexibility and create long-term dependencies, open source tools invite civic teams to co-create, adapt, and take full ownership of the digital infrastructure behind public services.

While open source offers a powerful alternative to outdated, vendor-locked systems, it’s not without trade-offs. Civic teams may face onboarding and offboarding challenges as they shift away from proprietary platforms and take greater ownership of their digital infrastructure. But that initial lift can lead to long-term gains: more control, reduced costs, and solutions that evolve alongside local needs. By embracing open source, governments can break free from rigid contracts and build systems that truly serve communities—more equitably, and more sustainably.

Recent findings from the 2025 State of Open Source Report affirm that adoption continues to surge—driven by cost efficiency and flexibility—though many organizations still face growing pains around skills gaps, security practices, and lifecycle management.

We often think of open source through what we call our “Potluck Principles”—a mindset that invites participation and collective stewardship.

Transparency & Access:

Just like a shared recipe, open source code is open for review and adaptation. For governments, this means visibility into the digital systems that underpin public services—and the freedom to improve them based on local needs.

Collaboration:

Open source thrives when contributions come from many sources—developers, agencies, users, and communities alike. It's a model that empowers continual improvement through shared experience and feedback.

Freedom & Flexibility:

Open source tools eliminate single-vendor dependencies. Governments gain the ability to adapt tools for unique policy environments and choose from a broader ecosystem of support providers.

Sustainability:

By design, successful open source projects are community-maintained. They’re built to last—outliving trends, contracts, or company roadmaps—so public investments remain resilient over time.

Addressing Common Concerns

We understand that shifting to open source can raise questions—especially for public institutions managing sensitive data and tight budgets.

• “Is it secure?”
  Yes. In fact, open source often benefits from more rigorous review. With more eyes on the code, vulnerabilities are identified and resolved faster—offering what we call security through transparency.
  
  
• “Who supports it?”
  While open source isn’t tied to a single vendor, it’s backed by a broad network of contributors and service providers. Teams like ours are here to offer hands-on support, custom development, and long-term maintenance.
  
  
• “Is it too complex?”
  Implementation may look different, but the outcome is empowering: tools that agencies can truly own, adapt, and scale—without the ongoing cost and rigidity of proprietary systems.

As DevOps.com recently emphasized, open source can dramatically accelerate user trust and product feedback—but it also means giving up some control, requiring teams to plan for sustainability, governance, and monetization early on.

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Open Standards in Action

A growing number of governments are taking open standards seriously. In 2025, Germany’s IT Planning Council committed to adopting the Open Document Format (ODF) across public administration by 2027, citing open formats as essential to digital sovereignty and long-term innovation.

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From Idea to Impact: Real-World Applications of Open Source

We’ve seen firsthand how open source can transform public services—making them more efficient, equitable, and community-aligned. Here are two projects that embody that promise:

CiviForm: Streamlining Benefits, Powered by Collaboration

CiviForm is an open source tool that helps residents apply for public services through one simple, unified form—cutting through red tape for applicants and easing the load for government teams.

But CiviForm isn’t just software—it’s a community effort.

Built by and for governments, CiviForm is stewarded by a network of contributors, maintainers, and civic partners who guide its development through open, collaborative committees. From product design to technical strategy, every decision reflects real-world input from residents, caseworkers, and public servants alike.You can explore how CiviForm governs its development and decision-making through its Governance & Management documentation—a living example of how open source enables transparent, community-led stewardship.

Governments using CiviForm (aka Member Organizations) stay in full control of their own systems while contributing to something bigger: a shared, sustainable platform that evolves with their needs. Whether you're applying for food assistance or managing dozens of programs, CiviForm makes the experience smoother, smarter, and more human.

It's public interest tech at its best—open, adaptable, and built to serve.

And as open source adoption grows, understanding how to govern these projects effectively becomes just as important—insights from Open Source Summit Europe suggest developers can apply familiar engineering principles to governance itself, making it more maintainable, scalable, and project-aligned.

Bloom Housing: Regional Solutions for Affordable Housing Access

Finding affordable housing shouldn't require navigating a maze of siloed systems. Bloom Housing offers a centralized, open source platform for listing, applying to, and managing affordable housing opportunities.

Initially launched in the Bay Area and now expanding, Bloom allows housing staff to:

• Manage listings in a unified interface
• Configure workflows to local policies
• Generate insights from aggregated application data

Its open codebase supports cross-jurisdictional collaboration, enabling regions to share improvements and build tools that scale equitably and efficiently.

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Toward a More Transparent and Equitable Digital Future

We believe the path to better government services starts with shared ownership, open systems, and intentional collaboration. By embracing open source, civic agencies gain more than a new set of tools—they gain autonomy, resilience, and the ability to meet their communities' needs with confidence and agility.

If you're ready to explore how open source can support your mission, we're here to help. Whether you're just beginning the journey or looking to scale an existing solution, we’d love to partner with you.

Let’s build the next era of government services—together.

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