FOSS behind the scenes - the center stage is not enough

About me

Caveat

“This is not a rant.”

The contradiction

“We create open code… but use closed tools.”

Restrictions

Exporting data?
Forking workspaces?
Customize work environment?

Tools shape culture

If your tools aren’t open, your culture isn’t fully open either.

Exclusion is real

“Some people simply can’t participate.”

Technical access

Not all tools are available on all platforms.

Geopolitics

E.g. Organic maps blocked on GitHub.

Regimes and data

Contributors may not afford to pay with their data.

Access mitigation

Self host or use open source services in non-restrictive jurisdictions.

Platform dependency

“Closed platforms = vendor lock-in.”

Easy to be drawn in by deals for open source projects.

Can be a single point of failure.

Enshittification

Pay more to keep same services etc.

Whims

One-sided Terms of Services.

Changing Terms of Service/Use

(But, Open Terms Archive.)

Sunsetting

(End of 10.)

Power imbalance

“Proprietary tools favor corporations.”

Unequal access to

Lost opportunity

“You’re feeding Big Tech.”

Feeding the system

Metrics, usage data and actual data.

Money?

Clout.

Build your ecosystem

Bug reports
Submit patches
Build features you need
Improve the documentation

You lose idealists

“Some contributors won’t join at all.”

Voting with their feet

Many experienced FOSS contributors care deeply about freedom.

Bringing their tools of choice

Avoiding themselves to be locked-in.

"But proprietary tools are better!"

Convenience Catch 22

Difficult to break free.

Contribute to open ecosystems

You don’t have to settle for bad tools.
You can help improve the open tools by using and contributing to them.

"But everyone already uses ThePlatform™!"

“Network effects are not bound to last forever.”

Experiment

Mirror repos. Choose open for new tools. Have grace periods.

Never too early, never too late

The best time to diversify your tooling was yesterday.
The second best is today.

It's not all or nothing

“Start small. Move forward.”

Use the Commons

With love and care.

Replace tools

Lists of tools

Change is possible

You don’t have to fix everything at once.
Pick one tool. Make one change.
Then another. Radiate intent.

Change is possible and contagious.

Don't beat your self up

It's okay to not be perfect.

Summary

Let your tools reflect your values.

More than code

Open source is more than licenses.

It’s culture. It’s community. It’s freedom.

Don’t build freedom on a foundation you don’t control.

Q&A

aina.li/backstage2026

Contact

aina.li/backstage2026

Acknowledgments

Proudly done in text using reveal.js and gedit.

aina.li/backstage2026