Can Europe fix the open-source maintenance crisis?

"Open-source software is foundational to economies and societies, yet its maintenance is underfunded. The public sector must find better ways to support its upkeep."

"96% of code bases include open-source components, indicating the vast economic impact, estimated at $8.8 trillion globally. In the EU, OSS contributes €65-95 billion annually to GDP."

"Despite the recognition of open-source software's importance, maintainers often lack financial support, with a third receiving no payment and many unable to earn a livable income."

"The neglect of open-source maintenance not only threatens the sustainability of this vital resource but also highlights a societal failure to acknowledge shared responsibilities in digital infrastructure."

Open-source software is essential for economies, with its maintenance being chronically underfunded. Approximately 96% of all code bases contain open-source components, leading to an estimated global economic impact of $8.8 trillion. In the EU, open-source contributes €65-95 billion annually to the GDP. Despite its significance, a disparity exists between the value of OSS maintenance and the attention it receives. Many OSS maintainers work unpaid or cannot earn a sustainable living, resulting in a fragile support structure that threatens the sustainability of this vital resource.

Read at Developer Tech News