Obsidian Systems, a supplier of open software solutions, has shared insights into the evolving landscape of open-source technologies and their impact on the IT sector in South Africa and globally in 2024. Muggie van Staden, Managing Director of Obsidian, believes that there are several key trends and strategic initiatives that reflect this changing dynamic.

According to van Staden, the philosophy of open source is undergoing a significant transformation.

"What is open source today? This question has become more complex," says van Staden. "The best development model for software has evolved, and the poster child, Linux, has seen market changes that bring uncertainty. For instance, there has been a change in many licensing practices from open-source companies with vendors also following suit in how ‘open’ solutions are being adopted and used within their client base,” he says.

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation have started changing coding practices. Many companies are willing to leave these advanced technologies to do the ‘heavy lifting’ and simply use their in-house developers to check the code and address more strategic business requirements.

“Furthermore, from a compliance perspective, there are also significant changes coming. Even though open source remains a collaborative development model, the principles of community-driven improvement must adapt to the modern regulatory environment and external cost factors. This is crucial given how quickly data is being generated and how carefully companies must curate that data to remain within the compliance framework of not only the country in which their main operations are but also in all territories where they have offices,” says van Staden.

To this end, van Staden believes that Obsidian Systems is well-positioned to guide clients through the changing landscape with more agile contracts that account for price increases and licensing changes.

“The importance of risk mitigation and cost-benefit analysis, especially for developing countries such as South Africa, become a fundamental component of how open source gets integrated within the business landscape. We believe that unifying platforms, reducing technical debt, and consolidating technologies are all critical in the months ahead as open source will continue to evolve as a means to unlock business value,” he says.

Obsidian Systems is keen on continuing to foster collaborations and partnerships within the industry to help companies of all sizes across industry sectors unlock the true potential of open-source.

“There is a bigger consolidation happening especially around open-source and how the environment is changing. We aim to tailor solutions for companies, keeping in mind their specific needs, while still harnessing the open nature of the platform to remain agile in servicing any business requirement,” says van Staden.

Obsidian Systems remains committed to navigating the evolving open-source landscape, providing strategic guidance, and fostering collaborations to deliver tailored solutions in 2024.