Open Source Governance
Open Source Governance is a set of policies, processes, and tools that organizations implement to manage their use, contribution to, and release of open source software. It ensures compliance with licenses, manages security risks, and aligns open source activities with business objectives. This methodology helps organizations responsibly leverage open source while mitigating legal, security, and operational risks.
Developers should learn Open Source Governance when working in organizations that use or contribute to open source software, as it ensures compliance with licenses (e.g., avoiding GPL violations), reduces security vulnerabilities through proper vetting, and streamlines contributions. It is critical in industries like finance, healthcare, and government where regulatory compliance and risk management are paramount, and for teams releasing open source projects to maintain quality and community trust.