The Ins and Outs of Open Source for Recruiters: What You Need to Know

Open source refers to a philosophy and a licensing model for software that allows users to access, modify and distribute the source code freely. The goal of open source is to promote collaboration and sharing of information and knowledge.

The term originated in the context of software development to designate a specific approach to creating computer programs - one in which the creator shares the underlying code freely instead of only sharing the end product as a black box.

Today, however, "open source" designates a broader set of values—what we call "the open source way." Open source projects, products, or initiatives embrace and celebrate principles of open exchange, collaborative participation, rapid prototyping, transparency, meritocracy, and community-oriented development.

It is important for recruiters to understand open source software because many job candidates have experience with it, and it is widely used in various industries. Open source software skills can indicate a candidate's technical ability, creativity, and collaboration skills.

Understanding open source software also allows recruiters to better assess a candidate's fit for a company that uses open source technologies. Additionally, knowledge of open source can help recruiters identify in-demand skills and identify the most qualified candidates for a particular job.

What is open source software?

Open source software is software whose source code is made available to the public, allowing anyone to inspect, modify, and distribute the code.

This enables a community of developers to collaborate and contribute to the development of the software, leading to better quality, greater reliability and faster innovation. The availability of the “source code” also allows for transparency and helps to build trust in the software.

The source code is the written code of a software program that is written in a programming language and can be read and modified by programmers.

The source code forms the backbone of a software program and is used to build the executable code that users interact with. By having access to the source code, programmers can understand how the software works, identify bugs, add new features, or customize the program to meet their specific needs.

This level of access and control is not possible with proprietary software, where the source code is kept confidential and only the compiled, executable code is made available to users.

What's the difference between open source software and proprietary software?

Proprietary or closed source software is software whose source code is exclusively controlled and modified by the person, team, or organization that created it. The original authors of this type of software hold the legal rights to copy, inspect, and alter it, and users must agree to not engage in any unauthorized actions with the software by signing a license upon first use. Examples of proprietary software include Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop.

Open source software, on the other hand, is software whose source code is available for anyone to inspect, modify, copy, learn from, or share. When using open source software, users must abide by the terms of a license, which differ significantly from those of proprietary licenses. Open source licenses govern how people can use, study, modify, and distribute the software.

Typically, open source licenses allow users to utilize the software for any purpose they choose.

Some open source licenses, known as "copyleft" licenses, require that anyone who releases a modified version of the software also make its source code available!

Additionally, some open source licenses demand that anyone who modifies and distributes the software must also share its source code without charging a fee. The goal of open source software licenses is to foster collaboration and sharing by enabling others to make changes to the source code and include those changes in their own projects. Open source licenses encourage programmers to access, view, and modify the software freely as long as they allow others to do the same when sharing their work. Examples of open source software include LibreOffice and the GNU Image Manipulation Program.

Why is open source controversial?

Open source has been a controversial topic because it challenges traditional business models for software development and distribution.

Proponents of open source argue that it leads to more innovation, collaboration, and freedom for users and developers. They believe that open source software is often of higher quality and more secure compared to proprietary software.

On the other hand, some companies and individuals see open source as a threat to their proprietary software, which can lead to decreased profits and loss of control over their intellectual property. They also argue that open source software can be unreliable, as it relies on volunteers to maintain it. Some companies, including Microsoft, have gone as far as to try to discredit open source, but it has since become widely accepted and is now used by many organizations.

Regardless of the debate there are some limitations to open source software which need to be addressed namely:

Limited customization options

Open source software is designed to be easily customizable, but the customization options may be limited. This could lead to frustration for those who are seeking specific solutions. Some software may not have the exact features you need, and adding these features yourself may not be feasible. Additionally, while you can modify the code of open source software, you may not have the necessary programming skills to do so.

Security risks

Open source software could be vulnerable to security risks as it is available for everyone to view and alter. Hackers can find vulnerabilities in the code and exploit them for malicious purposes. Open source software does not have a centralized support system for security, and it is the user's responsibility to secure their systems. On the other hand, proponents argue that because open source's code can be freely inspected by anyone, it actually makes the product more secure as a larger user base finds and fixes issues.

Stability issues

Open source software is often developed by a community of volunteers and is maintained by a small group of developers. This could lead to stability issues as it may not receive consistent updates and bug fixes. The software could become outdated, and the code may not be compatible with new technologies.

Despite these controversies and limitations, open source has become increasingly popular over the years, with many large companies and organizations contributing to and relying on open source software.

The widespread use of open source has also helped to dispel many of the myths and misconceptions surrounding it. Ultimately, the debate over open source is likely to continue as technology and the software industry continue to evolve.

How do open source companies make money?

Open source companies make money through a variety of business models, including:

• Donations - While not typically used by large for-profit companies, some individual developers make pretty good money by taking donations for their open source work. Patreon, GitHub, and Buy Me A Coffee are all popular platforms that allow individuals and businesses to help support open source projects that they use or want to see maintained.
• Open Core - Open Core is a business model where a company offers a core product as open source software, while offering additional proprietary features or services to paying customers. In this model, the company leverages the community and development efforts behind the open source product to drive adoption, and generates revenue from the proprietary components. The open core model aims to provide a balance between community involvement and commercial viability, and is used by companies in a variety of industries, including software development, cloud computing, and data analytics. Adam Wathan started Tailwind UI as an open source CSS library in 2017. After two years, he went full-time on the project and has now made $2 million in revenue from the project.
• Hosted Version of the Product - This is a common monetization model for open source projects, where users have the option to host the software themselves for free, or pay for a hosted version that is managed by the company. This model provides a clear distinction between the free and paid options and often includes additional services such as support and training. However, the profit margins for this model may not be very high, as users may opt for self-hosting if the cost of the hosted version is too high.
• Dual Licensing - Similar to the open core model, some open source projects offer a dual license. This might allow a small, independent developer to use the software for free, but companies using it for a profit must pay a license fee. For example, Qt offers a dual license: Companies can decide which license is appropriate and pay Qt as needed. While some companies might abuse this license structure, lawyers will look at things like this in detail if the company ever decides to sell or go public.
• Consulting and Support Services - Another way for open source companies to make money is to offer consulting and support services. This is especially important for businesses that rely on open source software and need help customizing, integrating, and troubleshooting the software. The demand for these services is high, and businesses are willing to pay for them because they need to make sure that their software is working properly and efficiently.
• Premium Features - Open source companies can also offer premium features that are not available in the free version. These features could be anything from additional storage, better security, or advanced analytics. Businesses can pay for these features to get more value out of the software and take advantage of its full potential.
• Selling Other Products - As in Automattic’s case, they offer a free, open source product (Wordpress) and a suite of related and unrelated proprietary products to generate revenue from. This model is easiest to manage if your other products support the open source one, but some companies raise money from venture capitalists to fund the open source tool’s growth while they figure out other products to build.

Why does open source matter?

Organizations' use of open source is continuing to increase. In fact, in 2021, some 77% of companies reported that they were using more open-source software, while 36% said they were using significantly more open-source tools. That's according to a survey of more than 2,600 open-source software professionals by OpenLogic and the nonprofit Open Source Initiative.

Consequently, no matter where they work or what type of software they're building, most of today's developers rely at least partially on open source. There are a number of reasons open source matters for developers. Some of them are:

Speed things up

"In the modern development world, it's all about speed", said Ori Bendet, Vice President of Product Management at security software vendor Checkmarx.

Development teams must keep up with the business's needs, so those teams need to utilize whatever they can that already exists. This includes infrastructure as a service, other external services, and open source.

"Why build it yourself if people already built it for you?", asked Bendet. "That's one of the benefits of open source."

Collaboration and Innovation

Open source software encourages collaboration and community involvement which leads to faster innovation and better products. A global network of developers, users, and contributors can pool their knowledge and resources to improve the software and resolve issues quickly. This creates a virtuous cycle of improvement and innovation where everyone benefits.

Lower Cost and Increased Accessibility

Open source software is often available for free, reducing the cost of acquiring and maintaining proprietary software for individuals, organizations and businesses.

"If you think about the sheer number of engineers around the world contributing to the development of algorithms and software, all for free, it reinforces how important the open-source movement really is", said Alex Iceman, CEO and founder of home-automation supplier Genium. This increased accessibility means that more people, especially those in developing countries, have access to high-quality software and technology.

Transparency and Security

Open source software is transparent, allowing anyone to review its code and identify potential security issues. This makes it easier to fix vulnerabilities and improve the overall security of the software. In contrast, proprietary software is often less secure because only the manufacturer can review and make changes to its code.

In conclusion, open source software accelerates development, drives innovation and collaboration, reduces costs, and provides increased security and transparency, making it a valuable asset to individuals, organizations and the tech community at large.

What are the top open source projects?

Here are some of the most influential and widely-used open source projects of the past (not an exhaustive list):

Operating Systems:

1. Linux - a Unix-like operating system that powers many of the world's servers and devices.
2. X Window System - a software that provides the infrastructure for graphical user interfaces on Linux and Unix systems.

Servers:

1. Apache HTTP Server - the most popular web server software in the world.
2. Nginx Web Server -Another open source web server, Nginx was created by Igor Sysoev in 2002. One can also use the software as a reverse proxy, load balancer, HTTP cache, API gateway, and IMAP/POP3 proxy server. As per the stats report for Nginx, around 33.7% of web applications and websites run on the Nginx web server.
3. Node.JS - Node.js is a JavaScript runtime written by Ryan Dahl to build web applications in Javascript. The opensource and cross-platform is bundled with an HTTP module to enhance its functions as a web server. Written in 2009, it is an event-driven architecture that creates real-time communication in web applications. Governed by Node.js Foundation, the design architecture is capable of asynchronous I/O.

Programming Languages:

1. MySQL - an open-source relational database management system used by many websites and applications.
2. Python - a popular, high-level programming language known for its simplicity and versatility.
3. Perl - a scripting language often used for system administration, web development, and text processing.

Software:

1. GIMP - a powerful image editing software that is often compared to Adobe Photoshop.
2. Matplotlib - If you love data visualization and analysis, Matplotbib is where you want to be. Matplotlib is one of the world’s most popular data visualization technologies — and it's an extremely active GitHub community.
3. GCC - the Gnu Compiler Collection, a set of compilers and libraries used to build many open-source and commercial software programs.
4. keras — a high-level neural networks library, written in Python and capable of running on top of either TensorFlow or Theano. It was developed with a focus on enabling fast experimentation.

These open source projects have shaped the landscape of software development and technology and continue to do so at present.

What are the top current open source companies?

Here is a list of top companies using and building open source software based on their use and contribution to open source projects, market share, and industry recognition:

• Google (Valuation: $1 Trillion) - Having released or contributed to more than 2,000 open source projects, Google is one of the most ardent corporate users and supporters of open source. It was fifth on the list of companies that had the most GitHub contributors in 2016 (and it also owns Angular, which was fourth on the list.) Well-known Google open source projects include Android, Chromium, Dart, Go, Kubernetes, TensorFlow and many others. 
• Red Hat (Valuation: $30 Billion) - Red Hat is the biggest company which deals in open source software for businesses. The company was founded in 1993 and is based in Raleigh, North Carolina in the US. Red Hat is widely known for its enterprise operating system Red Hat Enterprise Linux. 
• GitHub (Valuation: $7.5 Billion) - GitHub has become the de facto repository for open source projects. In a 2016 report, it boasted more than 5.8 million active users, more than 331,000 active organizations, and more than 19.4 million active repositories. The company has also created several open source projects of its own, including the Hubot and Git Large File Storage (LFS).
• MuleSoft (Valuation: $6.5 Billion) - It is an open-source company based in San Francisco which provides an integration platform to assist businesses to connect data, applications and devices across on-premises and cloud computing environments. Its open-source product — Anypoint Platform, integration products were built to integrate software as a service (SaaS), on-premises software, legacy systems, and more.
• Databricks (Valuation: $6 Billion) - The company provides a unified data analytics platform, powered by Apache Spark to unify data science, engineering and business. It is a single cloud platform for huge-scale data engineering and collaborative data science workloads. Databricks supports Python, Scala, R Programming, Java and SQL, as well as data science frameworks and libraries including TensorFlow, PyTorch and Scikit-learn.
• Confluent (Valuation: $ 2.5 Billion) - Confluent is an American big data company which is focused on the open-source Apache Kafka, a real-time messaging technology. The company provides Stream Analytics which gives immediate access to significant business intelligence insights to users through real-time data analytics. Kafka began working for Linkedin in 2010 to handle all the data flowing through a company and to do it in near real-time. Its streaming data technology processes massive amounts of data in real-time, which is valuable in a data-intensive environment in many companies.
• Hashicorp (Valuation: $ 2 Billion) - Founded in 2012 HashiCorp is a software company based in San Francisco, California with a freemium open source business model. HashiCorp provides solutions which help developers, operators and security personnel to provision, secure, run and connect cloud-computing infrastructure.

Implications of open source on recruiting

For institutions that have yet to complete their digital transformation, it can be a real struggle to attract tech talent to their organizations. While many turn to prestige, perks, and other benefits to lure the best talent, organizations could be better served by shifting their focus elsewhere: the software their employees use. Today’s tech talent expects to use open source software — here’s why:

1. Increased Talent Pool: Open source projects provide a platform for developers to showcase their skills and contribute to the wider community. As a result, companies using open source technology have access to a wider pool of skilled talent.
2. Reduced Cost: Open source software is often free to use, which can result in lower recruitment costs for tech companies. They can use these savings to invest in other areas of their business.
3. Improved Attraction: Companies that use open source technology often have a reputation for innovation, which can make them more attractive to potential employees. This can also improve employee engagement and motivation.
4. Improved Candidate Screening: Companies using open source technology can evaluate potential candidates' skills by looking at their contributions to open source projects. This can help them identify the best-suited candidates for the job and make the recruitment process more efficient.

Overall, the use of open source technology in recruiting can lead to better-suited candidates, lower costs, and improved company reputation, making it a valuable tool for tech companies in the recruitment process.

Phone screens with candidates with experience in open source

When a candidate mentions use of open source software on their resume, a recruiter can ask the following questions to better understand their experience:

1. Can you give an example of an open source project you have contributed to and what your role was in that project?
2. How do you keep up-to-date with developments in open source technology?
3. How do you collaborate with other contributors on open source projects?
4. Can you describe a particularly challenging issue you faced while working on an open source project and how you solved it?
5. Can you talk about the open source tools and technologies you are most proficient in and why you prefer to use them?
6. How do you prioritize and manage your time when working on open source projects alongside other responsibilities?
7. Can you discuss how you handle conflicts or disagreements with other contributors on open source projects?
8. Have you ever started your own open source project? If so, can you tell us about it and your experience with managing it?
9. Have you ever given a talk or presentation about an open source project you were involved with? Can you tell us about it?
10. How do you see open source software affecting your career goals and future job prospects?

These questions can help the recruiter gauge the candidate's level of involvement in open source projects, their technical abilities, and their ability to work with others in a collaborative environment.

About Rocket

Rocket pairs talented recruiters with advanced AI to help companies hit their hiring goals and knows technology recruiting inside out. Rocket is headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley but has recruiters all over the US & Canada serving the needs of our growing client base across engineering, product management, data science and more through a variety of offerings and solutions.