WILMINGTON, DE — The quarter-century mark is typically cause for celebration and reflection. For the Apache Software Foundation (ASF), this milestone week is no different as they commemorate their giant leap in open-source software development. ASF kicks off a jubilant campaign across social media, assembling their vast projects and vibrant communities for a grand showcase of 25 years of technological revolution and present-day innovation.
ASF, a key driving force responsible for the generation of a whopping $30 billion worth of software development, has enjoyed epic success. A compelling finding from a Harvard Business School working paper vividly paints the importance of open source software, emphasizing that its absence would compel firms to spend an astronomical sum – 3.5 times the current outlay. It’s clear that ASF’s commitment to open-source software has not only spearheaded technological progress but also saved industries significant resources.
Over the past 25 years, ASF, with a clear mission to serve the public good, has delivered rock-solid software that has served as the bedrock for innovation and has powered organizations of all sizes. From the cornerstone Apache HTTP project to more contemporary initiatives covering AI/ML, big data, and cloud computing, ASF continues to make an indelible mark. Indeed, their software is put to noble uses in diverse areas such as advancing cancer research, aiding clean energy studies, and curbing food wastage.
ASF’s recent major releases encompass an impressive list: Apache Cassandra, Apache Kafka, Apache Lucene, and Apache Spark, all set to influence future tech transformations.
ASF’s long-standing success isn’t achieved through software strategy alone; its heart lies in the communities that sustain it. Open-source projects rely on thriving, robust communities for survival. Working as a guiding force, ASF nurtures these communities, providing mentorship and services that help create resilient ecosystems.
The Apache Incubator is the birthplace for new projects, a place where promising initiatives receive the right ingredients to bloom. Among the recent graduates are Apache EventMesh, Apache Flagon, Apache Kvrocks, Apache OpenDAL, and Apache SeaTunnel, with 30 more hot on their heels.
ASF maintains a welcoming atmosphere, cultivating an environment steeped in respect, openness, patience, and dependability, a fact reaffirmed by the 2023 State of Diversity and Inclusion in the ASF Community report. It celebrates contributors, recognizing the myriad ways they impact a project’s vitality, from writing and translating documentation, mentoring, participating in events, managing communities, and contributing code and technical development.
ASF’s recent decision to rename its flagship ApacheCon to Community Over Code perfectly exemplifies its ethos. As David Nalley, ASF President, puts it, ASF’s existence is to support open source projects that can weather any storm, by placing the community at the forefront.
Going forward, the ASF is poised to continue its work as a steward of open-source software for public good, over the next 25 years and beyond. They will continue to uphold open-source values evident in numerous initiatives such as AI guidance offerings, active participation in public policy efforts like the Cyber Resiliency Act and the Product Liability Directive, investing in open-source software security, and strengthening the software supply chain.
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