Emerging Trends in Open Source That Developers Must Track

Focus on Security and Supply Chain Integrity

Security isn’t a nice to have anymore it’s table stakes. And at the center of it all is the Software Bill of Materials (SBOM). Think of it like an ingredient list for your code. More orgs and regulators are demanding a full list of what’s inside your software. If you’re not producing SBOMs, you’re behind.

The community vibe has shifted, too. No more sitting on critical CVEs. There’s a real push toward patching vulnerabilities the moment they’re found. Projects that drag their feet? They get flagged, dropped, or forked.

Meanwhile, tools like Sigstore and SLSA are moving toward baseline expectations. Sigstore helps you verify where software comes from, and SLSA gives you a framework for securing the entire build process. Neither is just for Fortune 500s. Open source projects are adopting them, today.

Bottom line: developers can’t treat security as a hand off to downstream teams. Everyone touching code needs to act like a security engineer. That includes better workflows, tighter checks, and knowing exactly what you’re shipping and where it came from.

Rise of Maintainer Support and Sustainability Models

Maintainers have long been the backbone of open source. They fix the bugs, handle the issues, review the pull requests and often do it all without pay. That’s starting to change. In 2024, support models like GitHub Sponsors and Open Collective are finally gaining traction at scale. Critical maintainers the ones keeping core infrastructure alive are beginning to see steady funding from both individual contributors and companies that rely on their work.

This shift isn’t just about money; it’s about longevity. After years of burnout cycles and silent project deaths, we’re seeing a cultural reckoning. People are building in time for rest. Project roadmaps now often include space for mental health breaks and sabbaticals. Leaders are treating sustainability like a load bearing feature not an afterthought.

There’s a simple truth emerging: good software needs sustainable humans behind it. And the open source ecosystem is finally starting to invest accordingly.

AI Powered Dev Tools Go Open Source

Open source LLM tooling has gone from niche to necessity in record time. Libraries like OpenPrompt, LangChain, and AutoGPT are lowering the barrier to building AI powered apps, fast. What used to require a PhD and a Google badge is now doable from a laptop and a GitHub account.

More than just speed, this shift puts agency back in the developers’ hands. Instead of relying solely on closed models from big tech, devs are remixing, fine tuning, and deploying language models on their own terms. Plug in your own data, tweak your pipelines, and ship something smarter without waiting for permission.

The deeper impact? It’s ethical. With open access comes the power (and responsibility) to shape how these tools behave. So instead of just arguing about bias and black boxes, contributors are actually editing the code that defines the boundaries. The future of AI isn’t just commercial it’s collaborative. And open source developers are steering that ship now more than ever.

Read more: Top open source trends shaping 2024

OSS Licensing Gets Political

Open source is no longer just a technical choice it’s a political and ethical one. As the movement matures, developers and organizations are considering not just how code is used, but why and who it’s serving.

The Rise of Ethical Open Source Licenses

A new wave of ethical licensing is beginning to shape project dynamics. These licenses go beyond standard legal frameworks to reflect moral and labor concerns:
Anti 996 License: Responds to exploitative workplace practices, especially in tech industries that demand excessive overtime.
Hippocratic License: Requires software to be used in alignment with ethical principles (e.g., not supporting human rights abuses).

These licenses are signaling a shift in developer values from ‘freedom to use’ toward ‘freedom with responsibility.’

Business Response: License Aware Decision Making

More companies are being selective about the licenses they endorse or allow within their stacks. Key trends include:
Avoidance of ethically restrictive licenses in favor of traditional, business friendly ones (MIT, Apache 2.0).
Due diligence on license terms before adopting OSS components.
Open source compliance teams growing within enterprises.

This move reflects corporate caution but also a greater respect for clarity and purpose behind project governance.

For Contributors: Know What You Choose

For open source contributors, understanding licensing isn’t optional anymore it’s essential. Your choice of license can affect:
Who adopts your tool (and who avoids it)
How your project is perceived by companies and collaborators
Whether your values are protected (or compromised) over time

Developer Tip: Align your license with your project’s goals and consider how enforceable and broadly accepted it is in real world use.

Ethical licensing may not be universal yet, but it’s pushing the conversation forward, forcing both maintainers and adopters to be more intentional.

Corporates Are All In (With Mixed Results)

In 2024, the line between open source and enterprise software continues to blur. Major corporations are rolling out open source projects at unprecedented rates but not all community members are embracing this shift.

The Enterprise Surge Into OSS

Many large tech firms are no longer just using or supporting open source they’re leading high profile OSS initiatives. Corporate backed projects now shape key ecosystems in AI, cloud native infrastructure, and DevOps.
Enterprise driven OSS projects are becoming the norm, not the exception
Tools and frameworks built by global tech companies are dominating GitHub
Internal tools are being open sourced to attract developers and promote adoption

Community vs. Corporate: A Delicate Balance

The growing presence of corporate players in open source brings both resources and risks. While these companies often contribute robust funding and full time engineering support, they may also introduce hidden agendas, governance conflicts, or limited community input.

Potential concerns include:
Reduced community decision making in project direction
Prioritization of business goals over open collaboration
Shift in project values depending on corporate strategy

Developer Takeaway: When to Contribute, When to Fork

As a developer, discernment is more important than ever. Participating in corporate led OSS can offer exposure to cutting edge tech but only when the project aligns with your goals and values.

What to consider before contributing:
Is there transparent governance and roadmapping?
Are community contributions reviewed and valued fairly?
What happens if corporate backing disappears or changes course?

If a project drifts too far from its collaborative roots, developers may need to fork and build something more aligned with community needs.

Bottom line: Contribute where you’re empowered not just where the spotlight shines.

Deep dive: 2024’s biggest open source trends and challenges

Cloud Native and Edge OSS Projects Surge

Kubernetes may no longer be the shiny new toy, but it’s still powering serious momentum. Contributions to Kubernetes adjacent tools like Helm, ArgoCD, and Flux are exploding as devs move beyond basic container orchestration into smarter, more automated infrastructure. This isn’t about spinning up pods anymore. It’s about managing complexity without drowning in YAML.

At the same time, edge native technologies are charging forward. WebAssembly (Wasm) isn’t just a browser side story anymore. Projects like Wasmtime, wasmCloud, and Spin are showing real promise in deploying secure, portable workloads at the edge across sensors, phones, and far flung endpoints. The premise: faster boot times, smaller footprints, and language agnostic builds.

The catch? Most devs aren’t ready. Distributed compute at scale demands a new mindset. You have to think in systems availability zones, network boundaries, compliance. It’s not impossible, but it takes skill building. If you’re writing code that assumes a single server or old school CI/CD, it’s time to catch up.

TL;DR: Move beyond Kubernetes basics, get comfortable with edge runtimes, and start treating distributed infrastructure as a first class part of your stack.

What Developers Should Be Doing Now

Open source is no longer just about volume it’s about intent. In 2024, smarter contributions will beat sheer commit counts. Developers should prioritize projects aligned with their values, goals, or long term expertise. Getting involved deeply in a few efforts can create outsized impact. Think quality PRs, meaningful documentation updates, and helping with roadmap discussions.

Licensing remains a sleeper issue. With ethical and business driven licenses becoming more common, developers can’t afford to skip the fine print. Choosing your stack or deciding whether to contribute should include checking the licensing DNA. It might affect how your code gets used or doesn’t.

Keep an eye on where AI and security collide. Projects integrating LLMs, secure signing, or supply chain checks are not just trendy they’re shaping the foundation of future infrastructure. Understand the basics. Join the right Discords. Contribute where it matters.

Finally, don’t spread yourself too thin. It’s tempting to jump into every shiny new repo, but betting time on fewer, strategy aligned projects will pay back more, both professionally and technically. Lean in where it counts.