How do governments use open-source software?

Governments use open-source software to reduce costs, increase transparency, and maintain control over critical systems. By leveraging freely available code, agencies avoid expensive licensing fees and gain flexibility to customize tools for their needs. For example, the U.S. Department of Defense launched code.mil to share custom software with the public, enabling collaboration and reuse. Similarly, the French government built Tchap, a secure messaging app, on the open-source Matrix protocol, ensuring data sovereignty and avoiding reliance on proprietary platforms. Open-source also allows governments to audit code for security flaws, which is vital for protecting sensitive data and infrastructure.

Another key benefit is avoiding vendor lock-in. Proprietary software often ties governments to specific vendors, leading to long-term costs and limited adaptability. Open-source alternatives let agencies switch providers or modify tools independently. The European Commission supports projects like Nextcloud (self-hosted file sharing) and LibreOffice (productivity suite) to promote interoperability across member states. Germany’s federal administration adopted LibreOffice to standardize document formats, ensuring compatibility between departments. This approach reduces dependency on single vendors and fosters competition, as seen in the U.S. where agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau use open-source to maintain control over fintech systems.

Governments also use open-source to collaborate with developers and the public. By releasing code publicly, agencies invite external contributions, accelerating innovation. The White House contributed improvements to Drupal, the content management system powering many government websites. France’s code.gouv.fr publishes government-developed software, enabling other nations to reuse tools like tax calculators. During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health agencies used open-source platforms like Apache Kafka for real-time data sharing between hospitals and researchers. This transparency builds trust and ensures taxpayer-funded software benefits the broader community, not just a single organization.