What has open source made possible? What have we done with it in the last 30 years? A look back at our origins, the changes and opportunities open source has enabled from small and personal to large.
What could applying open source philosophy and practices — “thinking open source” — bring to society, the world, and the future beyond our daily work and business?

Let’s look at open source at different scales, from small and meaningful to huge and vital to our future.

Tight focus: the Four Freedoms. As technologists, these simple concepts have (re)shaped our lives for the past 24 years, driving innovation, collaboration, and … paying our bills.

You know this.

Pull out: As governments, builders of our digital reality, and business people, open source has radically changed the economics of infrastructure, cost structures, ROI, and the potential value of information.

You’ve probably heard this before.

But what about beyond work and paying the rent?

Wide shot: Open source has enormous potential to add value to the world beyond our daily work and business. It can teach us how to live in a peaceful, free, and democratic society. It can be a new and groundbreaking way to provide international development aid.

Let’s look at some examples of what it really means to “think open source” and to use open source philosophy and practices to create positive change around the world.