and the distribution of digital products.
Linux Foundation quietly became open source’s sprawling kingmaker
The Linux Foundation has evolved significantly since its inception in 2007, transforming from a steward of the Linux kernel to a sprawling umbrella organization for numerous open source projects. Last month, the OpenInfra Foundation, best known for OpenStack, joined the Linux Foundation, further solidifying its status as a “foundation of foundations.”
The Linux Foundation’s executive director, Jim Zemlin, has led the organization for nearly two decades, guiding its transition through various technological waves, including mobile, cloud, and artificial intelligence. Zemlin attributes the Foundation’s success to its “portfolio approach,” where it diversifies its investments across multiple technologies, rather than relying on a single project.
By pooling resources across projects, the Linux Foundation can tap into vertical-specific expertise while leveraging broader expertise in areas such as copyright, patents, data privacy, and cybersecurity. This collective investment is crucial as businesses face a growing array of regulations, including the EU AI Act and Cyber Resilience Act. The Linux Foundation’s specialists work across various industry efforts, providing support that individual projects might not be able to afford on their own.
The recent merger with the OpenInfra Foundation underscored the benefits of this approach. OpenStack, an open source cloud computing platform, transitioned to the OpenInfra Foundation in 2012 before rebranding. The merger brought an experienced technical lead into the Linux Foundation, enhancing its capabilities in technical collaboration and ecosystem growth.
The Linux Foundation has also expanded its reach through regional entities, such as LF India, Linux Foundation Japan, and Linux Foundation Europe. These entities allow for local collaboration while maintaining global participation. Linux Foundation Europe, for example, houses projects like The Open Wallet Foundation, enabling European members to work together on initiatives such as digital sovereignty.
In the realm of AI, the Linux Foundation has played a significant role in defining open source AI through its Model Openness Framework (MOF). The MOF provides a nuanced approach to assessing the openness of AI models, considering factors such as code, data, and documentation. This framework has been adopted by the Open Source Initiative in its own open source AI definition.
MOF classifications (Image: The Linux Foundation)
Zemlin told TechCrunch that the AI community is broader than traditional software engineering, with practitioners seeking predictability and transparency in open source AI. The Linux Foundation’s efforts, including the MOF, aim to address these needs. The Foundation’s approach to creating new projects involves identifying areas where open source can have a significant impact, then bringing together the right team of developers and leaders.
Zemlin describes this process as a “reverse venture capitalist” approach, where the Linux Foundation looks for “project-market fit” rather than profit. The organization creates value for developers in open source communities, giving away its creations rather than seeking financial gain. Despite its diversification, the Linux Foundation remains committed to its name, which Zemlin believes is a powerful and positive brand emblematic of successful open source initiatives.