Driving Open-Source Innovation: Linux Foundation's Global Vision

The Linux Foundation has been at the forefront of driving global open-source innovation, serving as a collaborative hub for developers, enterprises, and emerging technologies. In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Arpit Joshipura - SVP and GM of The Linux Foundation & Head of LF India to explore its evolving vision, the critical role of open source in powering modern technology landscapes like AI, IoT, and edge computing, and the opportunities it brings to regions like India. From the rise of cloud-native technologies to addressing challenges like funding, sustainability, and security, the spokesperson sheds light on how the Linux Foundation continues to foster global collaboration while empowering developers and enterprises to lead open-source development.

Excerpts:

DQ: The Linux Foundation has been instrumental in driving open-source innovation. Over time, how has the organization’s vision evolved?

The Linux Foundation started with the kernel and Linux itself, but over the last decade, we’ve expanded to include nearly 1,000 projects across various sub-foundations. These sub-foundations are organized around technologies—like blockchain, AI, and edge computing—or verticals, such as automotive and telecom.

What has fundamentally transformed is the sheer scale and diversity of global collaboration. Today, we’re the largest non-profit open-source platform, supporting innovation worldwide, regardless of geopolitical or national boundaries. Developers from the US, China, India, and Europe all work together on our projects, which drives an unprecedented scale of innovation.

DQ: How has the collaboration between the Linux Foundation and CNCF contributed to the growth and adoption of open-source cloud-native technologies?

The CNCF (Cloud Native Computing Foundation) is a sub-foundation of the Linux Foundation, so it’s not a separate entity but part of the Linux Foundation ecosystem. CNCF hosts critical projects like Kubernetes, which is the backbone of cloud-native technologies.

The power of open source lies in its ability to foster global collaboration. It’s the only technology platform where people can work together regardless of geopolitics. For instance, contributors from the US, China, and India can work seamlessly on the same project. This level of collaboration is unique to open source and has helped cloud-native technologies become mainstream.

DQ: KubeCon has emerged as one of the largest developer conferences. What unique opportunities does it bring to the Indian tech ecosystem?

KubeCon is not just a conference; it’s a platform for learning, collaboration, and innovation. The Indian developer community, which is already the fourth-largest contributor to Kubernetes, has a unique opportunity to take center stage. Today, India is the second-largest contributor to open source overall, and yet, there’s room to grow.

At KubeCon India, we’ve announced the launch of LF India to further promote open-source leadership. While Indian developers are brilliant consumers of open source, I emphasize the need for India to take on leadership roles—like becoming maintainers or project technical leads (PTLs). Events like these help build awareness, drive contributions, and inspire developers to lead projects that meet global and local needs.

DQ: Open source is often perceived as “free,” but what hidden costs do organizations face during implementation and maintenance?

There are hidden costs, but they come with substantial benefits. For instance, organizations need a vendor in the middle—like Red Hat—who can test, integrate, and provide production-level support. This integration and support add a cost, but it’s significantly lower than proprietary systems.

The key difference is that open-source software allows rapid implementation because it’s open, and vendors don’t need to maintain multiple software branches for different customers. This lowers the total cost of ownership and accelerates deployment. So while initial costs exist, the long-term savings and flexibility far outweigh them.

DQ: Open-source projects face challenges like funding, sustainability, and security. How does the Linux Foundation address these issues?

Funding:
We address funding through three primary ways:

1. Critical Maintainer Support: For high-risk, single-maintainer bottlenecks, we fund them directly to ensure continuity.
2. Enterprise Contributions: Major companies like Red Hat, Google, Amazon, and Infosys contribute by assigning their developers to maintain and enhance open-source projects.
3. Specific Initiative Funding: Some projects receive funding for their societal or community value.

Sustainability:
Long-term sustainability comes from building a strong governance structure. For example, the Linux kernel has not just Linus Torvalds but a whole team of maintainers and a mentorship pipeline that brings in new contributors. We replicate this across all major projects, ensuring they thrive for the long term.

Security:
Open source is inherently more secure due to what we call the “number of eyes algorithm.” The more developers reviewing the code, the quicker vulnerabilities are identified and fixed. Research by DARPA, MIT, and others validates this. Unlike proprietary systems, where fixes depend solely on the vendor, open-source vulnerabilities are visible to the entire community and resolved faster.

We also provide tools and frameworks, like OpenSSF (Open Source Security Foundation), to improve security. This includes tools for Software Bill of Materials (SBOM), which trace every component of the code back to its source for greater transparency.

DQ: With rapid advancements in AI, edge computing, and IoT, how is the Linux Foundation positioning itself to lead in open-source development?

We have specific foundations addressing each of these areas:

1. AI and Data: The LF AI & Data Foundation hosts around 100 projects, including open large language models (LLMs) and data management tools.
2. Edge Computing: The LF Edge Foundation unifies frameworks for edge computing across four key markets—Enterprise, Industrial IoT, Telecom, and Automotive. It has grown 40% this year, reflecting the increasing importance of edge solutions.

Edge computing, in particular, is a hot area, with significant venture capital investment. It impacts industries like manufacturing, oil and gas, retail, automotive, and smart cities, and LF Edge is playing a critical role in standardizing open-source solutions for these markets.

DQ: India is a developing market. How is the Linux Foundation supporting open-source adoption here, and what opportunities exist for startups and new-age developers?

India is central to our global open-source strategy, which is why we’ve launched LF India. We are working with partners like the International Services Foundation (ISF) and companies like Open Nets in Bangalore to establish open-source learning centers. These centers provide lab space for hands-on learning and experimentation.

For startups and new-age developers, the Linux Foundation offers resources like mentorship programs, training, and certifications. We aim to empower Indian developers not just to consume open source but to contribute back and lead projects that solve both local and global challenges.

DQ: What is your take on open-source security in comparison to proprietary systems? How do vulnerabilities differ between the two?

The vulnerabilities themselves are often similar; the key difference lies in how quickly they can be fixed. In open source, if a vulnerability arises, the entire development community can identify, address, and resolve it almost immediately. It doesn’t rely on a single vendor’s roadmap or limited team.

In proprietary systems, however, fixes depend solely on the vendor. They need to schedule it, develop the patch, and distribute it, which can take longer. With open source, the transparency and collective effort make it far more secure and efficient to address vulnerabilities.