At cloudtec AG, we trust in open-source solutions

What open-source solutions are

In short: a finished product based on software whose source code is publicly accessible and can usually be used free of charge. Anyone may view, use, modify and pass on the code. In most cases, several individual projects interlock and together form the solution.

Why we rely on it

Web technologies are heavily based on open source. We specialise in web technologies and therefore use a large number of such projects: our entire platform stack is built on them.

That does not mean open source is turnkey. As a rule, you get a construction kit that needs expertise to extend and adapt it. Choosing the right technology, bringing different projects together and keeping it all together in operations: that is exactly where the work lies, and exactly what goes into our stack.

Transparency

The code is open for everyone to see. Weaknesses and potential security vulnerabilities are found and fixed by a broad community, which contributes to security.

Collaboration

We work with a large and experienced developer community. This keeps the quality of our software stable. And because the projects can be adapted, we can tailor them to individual requirements and develop them further.

Innovation

New projects and extensions of existing ones provide ideas. Concepts and technical tricks find their way into our own team along the way.

Even so, we do not use open source indiscriminately. For each use case, we check whether a project fits the requirements, and we only include what belongs in the stack. Where it makes sense, we combine open source with commercial solutions.

Advantages and disadvantages at a glance

In our experience, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages:

• no licence fees;
• no direct dependence on a single vendor;
• transparency through access to the source code;
• the software can be flexibly adapted to your own needs;
• efficient bug fixing thanks to the four-eyes principle;
• review by the developer community;
• promotion of innovation.

What you need to bear in mind:

• professional support and comprehensive documentation may be lacking;
• the solutions can be technically more demanding and have a steeper learning curve;
• open source is considered more secure, but that is no guarantee;
• because the projects depend on a community, new features or bug fixes sometimes take longer;
• if a project is discontinued or changes its development process, you have to switch to an alternative or take over the adaptations yourself.

What this means for your platform

Whether open source suits a project is decided by the use case, not by principle. If you want to know which projects are in our stack and why, you will find that on the Technology page.