Ubuntu

The state of global open source 2025

83% of organizations believe open source is valuable to their future, but a critical maturity gap persists

The Linux Foundation’s new The state of global open source 2025 report, created in collaboration with Canonical, reveals a critical turning point for open source software (OSS). Open source is no longer just a cost-saving tool; it has become the mission-critical foundation of modern business infrastructure.

However, the report identifies a paradox: widespread adoption is outpacing organizational maturity, creating risks in governance and security.

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Open source is driving business value

Open source has moved into the core of the enterprise technology stack, with high adoption rates across essential domains:

  • Operating systems (55% adoption)
  • Cloud / container technologies (49% adoption)
  • Web & application development (46% adoption)

Organizations are reporting measurable benefits from this shift:

  • 83% consider open source valuable to their organization’s future
  • 46% reported increased business value from open source compared to the previous year
  • 86% indicate that using OSS improves productivity

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AI: The biggest beneficiary of open source

The report confirms AI/Machine Learning (ML) is the technology perceived to benefit most from being open source (cited by 38% of respondents globally). Open source AI adoption has also increased by a statistically significant 5% since 2024, now standing at 40%.

This report offers anyone working with open source the insights needed to align their strategic practices with the new reality of open source adoption.

Inside the report, you will learn:

  • How to strategically bridge the gap between OSS adoption and organizational maturity.
  • The top investment priorities for organizations looking to increase their OSS engagement, such as sponsoring critical dependencies (44%) and training developers (41%).
  • The primary barriers limiting deeper OSS participation and adoption (e.g., licensing/IP concerns and lack of technical support).
  • Why active OSS engagement delivers a 20% competitive advantage and is a powerful tool for talent attraction (cited by 74% of professionals).
  • Why enterprise grade support has become a non-negotiable for enterprises adopting OSS.

Download the full report for more insights.

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