Open source vs. commercial: The toolchain dilemma

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In this episode, Marc and Darren discuss the feasibility and implications of creating a fully open source toolchain for software development. They explore various aspects of the toolchain, including version control, compliance, secure storage, documentation, task management, and more.

Specific tools and their suitability for different purposes within the toolchain are explored. Darren evaluates options such as Gitea and GitLab for version control, SonarQube, and Aqua Security tools for compliance, and HashiCorp Vault for secure storage. Challenges in finding suitable replacements for commercial tools like Confluence for documentation and Jira for task management are also touched upon.

Throughout the episode, trade-offs between open source and commercial solutions, such as cost, ease of use, and support, are acknowledged. Underestimating the technical investment required to maintain open source toolchains is cautioned against, while software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms are suggested as a suitable alternative.

Darren and Marc advocate for a pragmatic approach to toolchain selection, recognizing the benefits and limitations of both open source and commercial offerings. They emphasize the importance of considering factors such as scalability, support, and ease of integration when making decisions about software development toolchains.

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This is the mid-pitch from Pinja promoting The Future of Software event in London on March 26, 2025.