The Foundation for Public Digitalisation
It is essential to understand the customer's needs and incorporate continuous maintenance and economic considerations into operations, while reusing solutions rather than developing new ones each time.
This contributes to a trustworthy and productive collaboration where all parties benefit fully.
Open Source
By Mads Nørgaard, Tech Lead – Drupal, Novicell
Experience and Engagement in the Open Source Community
Looking back over the past six years of my involvement in Denmark's open source community, one thing is clear: Open source is not just a technological solution, but an overarching strategy that enables innovation, promotes economic responsibility, and supports the interests of the community at a national level.
It is a shared understanding that we can achieve much more together than alone.
For us, open source is not just a technical choice, but a strategic decision for each client, offering value through innovative, secure, and scalable solutions that meet both the client's needs and those of the broader digital community. The approach varies from client to client, depending on their existing systems, strategy, and total cost of ownership (TCO) considerations. It should be noted that the choice doesn't always fall on an open-source platform.
At Novicell, we actively contribute to the open-source community. We fix bugs upstream during development, and we are active contributors to platforms like Drupal.org. This means that when you choose us as a client, you're not just getting a solution tailored to your needs, but one that is continuously improved and secured by a global network of developers. A concrete example is our development of the Transform API, which not only met specific client needs but also helped improve standards within MACH architecture and headless systems. The module was originally developed for a private client, and now it is used free of charge by clients like OS2udoglær. Improvements made during the development of the new OS2udoglær can also benefit the original client. We see this as a win-win, driving progress for everyone while supporting a community-oriented approach where quality and security are always in focus.
The Human Factor in Technology
I have been involved in both the operations and development of OS2udoglær, and over the years, I have seen how dedicated individuals like Mie Bjerrisgaard Frydensbjerg can be the driving force behind a project's success. For example, Jes Strickertson in Skive Municipality has played a central role in ensuring that OS2datascanner delivers real value to the municipality, while Pernille Thorsen and Anders Sølbech have been crucial in pushing OS2forms forward. Similar stories from other municipalities confirm that technology is only as good as the people who implement and further develop it. It requires dedication and collaboration from the right individuals to fully realise the potential of IT solutions.
When we base a large part of our business on open source, it’s not just because it’s a smart technological solution, but also because it makes good business sense. However, business based on open source comes with some unwritten rules, where reciprocity and responsibility are key. Companies cannot take big risks just because the technology is open; they must be supported in being able to operate and further develop solutions together in a sustainable manner. If suppliers simply exploit open source without giving back, it can harm the entire ecosystem and undermine the technologies we rely on to build our open-source solutions.
Collaboration and Innovation as Driving Forces
Collaboration and innovation are also key words in the open-source world. As Troels Dahl Ranum from Aarhus Municipality emphasised in a previous opinion piece, open source is about collaborating across organisations to achieve shared goals. Our experiences with the multi-supplier collaboration on OS2forms have shown how cooperation can increase quality and simultaneously set expectations for ordering new developments. Our ongoing involvement in the OS2 open-source community, particularly through projects like OS2forms, is not just a technical contribution but also involves sparring on processes and a deep understanding of public sector business requirements.
Being a good supplier in a multi-supplier collaboration requires open communication, cooperation, and technical expertise, supported by economic responsibility. Transparency and an understanding of shared goals are crucial for creating value, while proactive communication and flexibility ensure the project stays on track. It is essential to understand the customer's needs and incorporate continuous maintenance and economic considerations into operations, while reusing solutions rather than developing new ones each time. This contributes to a trustworthy and productive collaboration where all parties benefit fully.
Unfortunately, we see that some of the larger players in the industry, who claim to support open source and the OS2 collaboration, often leave a very limited footprint in the community. It doesn't take more than opening the code on GitHub and writing good documentation, yet many still do not contribute sufficiently.
At Novicell, we are mindful of this balance and ensure that we actively contribute to the projects we use. This is not just an ethical obligation but also a necessity to maintain the technologies that our business depends on.
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The article was originally written in Danish and later translated to English for purpose of sharing with my larger English speaking Network.