Code source

Open source is ubiquitous within the vast majority of software infrastructures. 97 per cent of modern codebases consist of open-source components. Today, open source is regarded as a strategic imperative. It plays a vital role in the economy and forms the foundation of most of the technologies currently in use. However, it is difficult to measure the value of open-source software due to its non-monetary nature and the lack of centralised tracking of its use. Consequently, it remains largely excluded from economic analyses. The open-source market continues to grow. It represents between 65 and 95 billion euros in annual value within the European Union. Based on a ‘replacement value’ calculation, if every company using open-source software were to develop it in-house, the market size would be estimated at around 8,200 billion euros¹, or 2.8 times France’s GDP. Against a backdrop of growing aspirations for French and European digital sovereignty, the use and development of open-source software enable public and private organisations to reduce their dependence on foreign suppliers. What is open source? Open-source software is software whose source code is accessible to all and can be freely modified and redistributed under specific licences. It is now