Free as in a puppy : The hidden costs of open-source
Session Description
Open-source software is often perceived as "free" in terms of cost, but as the saying goes, it’s "free as in a puppy"—not "free as in beer." While there are no licensing fees, adopting open-source solutions comes with hidden costs that organizations must account for.
In this session, we will uncover the true cost of open-source adoption, beyond just the initial setup. We’ll discuss key challenges, including:
Training & Skill Development – Ensuring teams are equipped to manage and maintain open-source tools.
- Infrastructure & Hosting – Managing the costs of self-hosted vs. managed solutions.
- Security & Compliance – Handling vulnerabilities, audits, and regulatory requirements.
- Support & Maintenance – The trade-off between vendor-backed support and community-driven solutions.
- Bug Fixes & Customization – The reality of investing engineering hours to adapt open-source to specific needs.
By the end of this talk, attendees will gain a realistic perspective on open-source adoption, helping them make informed decisions about when and how to integrate open-source technologies effectively.
Who Should Attend?
- DevOps Engineers, Platform Teams, and Software Architects
- IT Leaders and Decision-Makers
- Anyone considering open-source tools in their tech stack
Let’s rethink what "free" really means in the open-source world!