The zero-cost fallacy: Open source software in the agentic era
Summary
Thoughtworks argues that open source is being strained by AI-driven automation, supply-chain pressures, and licensing dynamics. The piece emphasizes maintenance costs, maintainer burnout, and the shift away from permissive licensing, proposing active ownership, rigorous supply-chain auditing, and formal patronage to sustain open-source ecosystems, while considering a future focus on specifications over code.