The German enterprise software giant has published the new SAP open source manifesto, highlighting its commitment to open source principles and community engagement. The manifesto solidifies the company’s role as a major contributor to the open source community, currently ranking among the top ten commercial contributors globally on GitHub within the OSCI.
According to Juergen Mueller, Chief Technology Officer and member of the Executive Board of SAP SE, the manifesto signifies more than just a record of current contributions. It is a pledge to continue driving significant open innovation and collaboration. By embracing open source, the tech giant not only accelerates its own innovation but also empowers customers and partners to build on a foundation of transparency, security, and shared success.
SAP’s dedication to open source is demonstrated by its involvement in key projects such as OpenUI5 and OpenJDK/SapMachine. These projects influence digital innovation and reflect the company’s active participation in leading open source initiatives and foundations, including the Open Invention Network, Eclipse Foundation, Linux Foundation Europe, and Cloud Foundry.
In a recently published article, Michael Ameling, EVP and Head of Intelligent Enterprise and Chief Product Officer for SAP BTP, emphasized that open source serves as a catalyst for technological advancement, enabling global minds to collaborate, share ideas, and push collective development forward.
Coinciding with the Open Reference Architecture project
The manifesto coincides with SAP’s involvement in the Open Reference Architecture project under the EU’s IPCEI-CIS initiative. This project exemplifies SAP’s commitment to digital sovereignty in cloud infrastructure and services. Developed as open source, the project showcases SAP’s transparent approach to fostering community-led growth and innovation.
According to Martin Georg Fassunge, project lead of the Open Reference Architecture project for SAP BTP, the IPCEI-CIS initiative underscores SAP’s commitment to Europe’s digital transformation. By providing open, secure, and scalable solutions, SAP aims to foster an environment of collective growth and innovation through its open source approach.
Additionally, SAP’s active participation in the Open Reference Architecture project aligns with its broader goal of promoting open source development in cloud-native environments. Projects like Gardener, GardenLinux, Open Resource Discovery (ORD), and Open Component Model (OCM) are central to this effort, encouraging an open community of external contributors and adopters.
Engaging in Cloud-Native Development
In line with the Open Reference Architecture project, SAP is a leader in several open source, cloud-native initiatives. These projects, including Gardener, GardenLinux, Open Resource Discovery (ORD), and Open Component Model (OCM), are designed to foster an open community of external contributors and adopters.
Michael Ameling notes that SAP is dedicated to empowering its employees with the necessary training, guidelines, and tools. Moreover, SAP supports its ecosystem by sharing best practices and expertise through webinars, a podcast series called “The Open Source Way,” and community events. SAP also invites engagement at events like KubeCon North America, where attendees can learn more about SAP’s cloud-native projects.
With the release of the open source manifesto and the launch of the Open Reference Architecture project, SAP is excited to embark on the next phase of its open source journey. This journey will be in collaboration with the open source community, customers, and partners.
Furthermore, the manifesto details SAP’s vision and commitment to open source, focusing on collaborative innovation, empowerment through openness, and fostering trust and transparency within the community. SAP’s vision includes driving innovation through open collaboration, empowering communities, customers, and partners by making essential parts of its development platform and tools open, and maintaining trust and transparency in all contributions.
Key Commitments in the SAP Open Source Manifesto
The SAP open source manifesto outlines several key commitments:
- Consistent Contributions: SAP actively participates in the open source community, contributing code, expertise, and resources to projects aligned with its values and vision.
- Championing Open Standards: SAP also advocates for and adheres to open standards, recognizing their importance in creating cohesive and interoperable systems.
- Open-First Approach: SAP further aims to adopt an open-first approach for its underlying technology, releasing numerous key innovations to the community and preferring open source solutions in its endeavors.
- Nurturing Open-Source Ecosystems: SAP supports, promotes, and nurtures open source projects and communities.
- Feedback-Driven Approach: SAP also values and incorporates feedback from the open source community, ensuring continuous improvement and learning.
SAP commits to engaging with open source communities respectfully, supporting the long-term health and sustainability of open source projects through direct support, funding, and dedicated personnel. Furthermore, SAP ensures clear and fair licensing for its projects to facilitate ease of use and contribution.
