Guidelines for Sustainable Open Source Communities in the Public Sector: 5 key lessons: Practical guidelines for public sector representatives on how to join or establish and maintain sustainable open source communities

Adoption of open source by public administrations across Europe has not historically been a sustainable journey. This has led the European Commissions’ Open Source Observatory (OSOR) to produce Guidelines for Sustainable Open Source Communities in the Public Sector. The Guidelines offer practical tips for civil servants at all administrative levels, project managers, IT developers, and open source software (OSS) enthusiasts looking to engage with OSS. The purpose of the Guidelines is to act as a practical tool that can be used by public sector officials interested in establishing or joining open source communities or by members of such communities. We collected primary data through a comprehensive survey, five in-depth case studies, and secondary material. We offer five key lessons that can help public sector officials to engage with and sustain open source communities.