Open Source Outside the Box

In this episode of REWORK, Kimberly Rhodes, Jason Fried, and David Heinemeier Hansson discuss 37signals' approach to open source software, particularly with the launch of Fizzy, which is available both as open source and as a SaaS product. David explains the company's long-standing commitment to open source, driven by a moral and practical obligation to give back to the community that enabled their success, emphasizing the benefits of shared learning, community collaboration, and improved code quality. Jason adds that open sourcing their code promotes better coding practices and instills pride in their work, while David highlights that sharing well-crafted code elevates the entire industry. They also address the controversy surrounding Fizzy's license, which reserves the right to commercialize the SaaS version, and discuss the exciting community contributions and how they are managed, noting the collaborative spirit and the value of diverse perspectives in shaping the product.