Updated October 2026
Open source has become part of nearly everything we use. Black Duck’s 2026 audit of 947 codebases found it in 98% of them. With that kind of reach, it’s fair to wonder why open source still raises questions. The honest answer is that the conversation has moved on. The early doubts about quality and enterprise readiness have largely been answered, and the questions people ask now are more thoughtful ones, about security and lock-in. We first published this post in 2023 and have refreshed it with current data so it reflects where things stand today.
Misconception 1: Open source means lower quality
Let’s start with the oldest worry: that software built in the open can’t match software built behind closed doors. Linux is a friendly place to look. Every system on the TOP500 list of supercomputers has run a Linux-based operating system since November 2017. The economics are just as telling. Harvard Business School researchers estimate that open source carries $8.8 trillion in demand-side value, and that firms would spend 3.5 times more on software without it.
The people who use it agree. In the Linux Foundation’s 2025 global survey, 79% said open source improved their software quality. Joget’s own customers include Allied Benefit Systems, Komatsu, Toyota, and Sunway Group, and they build business-critical applications on an open source platform.
One gentle reminder: quality isn’t automatic. It depends on who maintains a project and how well your organization looks after what it adopts.
Misconception 2: Open source is not secure
This is a fair worry, and it deserves a straight answer. The case for open source security is real, because public code can be inspected by anyone. The catch is that someone has to do the inspection.
Here is what the data shows. The same audit found that mean vulnerabilities per codebase rose from 280 to 581 in one year, and that more than nine in ten codebases contain outdated components.
The Linux Foundation survey found that only 28% of organizations manually review code and 31% use automated security testing when evaluating components, and just 34% have a clear open source strategy.
None of this is a reason to avoid open source. It’s a reason to look after it well. Security comes from how you govern and test what you run, with dependable support behind you. That is why 54% of surveyed organizations consider paid support essential for mission-critical workloads.
Joget is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified, and Joget DX 9 adds a Governance Center for managing citizen development governance and compliance policies, along with multi-factor authentication and passkey support. For AI-built applications, see how we approach AI governance.
Misconception 3: Open source is not for serious enterprise projects
If you’ve wondered whether open source is ready for the big projects, the adoption numbers are reassuring. The same Linux Foundation survey found that 55% of organizations have adopted open source operating systems and 49% cloud and container technologies.
Uber uses MySQL for back-end data management at a massive scale. And Joget DX Enterprise supports national-scale systems, such as Telkom Indonesia, where its enterprise solution built on Joget, successfully handled more than 16,300 customers across 7 regions.
Misconception 4: Open source means zero lock-in
This one is newer, and it’s easy to see why people believe it. If the code is open, surely you can always walk away?
Gartner’s 2025 research on open-source low-code describes it as an emerging alternative to commercial platforms that are getting more expensive and carry a high risk of vendor lock-in. That’s a good reason to look at open source. It lowers the risk. It doesn’t erase it.
The reality is that every significant technology decision creates dependency, and building in-house is no exception. In our new whitepaper, The Myth of Zero Lock In in Enterprise Software, Joget Chief Technology Officer, Julian Khoo makes the point that building internally doesn’t remove lock-in. It changes its form. That’s useful to know, because it turns the question into one you can work with: does this dependency keep creating value, and does it keep your options open?
Two ideas from the paper are worth keeping in mind for any platform decision.
Natural switching costs are not the same as artificial lock-in. Migrating applications and retraining people is hard because the system does meaningful work. Lock-in turns artificial when leaving is made harder on purpose, through proprietary barriers or restrictive contract terms.
Platforms behave differently as you grow. A restrictive platform gains leverage as your alternatives shrink. A symbiotic one becomes more valuable as your organization becomes more capable. Access to the source code alone doesn’t tell you which one you have.
If you’d like a fuller picture, the whitepaper goes further. It breaks dependency into distinct types and closes with a Platform Evaluation Checklist for your next software decision. Download the whitepaper.
Why open source still works well for app development
Open source continues to earn its place, and here is where it helps most.
Flexibility. You can extend the software to fit the way your organization works. Go easy on deep modifications to the core, since heavy customization can make upgrades and support harder later.
Cost. License costs are lower. Plan for the people and the governance it takes to run it well.
Scalability. Modular platforms let you start with a simple app and grow into complex, enterprise-grade ones. With Joget DX, that growth happens on the same platform.
Transparency. You can see what you’re running, which matters even more with AI. The Linux Foundation reports that open source AI adoption rose from 35% to 40% since 2024, partly because visible code makes AI systems easier to audit.
AI Makes Software Easier to Create, Not Easier to Own
If one thread runs through everything above, it’s this. The early doubts about quality and enterprise readiness have largely been settled, and the questions that matter now are about ownership. Open source doesn’t secure itself, and it doesn’t end dependency. What it gives you is a better starting position and more options. Looking after what you build on it is the harder part.
AI makes that harder to ignore. An application can now be generated in minutes, yet the same research found only 24% of organizations fully evaluate AI-generated code for IP, license, security, and quality risks. The faster software gets created, the more there is to understand and maintain.
If you’re weighing a platform decision right now, we’d be glad to help you think it through.
Request a demo or download the whitepaper to see how to evaluate a platform for long-term ownership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is open source software lower quality than proprietary software?
Not inherently. Quality depends on how a project is maintained and governed, not on whether its code is open. Every system on the TOP500 supercomputer list has run a Linux-based operating system since November 2017, and 79% of organizations in the Linux Foundation’s 2025 survey said open source improved their software quality. Those results are self-reported, so check how actively a project is maintained before you adopt it.
Is open source software secure?
Yes, when it is governed well. Open code lets anyone inspect it, but inspection only happens if someone does it. The Linux Foundation found that only 28% of organizations manually review open source code and 31% use automated security testing. Security comes from how you test and govern the code, and from the support behind it.
Can enterprises use open source for mission-critical applications?
Yes, and many already do. The Linux Foundation reports that 55% of organizations have adopted open source operating systems and 49% cloud and container technologies, and 54% consider paid support essential for mission-critical workloads. Joget DX Enterprise also supports national-scale systems, such as Telkom Indonesia, which covers more than 7 regions.
Is open source software really cheaper than proprietary software?
License costs are usually lower, but the total cost depends on what it takes to run the software. Open source still needs skilled people and a plan for governance and support, which is why many enterprises pair it with commercial support.
Does open source mean no vendor lock-in?
No. Open source can lower lock-in risk, but it doesn’t remove dependency. Gartner’s 2025 research describes open-source low-code as an emerging alternative to commercial platforms that are getting more expensive and carry a high risk of vendor lock-in. Joget CTO Julian Khoo argues in his whitepaper that every significant technology decision creates dependency, and that building in-house changes the form of lock-in instead of removing it.
What is the difference between natural switching costs and artificial lock-in?
Natural switching costs come from a system doing meaningful work: migrating applications and retraining users are hard because the platform matters to the business. Artificial lock-in is created when leaving is made harder on purpose, through proprietary barriers or restrictive contract terms. The distinction comes from Joget’s whitepaper, The Myth of Zero Lock-In in Enterprise Software.
How do I evaluate a software platform for lock-in risk?
Start by asking whether the dependency keeps creating value and keeps your options open. Then look at whether the platform gains leverage as your alternatives shrink, or becomes more valuable as your organization grows. Try out the Platform Evaluation Checklist which is included in Joget’s latest whitepaper.
Is Joget open source?
Yes. Joget offers an open source core platform that combines visual, low-code development with AI agents. This allows teams to inspect and extend the architecture while adopting pre-built enterprise foundations. Advanced enterprise governance, scalability features, and Joget Intelligence capabilities are available in the commercial Enterprise Edition.
Does using AI to generate code eliminate the need for a platform?
No. AI makes code faster to produce, but it doesn’t make software easier to govern, secure, test, or maintain long-term. In fact, generating custom code with AI can accelerate technical debt and skills dependency if teams lack standard architecture. A symbiotic platform provides the guardrails, integrations, and lifecycle management needed to own and run AI-built software reliably.
Related
Last modified: October 19, 2026