Munich Shifts to Open Source Software While Leaving Linux Behind

At the recent Open Source Summit Europe, Dr. Laura Dornheim, chief digital officer of Munich, shared the city’s evolving digital strategy, emphasizing a renewed commitment to open-source alternatives instead of deploying the Linux desktop again.

Transitioning to Open Source Infrastructure

Munich is taking significant steps to replace proprietary infrastructure software with open-source solutions. Among the major changes, the city plans to transition from VMware to Proxmox, migrate from Jira and Confluence to OpenProject and XWiki, and adopt PostgreSQL to replace Oracle databases. These shifts are anticipated to save the city approximately €1.5 million annually.

Lessons Learned from Previous Initiatives

Dr. Dornheim explained that the previous move to a Linux-based system, known as LiMux, ultimately fell out of favor due to political factors rather than technical deficiencies. The decision to revert to Windows was influenced by a change in administration that favored proprietary solutions, partly due to Microsoft's increased engagement with the city.

Looking Ahead: Open Source as a Strategy

Now, as Germany’s third-largest city, Munich is committed to identifying opportunities where open-source tools can provide not just cost efficiencies, but also enhanced control and interoperability among municipalities. While the city remains aware of the importance of digital sovereignty, the primary aim is to improve operational efficiency and lower expenses.

One of the guiding principles of Munich's current approach is the notion of "public money, public code." This means that any software funded by taxpayer money should be made publicly available for further use or development. To effectively coordinate these efforts, Munich has set up an Open Source Program Office aimed at managing open-source initiatives within the city.

Collaboration with Other Municipalities

Munich's strategy includes actively sharing its software assets with other cities. For instance, the DAVe application, which collects and analyzes traffic data, is already in use by nearby Wolfsburg. Dr. Dornheim advocates for a more systematic approach to sharing resources among municipalities, suggesting that these collaborations should be part of the standard public sector operating procedure.

In addition to DAVe, the city is also developing MUCGPT, a municipal AI application designed to enhance communication and productivity for employees by integrating advanced language model capabilities.

Fostering Open Source Development

To further strengthen its engagement with the open-source community, Munich has launched the Open Source Sabbatical program. This initiative encourages developers to work on open-source projects that can enhance municipal services and innovations derived from public investments.

Overall, Munich's pivot away from proprietary software heralds a new era of openness, collaboration, and sustainability in software development. The city is transitioning into an active participant in the software ecosystem, creating a model that can inspire other municipalities aiming for similar goals of reducing dependence on proprietary solutions while maximizing public investment.