The 2025 State of Open Source: What the Data Really Tells Us
Open source software (OSS) is no longer just an alternative — it’s the backbone of modern IT stacks. Each year, OpenLogic by Perforce publishes its State of Open Source Report, and the 2025 edition delivers some eye-opening insights about trends, technologies, and challenges facing organizations across the globe.
After surveying 433 professionals from every corner of the tech world, this year’s report shows that OSS adoption continues to surge — but not without its complexities. Here’s a deep dive into the key findings and what they mean for the future of tech.
📈 OSS Is on the Rise — Again
Let’s start with the obvious: 96% of organizations increased or maintained their OSS usage over the past year. In fact, more than a quarter (25.71%) reported a significant increase. Large enterprises led the charge, with over a third showing substantial growth in adoption.
Why the surge? The answer is simple: cost. Over half of respondents (53.33%) said cost savings — including avoiding license fees — was their top reason for choosing OSS. Other motivators included reducing vendor lock-in, adopting open standards, and improving interoperability.
Interestingly, in Asia, the top driver was development speed, reflecting regional priorities.
💸 Where Are Companies Investing?
Organizations are pouring resources into a few key OSS areas:
- Cloud and container technologies (39.52%)
- Databases and data technologies (33.33%)
- Programming languages and frameworks (32.86%)
These investments reflect a growing trend toward internal development, especially among smaller companies. Larger enterprises, meanwhile, are doubling down on DevOps, analytics, and security tooling.
🚧 Top Challenges: Security, Compliance, and Legacy Software
Despite widespread adoption, challenges persist — and they’re big ones:
- Keeping up with patches
- Meeting security and compliance requirements
- Maintaining EOL software
For many, aging systems like CentOS and AngularJS are sticking around far past their expiration dates. In fact, 26% still use CentOS, including 40% of large enterprises — and alarmingly, 28% of those lack a plan for handling new CVEs.
🐧 Linux: Ubuntu Still Reigns
Ubuntu remains the most popular Linux distribution (56.73%), followed by Debian and CentOS (despite its EOL status). While CentOS usage is falling in North America and Europe, it remains strong in Asia and Latin America.
☁️ Cloud-Native Tech: Docker & Kubernetes Lead
Unsurprisingly, Docker and Kubernetes dominate the cloud-native landscape. Kubernetes usage has more than doubled since 2021, now sitting at 39.2%. However, many organizations still struggle with:
- A lack of personnel or expertise (51%)
- Installation and configuration challenges
Smaller companies lean toward simpler stacks, while large enterprises embrace complex orchestration and monitoring platforms like Prometheus and Rancher.
🧠 Big Data: High Stakes, Low Confidence
Roughly 37% of organizations are using OSS to manage Big Data — but 47% say they lack confidence in managing their data tech stacks. The biggest hurdles?
- Data integration across systems
- Governance and compliance
- Skill gaps in-house
Small organizations rely on open source communities for support, while larger companies tend to pay for commercial services.
🧑💻 Languages & Frameworks: Familiar Faces Lead
JavaScript (53.89%) and Python (52.85%) remain neck-and-neck for most-used language, followed by PHP, Node.js, and C/C++. OpenJDK is gaining popularity, while Oracle Java usage continues to slide — likely due to rising costs.
React.js leads in frameworks, with jQuery and Spring Boot close behind. Surprisingly, EOL AngularJS is still widely used, especially by mid-sized companies.
🔐 Security & Compliance: More Important Than Ever
Security and compliance are now mission-critical:
- 59% scan OSS for vulnerabilities
- 84% must meet at least one compliance standard
- 41% of companies using EOL software failed a compliance audit in 2024
Top security actions include applying patches, enforcing secure coding practices, and upgrading to current versions.
🌱 OSS Maturity Is Growing — Slowly
The report ends on a hopeful note: while maturity varies, organizations are improving. Most common practices include:
- Performing vulnerability scans (59%)
- Contributing to OSS projects (37%)
- Creating security/governance policies (35%)
Small companies are the most active contributors, while large enterprises are more likely to have formal OSS governance programs and generate SBOMs.
Final Thoughts: Open Source Is Everywhere — But It’s Not Free
The 2025 State of Open Source Report shows that OSS is vital — but success depends on more than just downloading a free tool. It requires skilled professionals, smart strategies, and long-term thinking.
Whether you’re a solo dev building in your basement or an IT director at a Fortune 500 company, one thing is clear: OSS is here to stay — and investing in it wisely is key to future-proofing your infrastructure.
🔍 Want to dive deeper? Check out the full report at perforce.com.