Open Source as volunteer work – a visibility problem?

Volunteer work is perceived as particularly fulfilling when its impact is immediately noticeable – for example, when working with people or animals. A smile, a step forward, a direct change: Such tangible results are motivating and make the value of the work clear to everyone involved.

But there are also forms of volunteer work whose impact is less visible and, for that very reason, is often underestimated. This includes contributing to open-source projects. The work often takes place behind closed doors, away from the spotlight; results are frequently abstract and therefore not always immediately apparent – but by no means less significant.

Boris Hinzer’s petition “Open Source as Volunteer Work” addresses precisely this issue: It aims to gain greater recognition for open-source work as volunteer engagement and to secure more social appreciation and support for it. As the Open Search Foundation, we support this important initiative with our vote.

Invisible, but indispensable

What would actually happen if this work were to suddenly disappear?

We’re often not even fully aware of the consequences. Yet a look at the numbers shows just how significant open-source work has long been: platforms like GitHub document a steadily growing open-source community. In public repositories alone, over 1.12 billion new contributions were recorded in 2025 – a global record high.

According to estimates, about 50% of these commits come from predominantly unpaid developers (Linux Foundation, December 2024). While large projects are sometimes supported by companies, a significant portion of the work is based on volunteer efforts.

At the same time, many projects struggle with structural problems, such as a lack of funding, time constraints, and legal uncertainties, which slow down their development.

The effort behind the software

Open-source development is not a casual hobby; in terms of the nature and scope of the work, it is comparable to a second job. On average, developers invest about nine hours per week in their projects – and during intensive phases, as many as 40 hours. This is shown by the Linux Foundation’s study from December 2024.

We use the results of this work every day, usually without even realizing it: OpenStreetMap, Thunderbird, Mozilla Firefox, and the open-source alternative to Microsoft Office, LibreOffice, are just a few well-known examples.

In addition, there are open-source projects that have long been part of critical infrastructure but tend to remain invisible in our daily lives. The Linux kernel and OpenSSL, a cryptographic library, form the foundation for key areas of our digital world they – are also crucial for secure internet communication.

Maintenance over prestige

A key, often overlooked aspect is the ongoing maintenance of these projects. Open source isn’t just about developing new software; it’s also about maintaining existing systems over the long term, fixing bugs, and keeping the systems secure.

The promising features are often funded – but the invisible, yet essential, groundwork is frequently left to volunteer contributors.

More than just code

Free, transparent, and traceable software is a central building block of the digital common good. It enables innovation, builds trust, and reduces dependencies.

In Europe in particular, open source plays a crucial role in digital sovereignty. Without it, many governmental, economic, and societal processes would be significantly more vulnerable and less independent. The urgent need for action in this area is also evident from a call by the European Commission for comments on open-source digital ecosystems issued in January of this year.

At the same time, volunteer developers bear an enormous responsibility – often without adequate recognition or protection.

 

Time for Greater Recognition of Open Source Work

This is precisely where our call to give greater recognition to open source work as volunteer work comes in.
Such recognition could, for example, lead to concrete improvements:

• Tax-free expense reimbursements
• Fairer liability provisions

It is clear that open source – especially in Germany, but also globally – has long since ceased to be a niche phenomenon and has instead become a cornerstone of our digital infrastructure.

As the Open Search Foundation, we are therefore particularly committed to raising the profile of this work and strengthening it.
You can find more information about Boris Hinzer’s petition “Open Source as Volunteer Work” here: https://www.openpetition.de/petition/online/anerkennung-von-open-source-arbeit-als-ehrenamt-in-deutschland

One thing is clear: If our society continues to overlook the value of open source, we risk, in the long term, precisely the stability that we take for granted today.