The power of reuse: open source software

By Angela Dixon, Managing Director, SocietyWorks #LPSInnovation

Decisions made for local public services hold power; power to improve the lives of the people they serve but also the power to cause harm. While harm is often the result of unintended consequences as well as seemingly impossible choices in the context of scarce financial resources and political uncertainty, it remains the responsibility of public service decision makers to ensure they have enough knowledge to critique and assess software options alongside a mission mindset focused on societal outcomes.

I’m currently serving on techUK’s Local Public Services Committee and leading the #ReuseAndShare initiative where we’re promoting awareness of the opportunities that reuse unlocks for local public services. Reuse can cover multiple areas when it comes to software decisions for public services, whether that be sharing what “good” looks like with the GOV.UK Service Standard and Technology Code of Practice, by reusing established and effective components such as GOV.UK Pay or GOV.UK Notify, or by utilising existing standards, service patterns and manuals, all the result of deep thought, experience and collaboration (see the GOV Reuse Library for examples). My particular Reuse passion, however, is open source software.

Open-by-default has been best practice for years

It may surprise you to know that the GOV.UK Service Standard, originally released in 2014, states “Make all new source code open and reusable, and publish it under appropriate licences.” Deviation from the use of open-by-default is to be the exception, not the rule. The Technology Code of Practice, published in 2017, states "Be open and use open source". This is not new thinking but it is the reliable and responsible approach to public services technology.

The opportunity to realise multiple and significant benefits

Utilisation of open source code for replicable services and patterns, rather than constantly reinventing the wheel, will unlock opportunities to realise multiple and significant benefits:

Open source code can be reused by developers working in government, avoiding duplication of work and reducing costs.
Publishing or using source code under an open licence means that you’re less likely to get locked in to working with a single supplier.
Open source software shared and reused across public services creates the opportunity for large financial savings and maintains the balance of power with the commercial software market.

If it has been paid for by the public purse, then it should be reused and shared

Whether software is built and maintained in-house or outsourced to a supplier, if it has been paid for by the public purse, then it really should be made available for reuse by other public sector bodies. There are already private-public sector partnerships that exist to maintain open source software for the public sector. These operating models balance fair payment to private suppliers (who accept they will not and should not become rich from public funds) with having a sustainable model for implementation, development and ongoing maintenance of public sector open source software. For example, LocalGovDrupal, an initiative originally funded by the Local Digital Fund, is now governed by a cooperative model to sustain and develop its open source web publishing platform for councils. SocietyWorks represents another sustainable model: a social enterprise that develops and runs citizen-centred, flexible, open source software for local government and other public bodies.

Open code is a strength, not a vulnerability

Myths and incorrect assumptions have been levied against the security of open source code. For example, the NHS created an outcry when it reversed its long-standing open source policy citing cyber security and hacking fears, specifically the ability of advanced AI models to spot vulnerabilities. The Government Digital Service promptly responded by publishing guidance on AI, open code and vulnerability risk in the public sector which emphasised that “the primary driver of exploitation risk is the presence of weaknesses in systems - including unpatched vulnerabilities, insecure implementation, and unsafe configuration or deployment - and the inability to remediate them quickly” and that publishing open source code reduces those risks. Open code is a strength, not a vulnerability.

The open source principle for public services software supports transparency, flexibility, accountability and software sustainability and security. It enables the unlocking of significant cross-Government cost reductions and has the potential to re-address the balance of power between public authorities and the technology market.

Build it once. Build it well. Share it. Repeat. #ReuseAndShare

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