This Learning Path gives an introduction to InnerSource. InnerSource is the application of open source practices and principles to software development within the enterprise. InnerSource software remains proprietary to the company, but within it is open for anyone to use it and contribute to it. This strategy enables wide and effective collaboration, producing software that is responsive and nimble to the changing needs of its many internal stakeholders.
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InnerSource encourages and rewards collaboration and code reuse with anyone, regardless of their position in a company’s organizational structure. This approach differs from what is seen in traditional organizations where ideas and work product tend to stay trapped within the boundaries of the internal corporate hierarchy and its silos. Let’s explore one situation that gives an example of this idea.
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Let’s say that team A uses software produced by team B. Team A submits a feature request to team B, but team B isn’t able to implement that feature in time for team A. In an InnerSource setting, if team A can’t get this feature request then it submits a pull request instead. That is to say team A implements the feature directly in team B’s software and submits a pull request with the code changes. Team B partners to review and accept the submitted code.
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There are many benefits to collaborating via InnerSource. InnerSource gives a company a scalable strategy for guest teams to get feature requests when they need them without the long-term burden of maintenance. The company as a whole wins as the time of guest teams is put into code that others can use.
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Every company, team, project, and individual is different. Because of that fact, the exact way that the concept of InnerSource works will vary from one situation to another. At its core, however, are four principles that form the bedrock of any successful instance of InnerSource. These principles have inspiration in successful open source projects and are required in order for InnerSource to achieve the benefits described earlier.
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In this learning path, we’ve given an introduction to InnerSource. InnerSource applies open source best practices and principles to internal software development. It gives an additional option to consumers when producing teams are not able to deliver a needed feature request. Successful InnerSource involves a product owner and trusted committer from the host team as well as a contributor from the guest team. Done effectively, InnerSource brings many benefits to both participating teams. They key principles upon-which effective InnerSource works are voluntary code contribution and prioritized mentorship.
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To conclude the Introduction segment of the Learning Path, here are some Frequently Asked Questions people have when embarking on their InnerSource journey.
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InnerSource is the application of open source principles to company-internal software development. Done right, it unblocks progress and eases adoption of shared services and modules. This article contains guidance and questions to ask yourself when considering adoption of an InnerSource approach to running your project.
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