Free and Open Source Software Foundations

There are foundations that support and get funds for free and open source software (FOSS).

Foundations allow to have vendor-independent organizations that manage FOSS projects, improving neutrality.

An example of vendor-dependent FOSS project is Java.

This post features a list of foundations supporting FOSS.

List of Multi-Project FOSS Foundations

FOSS foundations that support multiple projects featured on this post:

  • Free Software Foundation
  • Apache Software Foundation
  • The Linux Foundation
  • Software Freedom Conservancy
  • Mozilla Foundation
  • Eclipse Foundation

Free Software Foundation

Free Software Foundation (FSF) is the earliest FOSS foundation, and was founded in 1985.

GNU’s Not Unix (GNU) Project is part of the FSF.

It usually releases its software under the GNU General Public License (GPL) v3.0 or later.

Most popular GNU Project software is GNU C Compiler (gcc) and GNU Image Manipulation Porgram (GIMP).

Free Software Foundation official website

Apache Software Foundation

Apache Software Foundation (ASF) was founded in 1999.

Among their popular projects are Apache HTTP Server or Apache Hadoop.

It usually releases its software under the Apache License 2.0.

Apache Software Foundation official website

The Linux Foundation

The Linux Foundation (TLF) was established in 2000.

Among their popular projects are the Linux kernel or Node.js.

The Linux Foundation official website

Cloud Native Computer Foundation (CNCF)

Cloud Native Computer Foundation (CNCF) is part of the Linux Foundation.

Some popular projects hosted by CNCF is Kubernetes, Prometheus and Valkey.

It requires that the whole project toolchain (it means, software and tools used to develop software projects) is FOSS.

CNCF promotes that all their projects are licensed under an Apache 2.0 license. You can read about it on this external link.

CNCF official website

OpenSSF

OpenSSF is part of this foundation. You can read more about OpenSSF on this post.

Software Freedom Conservancy

Software Freedom Convervancy, also known as Conservancy, was established in 2006.

It holds projects like Git, Samba or QEMU.

Mozilla Foundation

The Mozilla Foundation was founded in 2003.

Its most popular products are Firefox and Thunderbird.

It usually releases software under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.

Mozilla Foundation official website

Eclipse Foundation

The Eclipse Foundation was founded in 2004 by IBM.

Its most popular product is Eclipse IDE. Their projects are mostly focused on Java development.

It usually releases software under the Eclipse Public License 2.0.

Eclipse Foundation official website

Open Standards Organizations

Open standards organizations:

  • ISO
  • OASIS Open

OASIS Open

The Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) is a nonprofit consortium that focus on open standard and open source.

Among its members there are big corporations.

OASIS official website

List of Single Project FOSS Foundations

FOSS foundations that focus on a single project featured on this post:

  • The Document Foundation
  • Rust Foundation
  • Django Sotware Foundation
  • Python Software Foundation

The Document Foundation

The Document Foundation focuses on the LibreOffice software suite and Document Liberation software.

The Document Foundation official website

Rust Foundation

Rust Foundation focuses on Rust programming language project.

Rust Foundation official website

Django Software Foundation

Django Foundation focuses on Django web framework project.

Django Software Foundation official website

Python Software Foundation

Python Software Foundation (PSF) focuses on Python programming language project.

PSF official website

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External References

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