As we move further into 2025, open source software remains deeply embedded in the technological foundation of organizations worldwide. But while adoption continues to grow, the latest data suggests a complex and at times contradictory landscape—one where cost-saving dreams often run headlong into operational realities.
The latest edition of the 2025 State of Open Source report—published by OpenLogic in collaboration with the Open Source Initiative and the Eclipse Foundation—takes a detailed look at how open source is being used today, and what challenges lie ahead. Based on responses from over 430 professionals across industries and continents, the report reveals a community that’s expanding rapidly, but not without tension.
Uptake Is Widespread—But Not Without Gaps
According to the survey, an impressive 96% of organizations use open source software in some capacity. That’s not surprising, given the widespread push for cloud-native architectures, containerized environments, and flexible, cost-effective infrastructure. In fact, between one-quarter and one-third of surveyed organizations reported not just using FOSS (Free and Open Source Software), but actively increasing their dependence on it in the past year.
Cost reduction remains the leading motivation, followed closely by desires to avoid vendor lock-in, increase interoperability, and leverage mature community-driven technology. But while the intentions are clear, execution often proves more difficult.
The CentOS Conundrum
One of the report’s more eyebrow-raising findings is the lingering reliance on CentOS Linux, despite all versions now being officially end-of-life. Among large enterprises, nearly 40% still use CentOS, and a full quarter of all users admitted they have no idea what their migration path will be. The most commonly cited reason? Lack of skills.
This paints a troubling picture: organizations drawn to open source for its flexibility are now bogged down by technical debt and a skills gap that slows modernization. Meanwhile, newer CentOS alternatives—such as AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, or even CentOS Stream—have yet to gain dominant traction.
Distro Landscape in 2025
While CentOS still lingers, the most widely used distributions remain Ubuntu and Debian:
| Distribution | Usage % | Adoption by Large Enterprises |
| Ubuntu | 58% | Yes |
| Debian | 30% | Yes |
| CentOS | 25% | 40% |
| RHEL | 14% | 30% |
| Others | 10% | Varied |
The JavaScript Legacy Trap
Beyond the operating system layer, the report also examines the application stack—and here too are some worrying signs. While JavaScript continues to dominate, nearly 15% of respondents still use Angular.js (v1), a framework that officially reached end-of-life in 2022. One in three large organizations is still relying on this unsupported codebase, highlighting just how difficult it can be to modernize enterprise stacks built years ago with FOSS tools.
The Support Paradox
Many organizations turn to open source seeking freedom from costly licensing and opaque vendor contracts. Ironically, however, more than a quarter of respondents now rely on 20 or more vendors for support, patches, or integrations. In other words, staying current has become a full-time challenge—one that few anticipated when adopting open source for its “lower total cost.”
A Mixed Future
Open source is undeniably thriving. But this year’s findings are a reminder that growth doesn’t always come without friction. From outdated tools and unsupported platforms to training gaps and vendor overload, today’s organizations are realizing that the open source journey doesn’t end with deployment—it demands ongoing investment in skills, support, and strategy.
At RELIANOID, we’ve spent years helping teams navigate this complex terrain. Whether you’re modernizing legacy infrastructure, evaluating distro migrations, or trying to make sense of a tangled vendor landscape, our experts are here to guide you—every step of the way.
Open source is powerful. Let’s make it sustainable.
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