The History of OpenSearch (Now Part of The Linux Foundation) #OpenSource #KubeCon #Podcast #Shorts

Key Concepts:

• OpenSearch: An open-source search and analytics suite.
• Linux Foundation: A non-profit technology consortium that fosters open-source projects.
• Managed Service Provider: A company that provides and manages IT services for other businesses.
• Licensing Change: A modification to the terms under which software can be used, often impacting commercial viability.
• Open Source Movement: A collaborative approach to software development that emphasizes free access to source code.
• Open Search Foundation: The organization within the Linux Foundation that governs the OpenSearch project.

History and Transition of OpenSearch

The speaker discusses their company's long-standing involvement with OpenSearch, noting they were the first managed service provider to offer services based on Elasticsearch outside of AWS. A pivotal moment occurred when a licensing change prompted their customers and users to migrate to OpenSearch. This transition happened in April 2021, and by November 2021, they were offering a managed service for OpenSearch.

Evolution and Community Growth

The speaker highlights the evolution of OpenSearch from a company-led project to one governed by the Linux Foundation under the Open Search Foundation. This shift has fostered increased community contributions.

Adoption and Growth Statistics

The speaker mentions that OpenSearch has surpassed 700 million downloads. Furthermore, year-over-year download growth has increased by 56% since the Open Search Foundation was established. This statistic indicates that the project is gaining momentum.

Conclusion

The main takeaway is that OpenSearch has experienced significant growth and adoption, particularly after transitioning to the Linux Foundation. The project's open-source nature and community-driven development are contributing to its increasing popularity and usage.