The Business of Open Source cover image

The Business of Open Source

Open source companies' reputation problem with Chris Holmes

Oct 9, 2024
Chris Holmes, co-founder and CEO of Greymatter, dives into the intricate landscape of open source and its reputation issues. He discusses why Greymatter doesn’t identify as an open source company despite its involvement in the ecosystem. Holmes addresses customer anxieties over hidden costs tied to enterprise software, the financial sustainability of open source, and contrasts selling to governments versus enterprises. He also shares insights on maintaining the Go Envoy Control Plane and the vital role of transparency in building trust within the tech community.
44:25

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Chris Holmes emphasizes that Greymatter maintains transparency by integrating software without compromising open-source components, thereby addressing customer concerns about costs and dependencies.
  • The discussion highlights how understanding governmental procurement processes can facilitate stronger relationships for companies like Greymatter in securing long-term contracts within the defense sector.

Deep dives

Introduction to Gray Matter

Gray Matter is a service connectivity layer focused on zero trust cybersecurity, designed to support hybrid cloud environments, 5G architectures, and edge computing. Founded in 2015, the company emerged during a time when U.S. intelligence and defense agencies were beginning to adopt cloud software. Chris Holmes, the CEO, emphasized the necessity of managing hybrid environments as an ongoing reality, recognizing that transitioning to a fully cloud-based model was not feasible for all organizations. Their unique approach combines insights from existing frameworks to create a robust service mesh solution that accommodates the complex needs of their clients.

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