Open source first

Public money, public code. There have been a few initiatives where the government needed software, contracted a company to build it, but as open source software, so that it could be vetted and improved by others. One example is the corona app in NL. This lead to good quality software, great external contributions, and a grip on costs.

Open source will ensure continuity, as it will be easier for other entities to build features or fix bugs in code that is already publicly available.

This will result in scrutiny, less waste, and attract software talent that typically wouldn’t find its way into the Cap Gemini’s of our world typically tasked to build it. Where sometimes hundreds of millions of tax payers’ euros are spent, to sometimes, no avail.

Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and open source should be the default option when public money is used.

When closed source is chosen, there should be an open source record of the reasons why, they money spent, the deliverables, timeframe, changes to these as the project progresses, and the people responsible at each step.

If you want to be paid with public money the public deserves to know what they get for that in return.