Bulgaria's Open Source Journey: A Seven-Year Retrospective
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Chapter 1: The Shift to Open Source
Seven years ago, Bulgaria made a significant decision to embrace open source software. This article revisits the progress made since then and uncovers some intriguing developments.
In 2016, Bulgaria enacted a law mandating public agencies to release all software developed under permissive licenses as open source. Following this announcement, the tech community buzzed with discussions, ranging from excitement from open-source advocates to concerns from those wary of government transparency in software.
It has been a long seven years. The past year alone saw the loss of iconic figures like Prince, David Bowie, and George Michael. On a brighter note, we also celebrated the discovery of Proxima Centauri b, a potentially habitable planet merely four light-years away. Innovations such as recyclable rockets, advanced robotics, and emerging AI technologies have also marked this period.
Despite the monumental advancements in various fields, Bulgaria's commitment to open source stands out. In 2016, the notion of a country fully adopting open source was revolutionary. For context, GitHub had 6 million users that year; by 2022, an additional 20 million users had joined.
Historically, governments predominantly purchased proprietary software, often leaving the public in the dark about its contents. Bulgaria sought to change this narrative. Now, after seven years, we return to the land of Banitsa and Lukanka to assess the outcomes of this groundbreaking initiative.
Section 1.1: Collaboration with Budibase
Among the remarkable collaborations that emerged is the partnership with Budibase. In 2022, amidst the full-scale war in Ukraine, Bulgaria faced an urgent humanitarian situation. Instead of relying on traditional avenues, they reached out to Budibase, known for its open-source platform for developing applications and workflows.
Other notable open-source initiatives include the eDelivery system, which facilitates communication between government entities and citizens. The Bulgarian government has demonstrated a clear commitment to this cause, recently announcing an open-source large language model trained in Bulgarian.
Interestingly, the Ministry of e-Government has a GitHub account featuring 115 published projects. The variety of programming languages utilized, including JavaScript, C#, Java, Kotlin, and PHP, showcases the diversity of open-source efforts. Just two weeks ago, a job board repository was released, likely written in XHTML, serving as a valuable educational resource for understanding government software development.
While the code is accessible, it appears that these repositories may not reflect the active development efforts, as they seem to be mirrors rather than the primary working repositories. This limitation prevents the public from witnessing discussions and contributions from external developers, which would provide further insight into the development process.
Section 1.2: A Bright Future Ahead
Despite these challenges, Bulgaria is well-positioned for the future. One prominent figure in this movement is Bozhidar Bozhanov, a developer who has taken on a governmental role as the head of the Ministry of e-Government. His story is inspiring, not just for the open-source community but also for the intersection of technology and governance.
Bulgaria's GDP has shown impressive growth, rising from 53 to 89 billion USD, and the country is home to a wealth of skilled engineers. Sofia, in particular, has a reputation for fostering scientific talent, significantly contributing to fields like space exploration. Notably, Bulgaria was the first nation to cultivate wheat and vegetables in Earth's orbit.
Chapter 2: Bulgaria's Technological Impact
The first video titled "Ep. 142 - A visit to the Founders of the Bulgarian state monument" offers a deeper insight into Bulgaria's rich history and cu