Open Source Software: A Comedy of Errors and Security Risks
A new report by the Linux Foundation highlights significant security risks in open source software practices. These include reliance on outdated Python 2, non-standardized software naming, and dependence on a few contributors. Meanwhile, Rust adoption is soaring, marking progress in memory-safe programming.
Hot Take:
Open source software: It’s like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get. Sometimes it’s a sweet security patch, and other times it’s a stale piece of outdated code that leaves a bitter taste in your cybersecurity mouth.
Key Points:
- The CENSUS III project by Linux Foundation, OpenSSF, and Harvard University reports ongoing security risks in open source software practices.
- Python 2 is still surprisingly popular, even though it’s as outdated as a flip phone at a smartphone convention.
- The open source ecosystem relies on a handful of contributors, like a small-town newspaper with only one reporter.
- Legacy software sticks around longer than a bad smell, posing significant risks.
- Rust adoption is surging, proving that developers are finally embracing memory-safe programming.
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