As an entrepreneur and digital problem-solver, I've always believed in autonomy and control over my own data. When I started my web development business, I faced the familiar choice: conform to the dominant Big Tech and SaaS ecosystems, or forge an alternative path. My deeply held belief in the open source philosophy and the value of data ownership quickly led me to the latter.
Armed with the necessary technical knowledge, a good dose of entrepreneurial spirit, and readily available hardware and green energy, I embarked on a journey to run my business entirely on open source software. It proved to be an epiphany, not just from an ideological standpoint, but also practically and financially. I'd love to share my experiences, as I believe this could be an inspiring route for many fellow entrepreneurs.
My Open Source Toolkit: Less Dependency, More Possibilities
The shift from proprietary software to open source alternatives has significantly improved my business operations. I've implemented a suite of solutions that allow me to work efficiently and independently, without compromising on functionality. Here's an overview of the tools I use daily, replacing common Big Tech solutions:
- Nextcloud as a replacement for the Google/Microsoft ecosystem: This allows me to sync files, manage calendars, and collaborate, all on my own servers. Full control over my data is completely guaranteed.
- Penpot instead of Figma: For my design work, Penpot offers a powerful and flexible alternative, with all the functionalities I need for my UI/UX designs.
- SuiteCRM replacing Salesforge: A robust CRM system that is fully customizable to my specific needs for customer relationship management.
- GitLab instead of GitHub: For version control of my code and project management, GitLab provides a comprehensive suite of tools, from CI/CD to issue tracking.
- OpenProject instead of Jira/Atlassian: For complex project management and team planning, OpenProject offers a clear and powerful solution.
- Satis as an alternative to Packagist: For managing Composer packages within my projects, giving me more control and flexibility.
- LocalAI: A powerful open-source alternative to Gemini/ChatGPT that enables running advanced AI models locally, offering full control over data and privacy without relying on external API's.
- Linux Gnome Desktop instead of Windows: My daily work environment is based on Linux, providing me with a stable, secure, and customizable operating system.
- Paperless-ngx replacing Docfield: For digitizing and organizing my documents, significantly reducing paper flow and speeding up information retrieval.
This selection proves that for almost every commercial solution, a powerful and often superior open source alternative exists. And should self-hosting be a bridge too far, many of these open source projects also offer SaaS solutions, run by companies that embrace the open source philosophy. This way, an entrepreneur can still benefit from the advantages without the initial investment in hardware and management.
What the Future Holds: Optimization and New Opportunities
My journey with open source is a continuous process of discovery and optimization. One of my next steps is to implement Nextcloud Talk for client communication. This offers an integrated solution within my existing Nextcloud environment, streamlining communication and further reducing my reliance on external services.
Additionally, I'm still looking for a good open source accounting package that seamlessly integrates with my workflow and Dutch regulations. I'm confident there's a solution that aligns with my vision of independence and efficiency.
Share Your Experiences!
I hope my experiences inspire other entrepreneurs to explore the possibilities of open source software. It might be a path that takes some getting used to, but the long-term benefits, such as cost savings, greater control, and innovative freedom, are absolutely worth it.
What non-Big Tech software do you use as a freelancer or entrepreneur in your daily practice? I'm curious about your solutions and insights!