10 Trillion downloads are crushing open-source repositories

4 hours ago

Open-source repositories handle over 10 trillion downloads annually, straining infrastructure and risking collapse.
Major repositories are forming a working group under the Linux Foundation to address sustainability issues like funding, governance, and security.
A key problem is excessive automated traffic from companies using registries like CDNs, with 82% of demand from 1% of IPs.
Registries are critical to software supply chains, and their failure could impact banks, hospitals, and governments globally.
Sustainability efforts focus on economic models, collective defense against threats, governance frameworks, and educating stakeholders on costs.
Current funding relies on donations, credits, and volunteer efforts, which don't scale with growing demands.
The initiative involves collaboration among multiple foundations and registry leaders to create shared solutions and transparency.

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