Open Matters Podcast

Collabora Productivity

5.0 (1)
TECHNOLOGY
UPDATED MONTHLY

Exploring open-source, digital standards, and why openness matters

FEB 2

"If It Has a CPU, We Can Run It" - How Collabora Online Escaped the Browser

In this episode of Open Matters, Richard Brock speaks with Thorsten Behrens, Tor Lillqvist & Jan Holesovsky – the three principal engineers behind the new Collabora Office release, about what it really means to move a complex application from the browser to the desktop. They explain how Collabora Online has been transformed into a native desktop app that runs entirely locally while preserving the same user interface and architecture, and why this approach is fundamentally different from simply wrapping a web app. The conversation explores the technical and conceptual challenges of cross-platform software, the limitations of browser environments, lessons learned from earlier mobile ports, and the importance of reusing a shared core across web, desktop, and mobile. Along the way, the engineers reflect on portability, performance, security, and developer experience, revealing why building truly cross-platform software in many cases is difficult – and how they succeeded. Subscribe for more discussions on open-source tech!iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/open-matters-podcast/id1807042369Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4frqRzV9DsAC0HfJ3ewaeDRSS: https://www.collaboraonline.com/feed/mp3/ The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Collabora Productivity or its affiliates. The content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered official guidance or fact-checked technical documentation. The post “If It Has a CPU, We Can Run It” – How Collabora Online Escaped the Browser appeared first on Collabora Online and Collabora Office.

27 min
JAN 5

8.5% of Americans Self-Host — The Numbers (and Risks) We Didn’t Have Before

8.5% of the U.S. population self-hosts at least one internet-facing service — from websites and file storage to smart home tools and password syncing. But what motivates people to do it… and what risks come with it? In this episode of Open Matters, Dr. Lea Gröber (ICSI Berkeley) joins us to unpack the latest research on self-hosting, digital sovereignty, and the real-world security challenges of running services from home. We also ask the uncomfortable question: are we romanticising “sovereignty” while ignoring security risks — and is self-hosting a bad idea for most people? Subscribe for more discussions on open-source tech!iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/open-matters-podcast/id1807042369Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4frqRzV9DsAC0HfJ3ewaeDRSS: https://www.collaboraonline.com/feed/mp3/ The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Collabora Productivity or its affiliates. The content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered official guidance or fact-checked technical documentation. The post 8.5% of Americans Self-Host — The Numbers (and Risks) We Didn’t Have Before appeared first on Collabora Online and Collabora Office.

19 min
12/01/2025

Open Source for Citizens: Denmark’s Bold Experiment

Denmark tried to legislate open source and Big Tech pushed back hard. Nearly 20 years later, open-source solutions are running citizen services in municipalities across the country and even powering the tax authority in Greenland. In this episode, Magenta CEO Morten Kjærsgaard explains Denmark’s “first wave” and “second wave” of open-source adoption, and how open-source companies across Europe are now working together to build truly sovereign public-sector technology. Subscribe for more discussions on open-source tech!iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/open-matters-podcast/id1807042369Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4frqRzV9DsAC0HfJ3ewaeDRSS: https://www.collaboraonline.com/feed/mp3/ The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Collabora Productivity or its affiliates. The content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered official guidance or fact-checked technical documentation. The post Open Source for Citizens: Denmark’s Bold Experiment appeared first on Collabora Online and Collabora Office.

26 min
11/03/2025

Why Pay for 'Free' Software?

Open source is “free”—so why do serious teams pay for it? In this episode, Eloy Crespo breaks down the real value behind paid open-source offerings: support, SLAs, performance, security, compliance, integrations, and long-term sustainability. We cover: “Free as in beer” vs. “free as in freedom”—what businesses actually buy Why support, SLAs, and accountability matter at scale Interoperability, open standards, and avoiding vendor lock-in Real-world examples of starting “free” and moving to paid How open source stays sustainable (and why it needs funding) If you’ve ever asked or been asked “why pay for free software?”, this is your answer. Subscribe for more discussions on open-source tech!iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/open-matters-podcast/id1807042369Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4frqRzV9DsAC0HfJ3ewaeDRSS: https://www.collaboraonline.com/feed/mp3/ The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Collabora Productivity or its affiliates. The content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered official guidance or fact-checked technical documentation. The post Why Pay for ‘Free’ Software? appeared first on Collabora Online and Collabora Office.

21 min
10/03/2025

Why The Netherlands are Leading the Open Source Movement

“True digital sovereignty can only exist when you combine open source and open standards. Full stop.” The Dutch are known for building dikes and canals — but these days they’re also building digital sovereignty. In this episode, we sit down with Fabrice Mous (Nextcloud) to explore why the Netherlands is becoming one of Europe’s open source hotspots. From national IT policy shifts to real-world adoption in ministries and municipalities, this is a tour of how openness is reshaping government, collaboration, and trust. Subscribe for more discussions on open-source tech! iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/open-matters-podcast/id1807042369 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4frqRzV9DsAC0HfJ3ewaeD RSS: https://www.collaboraonline.com/feed/mp3/ The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Collabora Productivity or its affiliates. The content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered official guidance or fact-checked technical documentation. The post Why The Netherlands are Leading the Open Source Movement appeared first on Collabora Online and Collabora Office.

21 min
08/29/2025

Print Media vs. Open Source: Lessons in Survival and Sustainability

“Why would you spend £5 on a magazine when you can get that online for free?” What does the decline of print journalism have to do with the future of open source software? In this episode of Open Matters, we’re joined by Neil Mohr, former editor of Linux Format, to explore surprising parallels between the world of magazines and the challenges facing open source today. We talk about: How print journalism lost its business model to the internet — and what that might mean for open source. Paywalls, ad blockers, affiliate marketing, and the rise of AI “schlop.” Digital sovereignty, open standards like ODF, and why governments are waking up to the value of open infrastructure. Why thriving ecosystems (companies, communities, and contributors) matter more than single-country strategies. If you care about the future of open source, journalism, or how we sustain the digital commons, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more discussions on open-source tech! iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/open-matters-podcast/id1807042369 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4frqRzV9DsAC0HfJ3ewaeD RSS: https://www.collaboraonline.com/feed/mp3/ The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Collabora Productivity or its affiliates. The content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered official guidance or fact-checked technical documentation. The post Print Media vs. Open Source: Lessons in Survival and Sustainability appeared first on Collabora Online and Collabora Office.

16 min
08/04/2025

Digital Sovereignty or Digital Colony? A Wake-Up Call for Europe

“Without radical measures to reduce dependency on digital monopolies, the digital future of Germany and Europe is lost.” —Prof. Dr. Harald Wehnes In this episode of Open Matters, we speak with Prof. Dr. Harald Wehnes, Chair of Computer Science at the University of Würzburg and spokesperson for the German Informatics Society’s Working Group on Digital Sovereignty. Prof. Wehnes shares his perspective on: What digital sovereignty actually means Why he believes Europe is becoming a “digital colony” The danger of “sovereignty washing” and surface-level fixes What governments must do to protect public infrastructure, data, and trust This is a no-holds-barred conversation on the digital crossroads facing Germany, the EU, and the world as a whole. Are these warnings alarmist—or overdue? You decide. Subscribe for more discussions on open-source tech! iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/open-matters-podcast/id1807042369 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4frqRzV9DsAC0HfJ3ewaeD RSS: https://www.collaboraonline.com/feed/mp3/ The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Collabora Productivity or its affiliates. The content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered official guidance or fact-checked technical documentation. The post Digital Sovereignty or Digital Colony? A Wake-Up Call for Europe appeared first on Collabora Online and Collabora Office.

14 min
07/07/2025

What Makes Software Sovereign? (Hint: It's Not Where It's Made)

“Proprietary software can be just as big a liability to digital sovereignty when it’s produced in Germany as big tech from the US.” Miriam Seyffarth from the Open Source Business Alliance joins us to make the case that true sovereignty isn’t about where software is ‘made’ – it’s about how it’s sourced, licensed, and maintained. From flawed procurement practices to the promise of Germany’s new digital ministry, this episode is a deep dive into what it takes to bring sovereignty to the public sector. Miriam Seyffarth is the political communications lead at the Open Source Business Alliance. With a background in politics, diplomacy, and digital activism, Miriam shares her journey into the open source world and the realities of pushing for digital sovereignty in Germany and across the EU. We explore: Why open source procurement is broken – and how to fix it The risk of “freeloaders” in public tenders How lobbying reshaped the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act Germany’s new Ministry for Digital Transformation The vision for 100% public sector open source by 2035 Subscribe for more discussions on open-source tech!iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/open-matters-podcast/id1807042369Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4frqRzV9DsAC0HfJ3ewaeDRSS: https://www.collaboraonline.com/feed/mp3/ The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Collabora Productivity or its affiliates. The content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered official guidance or fact-checked technical documentation. The post What Makes Software Sovereign? (Hint: It’s Not Where It’s Made) appeared first on Collabora Online and Collabora Office.

26 min
06/02/2025

Containers Explained: How Modern Software Sails!

Welcome to Open Matters, the podcast on open-source matters – because openness matters! What do shipping containers have to do with software? A lot more than you’d think. In this episode of Open Matters, we’re joined by Ash Nakashian—software engineer and long-time Collabora contributor—to explore containers in software architecture.We unpack the shift from monolithic systems to containerized applications, why this change matters, and how it helps engineers build more resilient, scalable, and maintainable systems. If you’ve ever wondered what Docker actually does—or just want to understand modern software infrastructure without getting lost in the jargon—this episode is for you! Subscribe for more discussions on open-source tech! RSS: https://www.collaboraonline.com/feed/mp3/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4frqRzV9DsAC0HfJ3ewaeD iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/open-matters-podcast/id1807042369 The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Collabora Productivity or its affiliates. The content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered official guidance or fact-checked technical documentation. The post Containers Explained: How Modern Software Sails! appeared first on Collabora Online and Collabora Office.

14 min
05/05/2025

Cut Copy Chaos?

Welcome to Open Matters, the podcast on open-source matters – because openness matters! Think copy and paste is simple? Think again. In this episode of Open Matters, we’re joined by Miklos Vajna—open-source veteran and Collabora Online engineer—to uncover the messy, fascinating world of clipboard behaviour in and out of browsers. From browser quirks to surprising security concerns, and why pasting from Google Sheets used to break your spreadsheets, we dive into what it takes to make Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V just work. If you’ve ever copied a password, a table, or an emoji—this episode is for you. Subscribe for more discussions on open-source tech! RSS: https://www.collaboraonline.com/feed/mp3/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4frqRzV9DsAC0HfJ3ewaeD iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/open-matters-podcast/id1807042369 The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Collabora Productivity or its affiliates. The content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered official guidance or fact-checked technical documentation. The post Cut Copy Chaos? appeared first on Collabora Online and Collabora Office.

16 min
04/04/2025

What is a Document?

In our very first episode, we’re joined by Michael Meeks – Collabora Productivity CEO, and co-founder and former director of The Document Foundation as we crack open a seemingly simple question: What is a document? From the plain-text world of .TXT to the binary proprietary stronghold of .DOC, or the open, structured beauty of .XML, we explore how digital documents have evolved and why open standards are more important now than ever. Welcome to Open Matters, the podcast on open-source matters – because being open matters! In this episode, we cover: How documents started and where they are today Some of the differences between .TXT, .DOC, .RTF… Why open formats like .ODT and .XML matter for the future of tech What makes a document truly open Join us as we explore the past, present, and future of digital files! Subscribe for more discussions on open-source tech! RSS: https://www.collaboraonline.com/feed/…iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast… Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4frqRzV… The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Collabora Productivity or its affiliates. The content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered official guidance or fact-checked technical documentation. The post What is a Document? appeared first on Collabora Online and Collabora Office.

22 min

11 Episodes

Extremely Edcutional

05/23/2025

MrBeastFan472

This podcast has been an excellent resource for learning how different document formats like .odt, .ods, .xml, .docx, ect.. work. I hope to hear more future episodes. I would be grateful with gratitude if this podcast outlast the average 8 week podcast lifespan.

Exploring open-source, digital standards, and why openness matters

Creator

Collabora Productivity
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

11
Rating

Clean
Show Website

Open Matters Podcast