Open Matters Podcast

Collabora Productivity

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

Episodes

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

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

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

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

    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

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