The following blog is my personal opinion and view on the world and our company.
Open source is more than just code; it’s a philosophy. It’s about openness, honesty, integrity, and sharing in how we work and communicate, even when no one is watching.
The saying “knowledge is power,” often credited to Francis Bacon, captures the heart of it. Humanity progresses when we share our knowledge. From science to medicine to technology, the greatest breakthroughs happen when people build on what others have made freely available.
The same is true in software. Open source powers the internet and much of what we rely on every day, often invisibly. That’s the beauty of it.
The paradox of control
In one sense, open source means giving up control. Others can copy, adapt, or even build businesses around our work. That’s not a flaw. It’s the point. The freedom to fork, rework, and improve makes the ecosystem stronger. Shared code builds trust. And when it’s done openly, everyone benefits. But open source isn’t about control, it’s about connection. When you open things up, you invite others in. You give people a chance to take what you’ve built and make it theirs. That might mean they change it, improve it, or take it in a direction you never expected. And that’s okay. That’s how good ideas grow. Openness doesn’t weaken what you build; it strengthens it, because it belongs to more than just you.
Open source also demands integrity. If we talk about openness, we have to live it. That means being transparent with our users, our customers, and each other, even when it’s uncomfortable or costs us a sale. Honesty builds long-term trust. People notice when you’re not being real, and that’s not who we are.
Our open source mission
At Percona, we say:
“We believe an open world is a better world. Our mission is to enable everyone to innovate freely by providing the best open source database software, support, and services.”
That’s not just a slogan. We mean it. We are The Open Source Database Company.
What being truly open source means
Being truly open source means:
- We don’t lock features behind paywalls or “enterprise” editions.
- We don’t mix open source and closed source in a way that confuses or misleads.
- We don’t restrict who can use our software based on their business model or industry.
Instead, we:
- Share our work publicly, by default.
- Communicate openly and honestly, both internally and with the community.
- Contribute back to the ecosystem and the projects we rely on.
Open source is a long-term investment in trust. It’s about playing the infinite game: building relationships, earning respect, and solving hard problems, not just for today, but for the future.
My personal “wish”
My wish is simple, but demanding:
I wish that anyone, anywhere, could use our software and knowledge freely, without fear, friction, or hidden strings attached. That freedom isn’t just nice to have; it’s the core principle.
I want the respect we earn to come not just from our code, but from the integrity of our process. Trust isn’t granted; it’s built. We have to prove ourselves trustworthy through our actions, so that no one ever has to wonder if we truly mean it when we say we’re open.
Because let’s be honest: Open source is not just about writing open code; it means that we live by the open values of honesty, integrity, and sharing.
It’s about making a deliberate, daily choice to prioritize collaboration, honesty, and shared responsibility over our own agendas. That’s the hard part, but that’s the part that truly matters. Let’s hold ourselves accountable to that high standard, because that’s how we ensure we’re building something that lasts.
About the Author
Kai WagnerI'm Kai and I work as a Senior Engineering Manager for PostgreSQL at Percona. I'm passionate about Open Source, transparency and free speech. Actively engaged and a public speaker for many Open Source projects such as Ceph, openATTIC, Linux Kernel and now PostgreSQL. I believe an open world is a better world. Whenever I'm not sitting in front of my computer, I either spent time with the family or work on our house.
