When should I use open source software and how do I build on top of it to create the unique and differentiating elements of my business where I am right now? How can open source create community and lead to a wider array of solutions? Sander Mangel, eCommerce Solutions Architect at Shopware, joins this episode to explain the necessity of community in open source. Listen Now!

A Bigger Beneficial Pie* Doing eCommerce has become tremendously complex and that requires not just developers but specialists, analysts, and more discipline than it ever has before * We wouldn’t have the internet if we didn’t have open source * “The actual lineage and the history of these communities goes on to power commerce at its core and whether that's in a commercialized way or not, open source sits at the root of all of this.” - Phillip * The only way to actually leverage open source is to contribute back and be a part of the community * If you’re not sharing that knowledge because you’re worried about IP, or if the whole value of your company relies on a set of features, you're probably doing something wrong * “When you have so many voices, it's easy for vision to splinter, but you have to have {vision} in order to be successful.” - Brian * “If you're measuring the success of your community by the lines of code written, it's never going to work because that's not how community works.” - Sander * “If you run open source software and leverage that in a smart way, in a conscious way, you can make the difference with just a few lines of customization to make sure that it specifically fits your business. That's where the value of open source lies.” - Sander

Associated Links:* Get connected with Shopware * Learn more about Sander Mangel * Listen to our other Step by Step seasons * Archetypes Event December 1 in Miami, FL * Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more of what we are witnessing in the commerce world! * Download VISIONS 2022 NOW! * Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce