Comment on the switch to open source: Look to Schleswig-Holstein!

A serious data protection mishap during mailbox migration, load problems with mail servers, poor involvement of trade unions and employees: the Schleswig-Holstein state administration's switch from Microsoft to open source has been bumpy. While many employees are struggling with software problems and are forced to work overtime, the state chancellery is sticking to its schedule. The digital minister responsible, Dirk Schrödter (CDU), tried to motivate the team with the clumsy statement that "you don't learn to ride a bike by watching".

It would be easy to pour scorn on Schrödter now. But problems are normal w ith a software changeover, and most things w ill presumably be ironed out. With a little distance, you have to recognise this: The minister has made a decisive contribution to Germany's digital sovereignty.

An opinion by Christian Wölbert

Christian Wölbert writes for c't about IT policy, e-government, consumer protection and environmental issues.

Against old convictions

After various failed open source initiatives, such as those in Munich and Lower Saxony, a mantra had become entrenched in the minds of German politicians and heads of authorities: "No experiments, better to play it safe with Microsoft!"

Schrödter has demystified this mantra. Schleswig-Holstein shows that open source is a viable alternative for the administration. This is of great value at a time when there is a lot of talk about digital sovereignty, but often the opposite is still being done. And at a time when US policy is becoming increasingly unpredictable.

To be fair, Schrödter did not invent Schleswig-Holstein's open source strategy, but inherited it from his predecessor Jan-Philipp Albrecht (Greens). But he pushed it forward with a lot of energy and political capital. And he did so at a time when few expected Trump to return. Moreover, open source was viewed with scepticism, especially in Schrödter's party, the CDU.

Now more and more federal states and authorities are showing themselves to be open to open source. Attitudes are also changing within the CDU. CDU member of the Bundestag Ralph Brinkhaus praises Schleswig-Holstein's pioneering work, while CDU Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger is testing the open source openDesk in his ministry. All of this is not only due to the fear of Trump's kill switch, it is also thanks to Schrödter.

(cwo)