2026-02-12 –, RoboCon
Like every open source tool Robot Framework is sometimes hard to fit in common corporate tool evaluations. There is no company behind it offering enterprise support. Even if governance for Robot Framework core may be achievable, the tool does not exist solely, but requires ecosystem projects that are entirely free.
In this talk, Markus is going to show ways how to mitigate the risks of adopting a free open source tool, how open source tool providers can improve governance of their prjects and how companies can contribute in different ways for their own direct benefit.
In recent years, customers of imbus have pushed to open source solutions. RoboSAPiens, KeyTA are tools that have been presented at past Robocons already. Those tools had been funded by 1 customer. A new approach is now that companies join in together funding specific ecosystem projects like PlatynUI or pay a developer to contribute robot framework features like custom settings.
In this talk I would like to show how to deal with a few challenges for open source projects to get through the procurment process of companies and that there are more ways than "sponsorship" and "spend free time" to support Robot Framework. This is supposed to be an inspirational speech showing additional ways for community peers that are willing to convince their employer to invest more in open source and probably need a few suggestions how to do it.
In the end, I would like to use the attention to promote a new open-source or governance workgroup collecting the expertise of the community, establish suggestions for robot framework and ecosystem projects.
Adopting confidently open source tools
Categorize / Tags:experience, inspirational
Is this suitable for ..?: Beginner RF User, Intermediate RF User, Advanced RF User Describe your intended audience:Decision makers and peers of decision makers (devs, testers, consultants...)
In-Person or Online talk/workshop?:in-person
Markus works as a test automation architect at imbus AG, Germany. For 9 years, he is specialized in integrating Robot Framework. Besides being active contributor to community projects, he has been a board member of the Robot Framework Foundation for the past 3 years. Since announcement of CRA in the European Union, he investigates in governance requirements.