Open Source Hardware, OSHW

Since the hardware is directly related to monetary costs, no definition of open source software can be used for hardware without modification.

In the computer industry, the word "open" gained strength and became popular, primarily in terms software of operating systems to applications. Such programs with open source"," for example, Linux received the support of not only self-taught enthusiasts, but also (albeit in declarative form) a number of governments of various countries of the world, including. At Russia the same time, the development of open source hardware platforms was initiated due to the appearance in circuitry of so-called programmable logic devices (for example, microcontrollers), where the logic of the device is described in the form of code in a special language in addition to a traditional circuit diagram. Thus, the hardware of the devices became part of the software.

Market size

2019: Open Server and DSS Sales - $15.7 billion

According to an IDC report published on June 1, 2020, revenue from the sale of hardware solutions included in the Open Compute Project (OCP) initiative, in which companies openly share developments for the construction of data centers, reached $15.7 billion in 2019. Of these, $13.25 billion brought server sales (83.1%) and $2.45 billion (16.9%) - storage systems.

According to analysts, in 2019, the lion's share of sales fell on customers engaged in the construction of medium and large data centers (hyper-scale data centers). At the same time, the main share of sales fell on the members of the OCP consortium themselves.

The market for servers and DSS with open specifications in 2019 was estimated at $15.7 million

IDC expects market growth to slow in 2020. The average annual revenue growth rate for the 5-year period - from 2020 to 2024 - according to analysts' forecasts, will be 16.6%. At the same time, the main growth driver will remain the demand for servers, which will continue to form about 83% of all revenue in the OCP solutions market.

As expected in IDC, by 2024 the market volume will reach $33.8 billion, of which $28.07 billion (83%) will form servers and $5.73 billion (17%) - data storage systems.

It is expected that demand will continue to form mainly OCP members, which will account for 75% of all sales in monetary terms in 2024. At the same time, demand for solutions is expected to increase from non-consortium customers. At the same time, demand from the latter will develop faster - on average by 23.2% annually (against 14.8%).

IDC predicts a significant increase in the volume of generated, transmitted and stored data around the world. Most of this data will flow into and out of the cloud and be stored in hyperscale cloud data centers, thereby driving demand for infrastructure, "commented Cuba Stoliarski, IDC Director of Research for Infrastructure Systems, Platforms and Technology.[1]

2010: Market Size - $200 million

The market size is small - about $200 million per year. Revenues are divided between almost a hundred different companies. For example, the largest company in terms of turnover - SparkFun, has a turnover of $10 million, 90 employees in the state and was founded by students of the University of Colorado. Other firms, of which there are about a dozen, have a turnover of only slightly more than a million dollars.

The products of the companies are concentrated in the field of electronic components and design (kits for assembling devices). Moreover, it is aimed at the end consumer who wants to try his own strength to create some kind of electronic "miracle," useful and not very at home. The main question is, how successfully will these companies be able to create platforms for mass use?

Beautiful theoretical constructions about "openness" and "accessibility" rest on the hard realities of business. First of all, the developers of "open" circuitry, offering access to device modifications using open codes, do not always offer the device for free, but sell the so-called licenses. Some enthusiasts give these licenses freely, but this approach is unacceptable for developers.

The next side of the problem is the uniformity of descriptions. Each of the development companies uses its own version of the language for programming modules - the so-called HDL (Hardware definition Language). And so far there is no universal language that specialists can study if not at school, then at least at the institute, who want to understand the functions and setup of the device, you need to spend a little time learning the HDL version of this company. If the device proposed for implementation is so excellent that there is a desire to immediately start producing it, but the first test samples are inoperable, and production specialists are powerless to deal with the problem, then the development company will readily come to the rescue, but obviously not free.

In addition, development companies prefer to use their own component base, which, following the license, is also proposed to be purchased, forming another source of income for the OSHW industry.

Thus, OSHW devices are not completely "open," but only allow the manufacturer to save some of its costs in developing some commercially suitable product.

Chronicle

2024: The first open source processor for organizing the company's cybersecurity is presented

On February 13, 2024, the OpenTitan Coalition and the nonprofit lowRISC introduced the first commercial open source security microprocessor. The chip can be used in areas such as the Internet of Things and critical infrastructure. Read more here.

Scepticism

Some distrust of open hardware platforms is experienced by both manufacturers and users. For the former, for example, the issue of launching a device into a series can be the problem of uniqueness. If the device is open to everyone, then there is no guarantee that the most dangerous competitor will not launch it into production, and the price for it will not be lower. In addition, the issue of support, warranty and post-warranty service, as well as the implementation of various modifications and improvements in the model remains implicit. Traditional market ties, relationships and product lifetimes are under threat.

It is precisely the ambiguity of the situation in the field of copyright, responsibility and further development that restrains the development of any "open" products - both software and hardware. Despite the prospects and development of Linux, laudatory responses to its capabilities, if not all, the vast majority of large corporations still prefer Microsoft products. Similar trends can be traced to other open source products. Either they are not open enough, or, on the contrary, are unnecessarily open, so that implementation is possible in several versions, or it is easier for the user to use the equipment, knowing who is responsible for its operation.

Today, the campaign to promote "open" hardware so far is more reminiscent of a wide media campaign, where small development firms are trying to grab part of the market from large players, giving away part of the functions for free. The forecast for a billion turnover by 2015 still sounds rather far-fetched, since at the moment this segment is extremely unstable and lives more enthusiastic and rosy forecasts.

History

If you turn to the recent past, you can see that in domestic periodic technical magazines - Radio, Modelist-Constructor, etc. - there are a huge number of descriptions and drawings, including schematic diagrams and constructions of devices from all kinds of spheres of life and life. Radios and tape recorders, timers and sensors, lighting and sound engineering, models and real prototypes. The quality of the descriptions was different, although interesting devices were published in more detail as brochures combined by thematic series (for example, the "Mass Amateur Radio Library"). Since private entrepreneurship was banned, and the component base sold in stores was expensive and extremely limited, in the Soviet Union only talented engineers from defense research institutes could reproduce complex electronic devices. Lighting and sound devices for discos were also semi-legally produced in an artisanal way, but there was no talk of any mass production.

Mass production of high-tech devices gave rise to the era of standardization in the West in the 80s. era of standardization. Any previously closed telecommunication networks, systems and devices were disassembled into separate elements and units, communications and interaction between which - interfaces - were described at a detailed level.

The computer industry was moving faster. Interfaces to various computer blocks have been standardized, and as a result, today any "advanced" student can assemble a productive personal computer from an assortment of various boards and blocks in half a day.

Part of the open hardware development movement began in 2002 after Kofi Annan turned to Silicon Valley. Since the essence of hardware differs from software, and since the concept of open hardware is relatively new, an exact definition of this phenomenon has not been formulated.