Why Open Source Makes Sense For Your Business Web Projects

Keanya Phelps

What Is Open Source?

Open source software is publicly available code that anyone can use, modify, and improve. It’s the foundation of much of the modern internet and it’s trusted by global enterprises, startups, nonprofits, and government agencies alike.

At Caktus Group, we use open source because we believe in transparency, collaboration, and building for the long haul.

Open Source Tools We Use (and Love)

Here are just a few of the tools in our everyday development toolkit:

  • Django – A powerful Python web framework used to build secure, maintainable web apps quickly. We’ve contributed to Django’s core and have used it to build everything from healthcare platforms to large-scale survey systems.
  • Docker – Helps us create lightweight, consistent development and production environments. This makes deployment smoother and less error-prone.
  • Kubernetes – An open source container orchestration platform that automates deployment, scaling and management of applications. It’s ideal for businesses that need flexibility, and cloud-native scalability.
  • Ansible – Automates server setup and application deployment, reducing human error and speeding up time-to-launch.
  • UV – A lightning-fast Python package manager that ensures consistent environments across development, testing, and production. We’re excited about this newer tool that simplifies and secures Python project management.
  • ODK (Open Data Kit) – A suite of open source tools for collecting and managing offline field data. It’s perfect for projects that involve surveys, mobile data collection, or humanitarian work. We’ve used it in international development contexts to create powerful, accessible data collection workflows.
  • Celery – A distributed task queue that helps us run background tasks (like sending emails or processing data) without slowing down your web app. It’s a critical tool for building smooth, scalable, and responsive user experiences.

Why Open Source Matters for Your Business

1. Lower Total Cost of Ownership

Open source tools are free from expensive licensing fees. That means your budget goes into building custom features and not paying for access.

2. Rapid Development, Faster Results

Open source frameworks like Django include built-in components for user authentication, admin panels and database handling. That saves us time, which saves you money.

3. Community-Backed & Battle-Tested

Caktus doesn’t just use open source, we also contribute to it. These tools are constantly improved by developers worldwide, including our own team. That means better security, performance, and reliability for you.

4. Complete Transparency & Flexibility

With open source, there’s no black box. You own the code and can extend it or migrate it as your needs change that means no vendor lock-in.

5. Security You Can See

Open source doesn’t mean unsafe, it means auditable. Security updates happen fast, and many tools (like Django) follow strict security guidelines, including regular patches for known vulnerabilities.

6. Easy to Hire and Scale

Because tools like Django and Kubernetes are industry-standard, it’s easier to find qualified talent if you want to grow your internal team. Plus, the systems we build scale well as your traffic, users, or data grow.

Final Thoughts

Open source isn’t just a trend, it’s a best practice. At Caktus Group, we use open source because it empowers us to deliver custom, scalable, and secure solutions all while keeping your business agile and future-ready.

Whether you’re building your first web app or re-platforming an existing system, open source gives you the freedom, flexibility, and performance you need to succeed.

Partner with the experts in building secure, scalable, and future-ready solutions. Get in touch or book a meeting to see how we can deliver for your business.