Munich’s Return to Open Source: Lessons from the LiMux Experiment

Background

In 2003 the Munich city council launched the LiMux project, a custom Ubuntu‑based distribution intended to replace Microsoft Windows on all municipal computers. By 2013 roughly 80 % of the city’s desktops were running LiMux. After about 15 years of operating a Linux‑centric environment, the city announced in 2017 that it would revert to Windows because the Linux solution was deemed unsustainable.

New policy (2024)

The coalition that took office in 2024 issued a joint agreement that, where technically and economically feasible, the city will prioritize open standards and free/open‑source software (FOSS). The policy, valid through 2026, is framed under the principle “public money, public code”: any municipal software that does not handle confidential or personal data must be released as open source. Consequently, Microsoft Windows and Office are slated for replacement with open‑source alternatives.

Criticism and considerations

The decision has attracted criticism because Munich’s earlier switch from Windows to Linux and the subsequent return to Windows involved substantial financial costs and prolonged migration timelines. Observers debate whether the current move is a strategic negotiation lever against Microsoft or a purely political choice.

Code example

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