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Code & Deliverynoun · /ˈɪnərsɔːrs/

innersource

In simple English

Innersource applies the principles of open source development to internal company projects. Instead of keeping code siloed within teams, companies using innersource make internal code repositories, documentation, and contribution processes open to all employees. This approach breaks down departmental walls and allows engineers from different teams to contribute to, review, and improve each other's code. In practice, innersource means that if Team A needs a feature or fix, they can directly contribute to Team B's project rather than requesting it formally or rewriting code themselves. This increases code reuse, reduces duplication, and speeds up development. Many large tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and Spotify use innersource strategies to improve collaboration and efficiency. The key difference from traditional internal development is transparency and democratic contribution. Anyone in the company can propose changes, review code, and participate in decisions about internal projects, similar to how open source communities work.

Understand how companies use open source practices internally to improve collaboration and code sharing among teams.

At a glanceCEFR C1
Commonness3/5
Versatility3/5
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK
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Say it like this

✓We are moving towards an innersource model
✓Let us innersource this project to increase collaboration
✓The innersource initiative has improved our development velocity

Real examples

in a standup

"Instead of waiting for the infrastructure team, we decided to innersource the logging library so other teams can contribute directly."

in a code review

"This pull request is a great example of innersource collaboration between the frontend and backend teams."

in a team meeting

"Management wants us to adopt innersource principles to reduce code duplication across departments."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Do not confuse innersource with outsourcing. Innersource means using internal teams and resources, while outsourcing means hiring external companies.

✕We outsourced the authentication system through innersource.
✓We innersourced the authentication system by opening it to contributions from other internal teams.— Innersource is about using internal resources, not hiring external companies. Outsource means using external companies.
✕Innersource means everyone can use our code without permission.
✓Innersource means everyone in the company can contribute to and use our code through a transparent process.— Innersource still requires governance, code review, and approval processes. It is not completely open without rules.
✕We innersourced that problem to another team.
✓We opened that project to innersource contributions from other teams.— Innersource is about opening projects to collaboration, not delegating work to other teams.

Other forms

noun

innersource

"Innersource is becoming more popular in large organizations."

verb

to innersource

"We plan to innersource our database library next quarter."

adjective

innersource

"The innersource approach has reduced development time significantly."

Often used with

innersource modelThe organizational approach or framework for innersource development
innersource projectA specific internal project opened to contributions from multiple teams
innersource initiativeA company-wide program or effort to implement innersource practices
adopt innersourceTo start using innersource practices in an organization
innersource collaborationWorking together across teams using innersource methods

Similar words

internal open sourceMore descriptive phrase with the same meaning; less commonly used
cross-team collaborationBroader term that does not specifically refer to the open source methodology
collaborative developmentGeneral term for shared development; lacks the structured methodology aspect

Opposites

outsourcesiloclosed development

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. You want to encourage teams to share code more openly. Which sentence is most natural?

Complete the sentence

2. The company decided to _______ the authentication module to encourage contributions from all engineering teams.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses innersource incorrectly?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this using the term innersource: 'We want to let people from different teams work together on the same code in a way similar to how open source projects work internally.'

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "innersource" in a standup this week?

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