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France's "software bundle" isn't brand-new code—it's a carefully curated stack of existing, mature free and open-source software (FOSS) being integrated and supported at national and municipal levels.

LYON EXAMPLE (June 2025):
Lyon—France's 3rd largest city with 10,000 government employees—is replacing Microsoft's entire stack with proven FOSS:
• Windows → Linux (Ubuntu-based)
• Microsoft Office → OnlyOffice (AGPL license, developed by Latvian firm Ascensio)
• SQL Server → PostgreSQL
• Microsoft 365 → Territoire Numérique Ouvert (TNO) collaboration platform

NATIONAL LEVEL - "La Suite numérique":
France's national digital suite assembles existing open components:
• Tchap: Matrix-based secure messaging (600,000+ public agents using it)
• Grist: Collaborative spreadsheets/databases (Apache 2.0)
• Docs: Real-time collaborative editing (built on BlockNote, developed with Germany)
• Meet: Video conferencing (LiveKit)
• Webinaire: Webinar platform (BigBlueButton)

All hosted in France, all open standards, single sign-on via ProConnect.

Lyon details:

https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/open-source-observatory-osor/news/municipality-lyon-moves-towards-open-source

La Suite:
https://lasuite.numerique.gouv.fr/en

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Work with LaSuite

LaSuite brings all agents and professionals together in the public sphere

Interoperable Europe Portal

The municipality of Lyon moves towards open source

The municipality of Lyon announced two important measures to move away from the proprietary Microsoft Office package: Territoire Numérique Ouvert collaborative platform, and replace Microsoft solutions with OnlyOffice, Linux and PostgreSQL databases.

R. P. Scott

@i47i@hachyderm.io replied · 3 days ago

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THE PROVEN TRACK RECORD:

France isn't experimenting—they've been doing this successfully for 20 years. The French Gendarmerie (national police, 100,000+ employees) pioneered this approach:

TIMELINE:
• 2005: Migrated from MS Office to OpenOffice
• 2008: Started Ubuntu desktop deployment (GendBuntu)
• 2014: Majority migration complete
• 2024: 97% of workstations running Linux (103,164 computers!)

FINANCIAL IMPACT:
• €2 million/year in licensing cost savings
• Additional savings from eliminating 4,500 servers
• Total 2004-2008: ~€50 million saved

STRATEGIC INVESTMENT:
In October 2025, France became the FIRST national government to officially partner with the Matrix Foundation—not just using it, but funding its development and participating in strategic decisions. This ensures the protocol evolves to meet European government needs.

So when we say France is "building bundles," they're really packaging, hardening, and supporting mature upstream FOSS (Linux, PostgreSQL, Matrix, etc.) with French hosting, governance, and integration—not reinventing everything from scratch.

GendBuntu: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GendBuntu

Gendarmerie case study: https://canonical.com/blog/la-gendarmerie-nationale-upgrades-85000-pcs-to-ubuntu-desktop-edition

#Matrix
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GendBuntu - Wikipedia

R. P. Scott

@i47i@hachyderm.io replied · 3 days ago

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HOW EASY IS IT TO MOVE FROM MICROSOFT?

TECHNICALLY: Very feasible. Strong FOSS alternatives exist for everything:
Windows → Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora)

Office → OnlyOffice, LibreOffice

Exchange/Teams → Matrix/Element, Nextcloud

SQL Server → PostgreSQL, MariaDB

Benefits: No per-seat licenses, data sovereignty, transparent security, longer hardware life, no forced obsolescence.

THE REAL CHALLENGE: Organizational, not technical

Legacy Windows-only apps & VBA macros (need rewriting or VMs)

User retraining & change management (people lose muscle memory)

Political will & leadership commitment (critical!)

External partner expectations (.docx, Outlook, Teams)

SUCCESS FACTORS (proven by Lyon & Gendarmerie):
• Strong political backing at highest levels
• Adequate budget & realistic timeline
• Comprehensive training programs
• Willingness to maintain hybrid systems during transition
• Local/regional procurement (Lyon: 100% French contractors)

CURRENT MOMENTUM:
Denmark, Germany (Schleswig-Holstein), Netherlands, Italy, and Slovenia are all pursuing similar digital sovereignty initiatives through FOSS

Bottom line: #France proves that digital sovereignty through open source works at massive scale (103K+ workstations). They're not reinventing wheels—they're making smart use of mature, proven technology with European hosting and governance.

Lyon Register article: https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/26/lyon_leaving_microsoft/

#OpenSource #DigitalSovereignty #Linux #FOSS #France #Lyon #PublicSector #Ubuntu #Matrix #GendBuntu #Europe #Microsoft

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French city of Lyon ditching Microsoft for FOSS

: Ingredients of future software salade Lyonnaise will include Linux, PostgreSQL, and OnlyOffice

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