Earlier, I wrote that there isn’t just one type of cloud; it ranges from renting out servers to fully managed office software as a service. One relevant type of cloud use is what’s informally called “cloud-native.” I wrote in that earlier page that a “cloud-native developer” does not work based on servers. If you rent out virtual servers and call yourself a cloud company, a cloud-native developer won’t understand you at all.| Bert Hubert's writings
The very short version: It has now become clear that European governments can no longer rely on American clouds, and that we lack good and comprehensive alternatives. Market forces have failed to deliver a truly European cloud, and businesses won’t naturally buy as yet unproven cloud services, even when adorned with a beautiful European 🇪🇺 flag, so for now nothing will happen. This means it’s time for industrial policy, which requires politics to be proficient in “industry.| Bert Hubert's writings
We have extensive discussions about our enormous dependence on American clouds, but what exactly are we talking about? And is Europe equally dependent on all types of cloud? This article is aimed at policy makers, but it may also provide some clarity about the broader landscape to actual cloud users. There is also a Dutch version of this page. Cloud in Shapes and Sizes Public cloud, private cloud, IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, IaC, CaaS – what do all these terms mean?| Bert Hubert's writings
Onze samenleving en overheid draaien inmiddels grotendeels op Amerikaanse big-tech platformen. Velen van ons willen dat dit minder wordt, of zelfs ophoudt. Iedereen in de tech scene hier in Europa is vol van goede wil er wat aan te doen, maar het gaat toch vaak mis. Van nature willen we leuke open en federated en standaardgebaseerde dingen bouwen. Maar dat is niet genoeg, dat is niet waar de wereld (direct) op zit te wachten.| Bert Hubert's writings
“Be even more suspicious […] of all those who employ the term ‘we’ or ‘us’ without your permission. This is another form of surreptitious conscription, designed to suggest that ‘we’ are all agreed on ‘our’ interests and identity. […] Always ask who this ‘we’ is” – Christopher Hitchens in Letters to a Young Contrarian. It is so easy to write “Europe must invest more in AI”, but it is a red flag that reveals sloppy thinking on two levels.| Bert Hubert's writings
Er is recent veel discussie over digitale autonomie, en Europa’s “positie in de cloud”. Maandag 8 juli vanaf 14:00 is er een event “Digitale soevereiniteit: zin of onzin” bij Instituut Clingendael. Dit is (na inschrijving) ook online bij te wonen. Corinne Cath (TU Delft), Martijn Lucassen (Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat), Paul Brand (Stratix), Diana Krieger (Soverin) en ik zitten daar in een panel onder leiding van Ruben Brave (Internet Society) en Maaike Okano-Heijmans...| Bert Hubert's writings
Dit is een licht verbeterde versie van mijn praatje op 7 juni op de Public Spaces conferentie in Amsterdam, en ik wil de organisatie graag bedanken voor hun uitnodiging, en het publiek voor de goede vragen & reacties zelfs al tijdens het praatje. Vind de oorspronkelijke slides met notities hier. Of, voor wie zin heeft, hier is de oorspronkelijke video. Nou, wat fijn dat jullie er allemaal zijn. Ik heb misschien een wat ander, minder technisch verhaal dan vele mensen die mij voorgingen hier.| Bert Hubert's writings
This article is part of a series on (European) innovation and capabilities. The very short version: All of computing is moving to the cloud at a rapid pace, including (government) parts you might want to keep under your own control Europe has no relevant ‘hyperscaler’ cloud providers at all, and there is a desire to change this by policy means Competing with the IKEA-concept is nearly impossible. Offering IKEA-like products but then with a smaller range is not an attractive proposition.| Bert Hubert's writings
This article is part of a series on (European) innovation and capabilities. Periodically I read about governments or institutions wanting to stimulate innovation, often to achieve a certain (worthy) goal. Frequently, the far larger amounts of money that other countries or continents are spending on innovation are then bandied about as justification. And I die a little inside every time that happens. Money and innovation have a very intricate relation.| Bert Hubert's writings