Open Source Digital Signage: What the License Doesn't Tell You

The article examines how 'open source' labels in digital signage can be misleading, arguing that architecture—self-hosting capability, player/CMS separation, open standards like SMIL, and deployment model—matters more than the license itself. Six platforms (GarlicSignage, Screenly Anthias, Concerto, Xibo, DigitalSignage.com, signageOS) are compared against these criteria, revealing that several publish open source code while keeping core functionality tied to proprietary services. The author, who develops GarlicSignage, emphasizes evaluating whether you truly own the infrastructure before committing to a platform at scale.