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Stop paying $20/month for ChatGPT
Welcome to edition #54 of the We ❤️ Open Source newsletter!
Stop paying $20/month for ChatGPT—you can run powerful LLMs on your own hardware right now. This week we're exploring local AI deployment with Ollama and vLLM, examining how OpenClaw hit 200,000 GitHub stars through architecture over hype, learning how OSPOs maintain impact despite layoffs and budget cuts, reviewing EndeavourOS as the friendliest path to Arch Linux, and hearing Chris Heilmann explain why app stores and AI subscriptions both trade your autonomy for convenience.
Made and curated by Todd and Jason.🙂 This week we'll look at...
Save 20% on All Things AI 2026
Costs increase next Wednesday, March 18
We ALWAYS want you to save money, and the last opportunity to do it for the March 23 & 24 AI conference we're co-hosting is over the next 4 days! The final price increase kicks in this coming Wednesday, March 18. Use the link below and save $100 USD on workshop tickets and the Tuesday (traditional) conference day tickets.
Articles
 | How did OpenClaw become one of GitHub's fastest-growing repositories? It wasn't the AI model. It was the architecture around it: Local-first design, messaging interfaces, and true model agnosticism. Explore what 200,000 stars reveal about building trustworthy AI tools and the security challenges that emerge. WHY WE ❤️ IT: The "Lessons Learned" section is pure gold. Three concrete lessons are explained that are applicable to anyone developing or supporting open source AI tools. |
 | OSPOs are facing layoffs and budget cuts, but the work hasn't disappeared. Discover how documentation, self-service guides, and Q&A channels help open source program offices maintain impact with fewer people. Practical strategies for doing more with less in tough economic times. WHY WE ❤️ IT: We love the case study offered in this article - one that involves VMWare. We think you'll find it interesting. |
 | Want Arch Linux without the intimidating install process? Learn Linux TV reviews EndeavourOS, the distro that gives you a vanilla Arch experience with a modern installer. Find out why it's perfect for intermediate users who want control without heavy customization. WHY WE ❤️ IT: Jay’s world-class review makes it clear this distro excels at getting out of your way while still delivering a polished, professional experience. |
What's in your technology toolbox?
Tired of paying $20/month for ChatGPT? You can run powerful open source LLMs on your own hardware right now. Learn how to select the right model for your use case, deploy with Ollama or vLLM, integrate MCP Servers for automation, and scale across your team. From AI-assisted coding to automating tedious tasks, discover why developers are ditching cloud subscriptions for local control.
From the We ❤️ Open Source Podcast
 | App stores traded openness for convenience, giving companies power to flip switches on features. Chris Heilmann explains why AI-assisted coding creates subscription dependency, how agentic browsing mirrors malware goals, and how Visual Studio Code succeeded through open contribution. |
Wrap Up
If you've made it this far (thank you!), check out everything we do, our YouTube channel with 1000's of open source talks, the many meetups we host around the southeast and NYC, the All Things AI spring event we co-host, and of course All Things Open, the largest open source tech conference on the US east coast.
We hope you learn something new this weekend!
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