As we wrap up 2025, this edition of the ASF newsletter highlights the people, projects, and progress that continue to strengthen our global open source community. From celebrating 10,000 Apache committers and welcoming new Top-Level Projects, to sharing key updates on project lifecycle changes, tooling, and community initiatives, there is much to reflect on. We are thankful to the entire ASF ecosystem and look forward to welcoming a new year with you all.
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Community
ICYMI: We’re hosting #ASFNewLeaf, a fun social media giveaway and an opportunity to unite the entire ASF community and give away some ASF-branded swag. Learn more on The ASF blog.
Project Updates
Apache Griffin, Apache Kibble, Apache Portals and Apache Traffic Control have been retired to the Apache Attic.
2025 Highlights
We are proud to be able to say that The ASF is closing out 2025 from a position of strength, with steady project growth. Progress across public policy, incubation, tooling, and fundraising reflects a shared focus on sustainability, trust, and long-term resilience.
Here are some key highlights across The ASF, including some of the most popular content published on the ASF’s YouTube and blog channels:
Open Source Public Policy & Security Standards
- Advanced global SBOM, vulnerability, and lifecycle standards through active ASF participation in ECMA and ISO-aligned efforts.
- Strengthened software supply chain transparency with ratified standards including CycloneDX 1.7, Package-URL, and Common Lifecycle Enumeration.
- Accelerated VEX adoption and policy alignment across ASF projects and the broader open source ecosystem.
Incubator & Community Development
- Graduated 10 podlings from the incubator, reflecting continued growth and strength across the ASF project pipeline.
- Improved incubation outcomes through stronger mentor engagement, clearer onboarding, and expanded training resources.
- Reinforced early governance and release discipline as key drivers of long-term project sustainability.
ASF Tooling Initiative
- Advanced Apache Trusted Releases into alpha, modernizing secure, reproducible release processes across the Foundation.
- Delivered critical tooling to support SBOM quality, director oversight, MFA, and security compliance.
- Strengthened ASF readiness for evolving global security and regulatory expectations, including CRA and CISA guidance.
Sponsor Relations & Fundraising
- Sustained ASF operations and growth through diversified sponsorship, donations, and targeted funding.
- Enabled essential Foundation services supporting 300+ Apache projects worldwide.
- Expanded investment in Foundation-wide initiatives, including significant growth in the ASF Tooling Initiative.
Read more about 2025 ASF highlights.
Top 5 Videos on The ASF YouTube Channel
- What is Apache Kafka?
- Introduction to Kafka Streams
- Creating a Streams Application
- Making Cassandra Faster in Cloud-native architecture – Subrata Ashe
- David Nalley – The State of the Foundation, 2024
Top 5 Blog Posts on Apache.org
- Introducing The ASF’s New Logo
- Apache Trusted Releases platform begins second Alpha
- AI and Open Source: Expanding Apache Airflow’s Global Impact Through Collaboration
- ASF Project Spotlight: Apache Geode
- The Apache Software Foundation Announces Apache Grails® 7.0.0
Looking ahead to 2026, The ASF remains committed to deepening community health, strengthening secure open source practices, and meeting the evolving needs of users, contributors, and stakeholders worldwide.
President’s Letter
This month’s note will be brief, as we wrap up 2025 and look to the new year. Every year I think that December will be a bit slower, and in some ways it is, but it also seems there’s always one more bit of end-of-year tidying up to do! I’m sure many of you feel the same, so I hope you’re finding a few moments of quiet to rest and recharge for 2026.
It’s been a good year, from reading your #FirstASFContribution stories, to watching a lot of change around the open source ecosystem. We launched ASF Initiatives, as well as the first of them, the Tooling Initiative. The foundation launched a new logo. Nearly 1,200 of you attended a Community Over Code event, either in Beijing or Minneapolis, not to mention many Apache Local Community events. We welcomed 13 new podlings and graduated 10 from the Incubator. And that doesn’t even begin to touch all the work ASF contributors did this year towards software for the public good. Thank you to each of you who touched any part of the ASF and its projects in 2025.
We hear “Auld Lang Syne” a lot this time of year, whether it’s at the end of It’s a Wonderful Life or the stroke of midnight on New Year’s. My favorite part is in the final verse: “And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere; and gie’s a hand o’ thine!” (“And there’s a hand my trusty friend; and give me a hand of yours!”) It feels like the open source spirit. So from me in North Carolina to wherever you are, I look forward to joining our community hands for another year.
Sincerely,
Ruth Suehle
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