Solving the innersource discovery problem

Innersource is the practice of creating and sharing reusable code within an organization, but scaling it effectively can be challenging due to the "discovery problem," which involves difficulty in spreading awareness about available innersource projects. In organizations with numerous repositories, finding reusable code can be daunting, and often, engineers share projects within limited networks rather than across different product lines. Current organizational structures typically emphasize team groupings by product rather than by similar job roles, posing a structural challenge to awareness. To address this, solutions should be structural and integrated into standard software development processes, including starting communities of practice, identifying strategic opportunities for collaboration, and standardizing tooling. Building project portals, such as the SAP InnerSource Project Portal, can enhance visibility and encourage innersource adoption by listing all projects on a searchable website, thus increasing exposure and potential contributions. Tools like GitHub Actions and project portals provide tactical solutions to improve discoverability and streamline innersource efforts within organizations.