At the CloudStack Collaboration Conference 2025, we spoke with Giles Sirett, CEO of ShapeBlue, the leading code contributor to the Apache CloudStack project and a long-term supporter of the CloudStack community.
As a PMC member and committer since the project’s early days, Giles offers unique insights into CloudStack’s evolution, the role of open-source in enterprise infrastructure, and how ShapeBlue has built a successful global business around Apache CloudStack.
In this interview, we discuss:
– How ShapeBlue built a services business around open-source technology
– Why CloudStack’s evolution has been steady and user-driven — not revolutionary
– The growing role of GPU orchestration and AI in cloud infrastructure
– Why CloudStack’s tightly defined scope is one of its biggest strengths
– The shift in enterprise perception toward open source
– Reducing vendor lock-in and regaining infrastructure control
Giles also explains why the CloudStack Collaboration Conference remains an important event for ShapeBlue and the wider ecosystem—not just as a sponsor, but as an active contributor and community leader.
A must-watch conversation for anyone evaluating open-source cloud orchestration, VMware alternatives, or building long-term infrastructure strategies with reduced vendor risk.
——————-
The CloudStack Collaboration Conference 2025 took place in November 19-21 in Milan, Italy, bringing together CloudStack users, developers, and operators from 40+ countries. This annual, in-person event provided a unique opportunity for the global CloudStack community to connect, collaborate, and help shape the future of the open-source platform.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our sponsors for their support in making this event possible: ShapeBlue, US Signal, LINBIT, StorPool, CYSO Cloud, DIMSI, CDLAN, Your.Online, Ampere, Stack Console, Yotta, proIO and weSystems.
———————-
Registration is now open for #CloudStackCollab 2026, taking place in Edinburgh, Scotland, on November 18 – 20. Register early and save €130 with the Super Early Bird ticket.
👉 https://cloudstack.short.gy/tzuewW
———————-
👉 Read more about Apache CloudStack: https://cloudstack.apache.org/
👉 Visit the event Website: https://www.cloudstackcollab.org/
⏬ Download CloudStack: https://cloudstack.apache.org/downloads/
👉 Get Social – Follow us Online
Apache CloudStack Blog ► https://blogs.apache.org/cloudstack/
LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/apachecloudstack/
Twitter ► https://x.com/CloudStack
