Fifteen Years and Counting: A Developer’s Journey Through Open Fifth
Last updated on: 30th October 2025| 29th October 2025 | Martin Renvoize | Careers
Those early years were formative in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I was fortunate to learn from some brilliant mentors who shaped not just my technical skills but my entire approach to work. Colin’s coding expertise was like having a master craftsman at my shoulder, whilst Ian’s work ethic and deep Linux scripting knowledge gave me the foundation I still rely on today. Their influence runs through everything I do.
I look back on our early customers, who shared in the vision we had – organisations like Cheshire and Halton councils, and Staffordshire and Loughborough universities. Working closely with their teams wasn’t just about implementing systems; these partnerships became the bedrock of our growth. The trust they placed in a new, ambitious company taught me so much about building relationships and delivering quality under pressure. Many of those early connections have become lasting professional friendships that I treasure.
The company’s evolution has been fascinating to witness and be part of. Each stage of growth has brought new challenges and opportunities whilst maintaining our independence. When Andrew joined the company in 2019, it marked a real inflection point – his perspective propelled us to think bigger about our potential. More recently, our transformation from PTFS Europe to Open Fifth felt like another pivotal moment, reflecting how much we’ve evolved whilst keeping our core identity. We may be larger now, but the heart of a collaborative, valued-led company still defines who we are.
I’ve had the privilege of working on some wonderfully diverse projects over the years. rebus:list was particularly memorable – a challenging venture that taught me enormous amounts about product development and business realities. Though it was ultimately right to sell the product, it remains one of those experiences that expanded my thinking in unexpected ways.
My relationship with the Koha community has been the real constant throughout this journey. I don’t just love the software; I genuinely love the people in this community. Over the years, I’ve made lifelong friends through Koha conferences, bug reports, and late-night IRC discussions about cataloguing standards. Like all dynamic community projects, Koha thrives on open dialogue and diverse perspectives, and my passion for what we’re building together has never wavered. There’s something magical about being part of a global family of librarians and developers all working towards the same goal of making knowledge accessible to everyone.
More recently, our work with Aspen Discovery has led to many discoveries itself. Helping to nurture what began as a single developer-led project into a collaborative, community-driven project is exactly the kind of work that energises me.
Perhaps the most significant shift for me personally has been the transition from purely technical work to management and leadership. Moving from Software Engineer to Development Team Manager, and now to Head of Development & Community Engagement, has been a journey of constant learning. There are days when I genuinely miss the pure focus of coding – there’s something beautifully simple about solving a problem with elegant code – but I find equal reward in helping shape our people, products, and processes. Growth, I’ve learned, isn’t always comfortable, but it’s always worthwhile.
What strikes me most, looking back across these fifteen years, is how we’ve managed to evolve whilst staying true to our fundamental character. We’re still the same people who believe passionately in open source, in supporting libraries, and in doing right by our customers and communities. We’ve just got rather better at it and extended our impact.
It’s increasingly uncommon to remain within one company for as long as I have, however I choose to stay because of what Open Fifth represents: a balance of meaningful work, flexibility, and integrity. The ideals that underpin what we do, the supportive culture, and the warmth of colleagues and customers who feel like friends and partners – these are things money can’t buy and are not easily replicable.
As I write this, I feel genuinely grateful for the journey. Not every day has been perfect – no honest career ever is – but the trajectory has been remarkable. From that nervous graduate joining a team of four, to helping steer a company that’s making a real difference in the library world, it’s been quite the adventure.
Here’s to whatever the next fifteen years might bring.
Martin Renvoize, Head of Development and Community Engagement
