Twitter has announced it is joining the Linux Foundation, a nonprofit that oversees the open-source Linux operating system.

Twitter is joining the Linux Foundation, a nonprofit that oversees the open-source Linux operating system.

Chris Aniszczyk, open source manager at Twitter, confirmed the news on Friday, tweeting that the sponsorship decision has "been in the works for awhile. Twitter signed on as a silver member, which requires annual membership dues of $15,000.

Sponsored by major hardware and open source vendors, the Linux Foundation is dedicated to "fostering the growth of Linux." Sponsors get more of a say as to how Linux is developed, and the projects on which the foundation is working.

Aniszczyk is scheduled to give a keynote speech titled "The Open Source Technology Behind a Tweet" at the upcoming LinuxCon, which takes place this week in San Diego.

"Linux and its ability to be heavily tweaked is fundamental to our technology infrastructure," Aniszczyk told TechCrunch, which first reported the news. "By joining The Linux Foundation we can support an organization that is important to us and collaborate with a community that is advancing Linux as fast as we are improving Twitter."

Twitter, like many other high-traffic websites, relies on open source throughout its data centers. The membership may give Twitter some more respect from developers, following the micro-blogging site's recent API access rampage.

The company earlier this month announced that it will further , and reiterated that it discourages services that essentially replicate what the micro-blogging site is already doing. Ongoing API changes at Twitter have already impacted , LinkedIn and Instagram.

Meanwhile, other Linux Foundation members include Fujitsu, Google, IBM, Intel, Oracle, and Qualcomm Innovation Center. Electronics giant Samsung as a platinum member.

Other companies joining the Linux Foundation this week include Inktank and Servergy.