Specifically, it discusses how companies like HashiCorp and Sentry have switched their open source licenses to more restrictive ones to protect their commercial interests. This has led to uncertainty and potential legal risks for businesses relying on these platforms. The article concludes by noting that while proprietary platforms can lead to vendor lock-in and potential issues, businesses built on open source can also change the terms of engagement for commercial protection, highlighting both the power and perils of open source software.
Key takeaways:
- Throughout 2023, many established technologies relied on by millions hit a chaos curve, leading to a surge in interest in open source alternatives. This was seen in cases such as Twitter's decline under Elon Musk, the OpenAI fiasco, and Adobe's failed bid to buy Figma.
- However, struggles within the open source community were also evident, often caused by proprietary companies. For instance, HashiCorp switched its popular software Terraform to a more restrictive license due to third-party vendors benefiting from its community-driven development without giving anything back.
- Other companies like Sentry and Element also made similar changes to their licenses to protect their commercial interests while trying to maintain the open source ethos. These changes often created uncertainty among users and highlighted the ongoing struggle of balancing commercial interests with the principles of open source.
- The past year has underscored both the power and perils of open source software. While it can offer an alternative to proprietary platforms and prevent vendor lock-in, businesses built on open source foundations can also change the terms of engagement for commercial protection, leading to potential issues for users and developers.