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> I think AGPL introduces some measurable adoption friction, but it certainly isn't toxic. Let me first say that I respect you and RethinkDB immensely. Rather
by insaneirish 10y ago
> I think AGPL introduces some measurable adoption friction, but it certainly isn't toxic.
Let me first say that I respect you and RethinkDB immensely.
Rather than comment on toxicity, I'll state a fact: in the company I work for, which makes heavy use of open source software, is relatively sophisticated, and is legally cautious and conservative, AGPL software is verboten. It's a non-starter. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
So, in the absence of a company that can actually offer a valid license to the product, there's no chance of considering it, let alone using it. This may seem overly cautious and FUD inducing, but it is how things work in our litigious world.
- mrkurt 10y agoI think your company is already in the minority, honestly. IBM is big and stodgy, but they got past the agpl, as have their customers that I had any contact with. agpl + Apache drivers seems perfectly workable to me ... though I agree with you, and also Slava's take of "suboptimal".
- openmosix 10y ago+1 here. We use all sort of opensource software, we encourage open source software - but AGPL software is off limits.
- jkarneges 10y agoI think he means that even though the license is unsuitable for some users, it is fine for others. Probably most users are fine with the license actually, otherwise RethinkDB wouldn't be as popular as it is. After all, RethinkDB has been AGPL for years. It is unfortunate that some users, such as yourself, must be left out, with no apparent remedy. But this does not mean RethinkDB cannot succeed elsewhere.
- arximboldi 10y agoI am curious: - Does your company contribute to any of the non-AGPL pieces of software it uses, either in code or money? - Does it have propietary patches to these software that it does not contribute back? - Has it published any open source packages of its own?
- smw 10y agoMine does (EMC, now Dell) [1]. We've had serious issues getting lawyers to sign off on AGPL. 1. https://codedellemc.com/ https://codedellemc.com/
- x0x0 10y agoMy example does. They contribute pretty heavily to apache licensed software and have a small but popular in the right niche high performance filesystem that they built. AGPL is an immediate no; GPL requires written approval from chief in house counsel and he will almost certainly say no.
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]