4 ms·

Open source on github with a paid subscription. Is this something new?

orph4nus 10y ago
Open Source Software (OSS) is not the same as Free Software (FS). And even with Free Software, the free doesn't mean necessarily Gratis. There is something called Free Open Source Software (FOSS), but even there the Free doesn't need to mean Gratis. Either way, I don't think there is something wrong with having a paid service, while still having your code being OSS. It means that you can access the code, and use the product for free, but you might want to pay for the services the company might offer on top of it. Not that I know if that's the case here, but you know, it's possible.
williamdclt 10y ago
Gratis != open-source != free (free is about liberty, not price) Any combination of these 3 principles is possible with the right license
- udkl 10y ago
  Instead of always commenting to resolve the ambiguity around the 'Free' in FOSS I feel we should instead use a different term. Say 'Modifiable'/'Liberal' Open Source Software ?
  - samb1729 10y ago
    'Libre' may be the term you're looking for
    - amelius 10y ago
      Is that even an English word?
      - udkl 10y ago
        "Libre /ˈliːbrə/ is a loan word in English[citation needed], borrowed from French and Spanish, used to describe something as being "free", in the sense of "having freedom" or "liberty". It is used in English to distinguish the two meanings of free: free as in freedom (libre) from free as in free of charge (gratis). Another sample is common: Free as "Free Speech", not as "Free Drink"!" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libre_(word) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libre_(word) But then the acronym will be 'LOSS' ..... enterprise managers would think twice before considering it ;).
eliangcs 10y ago
It's not new. One example I look up to is Sidekiq (http://sidekiq.org http://sidekiq.org). It offers a paid subscription for its pro version.
- AtheistOfFail 10y ago
  Right, but sidekiq's pro version isn't in a github repo. They host a private repo for you when you fork over the cash and discontinue it after a year.
  - eliangcs 10y ago
    HTTP Prompt paid version isn't on GitHub either. It's hosted on a private server only available for paid users.

Open Source Software (OSS) is not the same as Free Software (FS). And even with Free Software, the free doesn't mean necessarily Gratis. There is something called Free Open Source Software (FOSS), but even there the Free doesn't need to mean Gratis. Either way, I don't think there is something wrong with having a paid service, while still having your code being OSS. It means that you can access the code, and use the product for free, but you might want to pay for the services the company might offer on top of it. Not that I know if that's the case here, but you know, it's possible.

williamdclt 10y ago

Gratis != open-source != free (free is about liberty, not price) Any combination of these 3 principles is possible with the right license

udkl 10y ago
Instead of always commenting to resolve the ambiguity around the 'Free' in FOSS I feel we should instead use a different term. Say 'Modifiable'/'Liberal' Open Source Software ?
- samb1729 10y ago
  'Libre' may be the term you're looking for
  - amelius 10y ago
    Is that even an English word?
    - udkl 10y ago
      "Libre /ˈliːbrə/ is a loan word in English[citation needed], borrowed from French and Spanish, used to describe something as being "free", in the sense of "having freedom" or "liberty". It is used in English to distinguish the two meanings of free: free as in freedom (libre) from free as in free of charge (gratis). Another sample is common: Free as "Free Speech", not as "Free Drink"!" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libre_(word) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libre_(word) But then the acronym will be 'LOSS' ..... enterprise managers would think twice before considering it ;).

eliangcs 10y ago

It's not new. One example I look up to is Sidekiq (http://sidekiq.org http://sidekiq.org). It offers a paid subscription for its pro version.

AtheistOfFail 10y ago
Right, but sidekiq's pro version isn't in a github repo. They host a private repo for you when you fork over the cash and discontinue it after a year.
- eliangcs 10y ago
  HTTP Prompt paid version isn't on GitHub either. It's hosted on a private server only available for paid users.