6 ms·
From the Open Source Definition[0]: >The license must not restrict anyone from making use of the program in a specific field of endeavor. For example, it may n
by mrob 7y ago
From the Open Source Definition[0]:
>The license must not restrict anyone from making use of the program in a specific field of endeavor. For example, it may not restrict the program from being used in a business, or from being used for genetic research.
From the FSF's "What is free software?" page[1]:
>A free program must be available for commercial use, commercial development, and commercial distribution.
Licenses like CockroachDB's with restrictions on commercial use are "source available", which is a form of proprietary software.
[0] https://opensource.org/docs/osd https://opensource.org/docs/osd
[1] https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html.en https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html.en
- kemitchell 7y agoIn my experience advising clients who haven't already spent years reading about open source licenses, those lines confuse more than clarify. The dominant mode of commercial software development is closed. Many commercial firms forbid the use of copyleft software components that might compel licensing choices about company work.