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Maybe we will have to replace "open source" with "spec driven". As you point out, open source can be just as bad as closed source, given future changes in direc
by JohnDeHope 2y ago
Maybe we will have to replace "open source" with "spec driven". As you point out, open source can be just as bad as closed source, given future changes in direction by the project team. But "spec driven" means that anybody can come along and compete, and you can switch to them, regardless of how the original developers feel about it.
- graemep 2y agoIs it not more about who does the development? If cone entity does the development, they can change direction or licensing and it is hard for anyone to fork. If you have more of a bazaar form of development with many contributors neither is as easy (even less so if you do not have a CLA). Even if you have a small core team of developers, a really bad direction is likely to lead to a split.
- evantbyrne 2y agoI think you are right to think of it in terms of who is doing development. The plus of a non open-source license is well-funded development. The downside is fewer outside contributions. In this specific instance, I think Cockroach was BSL? So, it can be forked into a community project where new contributions are open-source. Another corporation just wouldn't be able to profiteer off the fork directly until the changeover date.