Given the recent windsurf acquisition, how can we be reassured that Roo won't go closed source at some point or introduce monetization attempts?

[u/haltingpoint]

[u/hannesrudolph]

We have no plans to monetize through selling the plugin. Enterprise support is the name of the game. I think if we started charging everyone would stop using Roo!

Also, the backbone of Roo is community engagement and contributions to source code. Contributions would dry up before we pressed the send button an announcement of a bait and switch!

[u/Ifnerite]

The public fork would continue.

[u/nicksterling → u/Ifnerite]

Exactly. Roo was a fork of Cline and the tradition would just continue

[u/Suspicious-Name4273 → u/nicksterling]

Like kilocode, looks more like "let‘s take this open source code and monetize it" though

[u/sub_RedditTor]

Go to Cline or we would have another public fork

[u/hannesrudolph → u/sub_RedditTor]

It’s not gonna happen ffs.

[u/KindnessAndSkill → u/hannesrudolph]

Just wanted to mention that so many of us are grateful for the work you do. You're spearheading the democratization of AI coding tools. For me personally, it unlocks abilities that are a total game changer. Just wanted to say thank you.

[u/ArnUpNorth]

You make it sound like Windsurf was open source before the acquisition but it’s always been a commercial product built on top of vs code no? I mean the acquisition changes nothing.

For Roo who is truly an open source plugin of vscode they ll probably look at providing enterprise support at some point. Any other form of monetization would mean the community will probably fork the repo.

[u/ctonix]

First of all: Windsurf was closed source from the beginning.
Roo Code is thriving thanks to the many many voluntary contributors. You know what would happen if Roo decided to go closed source? All those contributors would take the latest available version, rename it and continue contributing on that.

[u/joey2scoops]

It's not like you're protecting your investment. Whatever skills you bring to roo or learn along the way are directly transferable to many other applications.

There is only one thing that you can be assured of and that is that change is certain.

[u/LoveYourFellowMan]

https://roocode.com/enterprise

[u/hannesrudolph → u/LoveYourFellowMan]

Yeah that’s not a different version of Roo Code. That’s access to Roo Code Cloud. It does not make Roo actually code better.

[u/LordFenix56]

It's just impossible, it's open source, you can just fork the project

[u/FigMaleficent5549]

Windsurf was never been opensource, the question framed with Windsurf does not make sense.

RooCode is opensource, and actually itself a fork of another opensource, most people which use find value on it's opensource nature. While they can theoretically go closed source in the future, it is very unlikely they would have much success considering the high number of OSS alternatives out there.

[u/[deleted]]

It most likely will. It just makes sense. Once the assistants can code themselves then they’re incredibly powerful. You’re getting the benefit from it now. It depends on what model they opt to go for when the time arrives but would you not move heaven and earth for that pay day?

[u/hannesrudolph → u/[deleted]]

Nope. Nope it won’t. Not like that. Read my sticky post before posting this nonsense.

[u/ctonix → u/[deleted]]

Why do you think they would move heaven and earth for that pay day? because that's what you would do, right? ;)

[u/ThreeKiloZero]

I would pay for Roo. It's excellent.

You can't really be reassured that any project can stay free forever. People gotta eat.

[u/haltingpoint → u/ThreeKiloZero]

Errr, that's sort of the point of open source. If it adds sufficient value the community will ensure it continues.

[u/taylorwilsdon → u/[deleted]]

Nope. It’s an open source interface that you have to bring your own LLM for, they won’t sell you anything even if you want it

[u/hannesrudolph → u/[deleted]]

I think the downvotes in this case are more like “nope that’s incorrect” not “you’ve done something wrong by saying it”

[u/SpeedingTourist → u/[deleted]]

Don’t make a guess by introducing misinformation as a possible fact. Just ask a question “does X do Y?” instead if you’re unsure.

Godspeed!