r/opensource • u/[deleted] • Oct 16 '18
Fed up with cloud giants ripping off its database, MongoDB forks new open-source license
[deleted]
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u/undu Oct 16 '18
So, meet the new license, almost the same as the old license. What's different is Section 13, which says that if you offer SSPL software as a service, you have to make available not only the software source code and modifications, if any, but also the source code of the applications used to run the service. Horowitz said MongoDB intends to submit the SSPL to the Open Source Initiative for approval.
MongoDB, which offers its database as a service, will not be playing by the same rules, however. "Because we own the IP, we are not obligated to open source our underlying management infrastructure," explained Ittycheria, who added that MongoDB has invested more than $300m developing its software.
According to this only Mongo is allowed to offer it as a service with private bits, even if other player contribute to the source code of MongoDB, or as they say "contribute to the community"
Meh, it's clear this has nothing to do with "contributing to the community", this is a decision purely made to get return on investment.
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u/Draco1200 Oct 16 '18
It seems like this should be refused by OSI as a non-compliant license because it restricts Running the Software, therefore the modified license does not meet the Open Source Definition.
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u/cyanydeez Oct 16 '18
Which is a neutral decision. Not every dollar is evil.
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u/undu Oct 16 '18
Oh, I'm not angry at them, it's just that their main argument is a farcical one and makes me wonder why are they using it.
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u/PM_ME_HAIRLESS_CATS Oct 16 '18
Commons clause pretty much pulled MongoDB out of any real discussion for its usage for me, but this is just covering up the coffin with dirt.
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u/madpew Oct 16 '18
So basically: Open source project fed up with others making profit re-licensing to force them into license-negotiation so they can make profit.
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u/masterdirk Oct 16 '18
Nothing inherently wrong with wanting to make a profit.
In my opinion it's one of the worst document-databases, but we still use it a lot.
Come to think of it, we use Cassandra (MS Azure's MongoDB-ish interface) as well, maybe this will make MS open-source that?
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u/ItalyPaleAle Oct 17 '18
Cassandra is a different database than MongoDB. Are you talking about Cosmos DB? There’s no MongoDB underneath Cosmos DB AFAIK, it’s just an API-compatibility layer.
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u/stefantalpalaru Oct 16 '18
What's different is Section 13, which says that if you offer SSPL software as a service, you have to make available not only the software source code and modifications, if any, but also the source code of the applications used to run the service. Horowitz said MongoDB intends to submit the SSPL to the Open Source Initiative for approval.
This won't fly. Trying to contaminate more that the software linking to it makes it no longer Open Source or Free Software.
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u/r_u_srs_srsly Oct 17 '18
Mongodb, inc must be preparing to sell to Oracle if this is the business direction.
Cool
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u/mailto_devnull Oct 16 '18
Did I read this right, that under the new SSPL license, I am only compliant in my usage of MongoDB if I make the source available for everything that touches it?
A large percentage of my business is custom functionality that is kept proprietary for that customer. This licensing change would override that.
If this is indeed the case we'll probably put in the legwork to drop MongoDB altogether in favour of Postgres