Open source software is widely used by organizations, estimated at 90% adoption rate. In recent years, some tools have transitioned to commercial models, causing concern among developer communities and business users. Thoughtworks, a global technology consultancy, highlighted this trend in their recent Technology Radar report. Scott Shaw, the Australian Chief Technology Officer, emphasized the importance of organizations approaching open source with caution.
One notable shift in the open source landscape has been companies changing their licensing terms midstream, moving core functionality behind paywalls to generate revenue. This has led to a divergence from traditional open source principles, causing confusion among users. Thoughtworks also observed a “semantic diffusion” in the definition of open source, with some tools claiming to be open source but only providing access to certain functions after payment.
Examples of companies transitioning to commercial licenses include Docker, Hashicorp’s Terraform, and Meta’s Llama 3. These changes have prompted backlash from the open source community, with initiatives like OpenTofu aiming to maintain forked versions of formerly open source tools.
Thoughtworks highlighted two main reasons for companies reconsidering open source licenses: the focus on financials and the protection of intellectual property. With economic pressures and increased scrutiny on profitability, organizations are looking to safeguard their interests and IP from competitors and cloud vendors.
For enterprise users, changing open source license terms can create challenges in remaining compliant and avoiding unexpected fees. Thoughtworks recommended exercising caution and paying attention to licensing details when using open source software. Additionally, organizations should be aware of data security risks and consider alternative solutions in response to licensing changes.
Overall, the shifting landscape of open source software requires organizations to stay informed, exercise due diligence, and be prepared to adapt to new licensing models and competitors.
