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The article discusses a recent dispute between David Heinemeier Hansson and Matt Mullenweg over the meaning of "open source" after Hansson labeled his new kanban tool, Fizzy, as open source despite its restrictive license. It emphasizes the importance of a clear definition and the ongoing challenge of sustainability in open source projects.
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David Heinemeier Hansson (DHH), creator of Ruby on Rails, recently stirred controversy by labeling his new kanban tool, Fizzy, as open source. Critics quickly pointed out that the O'Saasy license itβs released under prevents others from creating competing SaaS versions, which contradicts the Open Source Initiative's definition. When challenged, DHH dismissed these concerns as trivial, claiming that βopen source is when the source is open.β Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress, countered this by emphasizing the importance of adhering to established definitions, likening DHH's stance to North Korea calling itself a democracy.
The debate highlights a broader issue of sustainability in open source. Many companies profit from open source software while leaving the burden of maintenance on a small group of contributors. Mullenweg's situation with WP Engine and DHH's license choice reflect the tension between innovation and community responsibility. While DHH can experiment with new licensing for Fizzy, WordPress has adhered to the GPL for over twenty years, making any changes nearly impossible. The article argues that while definitions are important, the sustainability of projects like Drupal and WordPress is the more pressing concern.
The author suggests that current efforts in Drupal, like contribution credits, have not fully addressed the imbalance in contributions from major companies. DHHβs approach with Fizzy might be a step towards sustainability, but it still doesn't fit the traditional open source model. Ultimately, the article raises critical questions about corporate behavior and the ongoing struggle to ensure that open source projects can thrive without being undermined by free riders.
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