Redis has reverted to an open source licensing model with the introduction of the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL) for Redis 8, following criticism of its previous Server Side Public License (SSPL). While this shift aims to satisfy the open source community, some developers still find the AGPL too restrictive, and alternatives to Redis are being considered by many users.

The article discusses the implications of Redis being open-source again after a period of proprietary development, questioning whether this move is timely given the rise of competing technologies. It highlights potential challenges and opportunities for Redis in the evolving landscape of data storage solutions.

Redis has released version 8.2, which returns to being free and open-source software (FOSS) under the GNU AGPL license, featuring significant performance enhancements. Meanwhile, the older FOSS version 7.2 is approaching its end of life, prompting users to consider migration to either Redis 8.2 or the forked Valkey project. Redis 8.2 boasts improvements such as faster command execution and reduced memory usage.

Redis creator Salvatore Sanfilippo has returned and introduced a new data type called vector sets, designed for storing and querying high-dimensional embeddings for AI workloads. This development is part of Redis's evolution beyond caching, and includes new features like LangCache, a semantic caching service aimed at optimizing interactions with large language models.

Redis has switched its licensing from SSPL to AGPLv3, which has been a topic of internal discussion for some time. The author expresses satisfaction with this change, emphasizing the importance of open-source software in their work and the community's acceptance of Redis as an open-source project. Redis 8 has been released under the new license, featuring numerous improvements.

The author reflects on a busy day that included a long walk on Mount Etna and releasing a blog post about the AGPL license switch. They discuss the importance of software distribution, the community's response to the licensing changes, and the evolving understanding of open source software, highlighting the need for diverse options such as Redis and ValKey for users with different requirements.

Valkey, a fork of the Redis in-memory database, has released version 8.1 a year after its inception, with co-maintainer Madelyn Olson focusing on stability and community inclusivity as they prepare for version 9. Following Redis's shift to a more restrictive license, Valkey has introduced new features and performance improvements while seeking to provide long-term support for users. Olson emphasizes the importance of community involvement to avoid burnout and ensure the project's success.

Valkey 9, an open-source key-value database forked from Redis, is set to enhance multi-tenant clustering and improve resource optimization with its upcoming release. It aims to allow multiple applications to share a single Valkey instance, addressing community demands for better handling of microservices and data management. Additionally, it will include high availability features and a safer shutdown mode, positioning Valkey to evolve into a more versatile general-purpose database beyond just caching.