Company
Date Published
Author
Coralogix Team
Word count
1416
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Lightbend's decision to transition Akka from an "Open Source" license to a "Source Available" license under BSL 1.1 reflects a strategic move to create a more sustainable development model, primarily due to the disproportionate contributions from Lightbend compared to the wider community. This shift aims to address the challenge of organizations using Akka without contributing back to its development, which has hindered progress. The new licensing model, effective from version 2.6.20, requires a license for companies with annual revenues exceeding $25 million, while exempting smaller companies and users of the Play framework. Despite the careful implementation to mitigate backlash, the move has sparked discussions about the broader implications for the open-source community, highlighting the tension between open-source ideals and commercial realities. The license will revert to Apache 2.0 after three years, though its practical impact remains uncertain, and the change has spurred interest in alternative solutions as companies weigh their options in the evolving open-source landscape.