Alienating Users By Changing The License
Java Service Wrapper and Ext JS move to GPL
In the past days I've notices two Open Source projects that changed their license from a commercial friendly license (BSD/MIT, LGPL) to GPL. The motivation of Java Service Wrapper and Ext JS seems to be to offer commercial licenses for closed-source projects that cannot use GPLed libraries.
While I understand that these projects need resources to enhance their products this step will have an impact on the trust companies will have in Open Source projects. It seems both projects have used a commercial friendly license to attract people. Now that they have an established user base they try to monetize this asset. It remains to be seen if this will work as various groups are already discussing the options to fork these projects, nevertheless the overall damange remains. "A foundation you can build on" - the claim of Ext JS - leaves a bad taste. Not only that companies developing closed-source products will have to pay now (or switch or stick with the old soon unsupported version), Open Source projects with a more commercial friendly license will also have to look for alternatives.
Another interesting aspect is the current use of the GPL: Once designed to grant a maximum of freedom to the users of software it has become a means to restrict usage. Many projects that use the GPL choose to dual license their software and sell commercial licenses to those who can't use GPLed libraries in their products.
Openfire Enterprise is becoming Open Source
The most complete Java-based XMPP server
The enterprise edition of the popular Java-based XMPP server Openfire is becoming Open Source. This also includes the Flex-based IM client Sparkweb.
As Matt points out the the clustering functionality in the enterprise edition will not be made Open Source: "Part of the reason for this is that it uses a third-party commercial library for clustering."
Nevertheless, due to the moduluar design of Openfire, the use of Coherence can quite easily be substituted by a free alternative like Terracotta.
This is really great news. Thanks to Jive for their commitment to the community.
Update 2008-04-07
Dombiak Gaston has followed up with a roadmap describing the two phases of the transition. The first phase with the majority of features is scheduled be finished by April, 27th.