The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source OpenTF for an open Terraform (Interview)
10 snips
Sep 6, 2023 
Josh Padnick, co-founder of Gruntwork and a key figure in the Terraform ecosystem, joins the discussion around the launch of OpenTF. He delves into the implications of HashiCorp's licensing shift and how it has impacted users and contributors. The conversation highlights the need for collaboration in the open-source community and the drive to create a truly open-source solution. Padnick also addresses the competition within the ecosystem and the commitment from companies to support the OpenTF initiative, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and innovation.
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Gruntwork's Contributions and Concerns
- Gruntwork contributed heavily to the Terraform ecosystem, including Terragrunt and the book Terraform Up and Running.
- HashiCorp's license change introduced uncertainty about Gruntwork's compliance, leading them to explore alternative solutions.
Technology Choice as Investment
- Choosing a technology is like an investment, and developers invest time in learning tools like Terraform.
- A business source license would have discouraged early adoption as it limits usage and control.
Sentinel vs. OPA
- HashiCorp's policy-as-code language, Sentinel, failed to gain traction due to its non-open-source nature and restrictive access.
- The open-source alternative, Open Policy Agent (OPA), became dominant, even within HashiCorp's products.
