The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source Re-licensing Sentry (Interview)
Dec 8, 2019
David Cramer, Founder of Sentry, dives into the recent licensing shift from BSD to the Business Source License (BSL). He shares the challenges of balancing accessibility with sustainable commercialization. The conversation touches on the emotional toll of re-licensing in a competitive landscape, especially against giants like Amazon. Cramer discusses the importance of ethical monetization for open source and the implications this shift has on community collaboration. The mix of innovation and legal protection outlines a complex future for open source software.
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Sentry's Origin and Licensing
- David Cramer started Sentry on a whim in 2008, initially choosing the BSD license due to its permissive nature.
- He later considered switching to Apache for better legal clarity and protection, but they used a mix of licenses for different components.
Monetizing Open Source
- Open-source maintainers increasingly want to monetize their work to ensure sustainability.
- This requires finding compromises between open access and commercial interests.
Licensing as Packaging
- Think of open-source project licenses as product packaging and pricing strategies for a business.
- Consider the value proposition and target audience when choosing a license.