Speakers on August 21st discuss HashiCorp's controversial license change, disappointment among the Terraform community, BSL code concerns, and collaboration challenges in the Alumos Project. Excitement surrounds the manifesto with strong support and grassroots enthusiasm.
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Quick takeaways
The OpenTF Consortium was formed in response to HashiCorp's decision to change their open source projects' licenses, aiming to ensure the continued development and innovation of terraform.
The lack of clarity in HashiCorp's license change and ambiguity regarding competitors has raised concerns and trust issues within the community.
The OpenTF Consortium plans to proceed with a fork of the terraform project if HashiCorp does not respond satisfactorily, showcasing their commitment to maintaining an open and vibrant open-source terraform version.
Deep dives
Formation of OpenTF Consortium
The OpenTF Consortium was formed in response to HashiCorp's decision to change their open source projects' licenses. The consortium consists of multiple companies and individuals who are united in their desire for an open source terraforming platform. The community is thrilled to collaborate and work together to ensure the continued development and innovation of terraform.
Lack of Trust in HashiCorp's Decision
The announcement of HashiCorp's license change has raised concerns and trust issues within the community. Many members of the consortium, as well as high-profile supporters, have expressed their disappointment and frustration with HashiCorp's decision. The lack of clarity in the license and the ambiguity regarding who is considered a competitor has added to the unease and confusion.
Waiting for a Response and Potential Fork
The OpenTF Consortium has officially requested a response from HashiCorp by a specified date, August 25th. If no response is received or if the response is not satisfactory, the consortium plans to proceed with a fork of the terraform project. Engineers are already working on preparing the private version of the fork, ensuring compliance with trademarks and making necessary modifications. The consortium is prepared to move forward with their own community-driven version of terraform if HashiCorp does not come to the table as a participating community member.
Importance of OpenTF for maintaining an open-source terraform
The podcast episode discusses the creation of OpenTF, a community-driven initiative aimed at maintaining an open-source version of terraform. The consortium behind OpenTF emphasizes the importance of having a collaborative and open community that can ensure legal clarity, stable development, and robust innovation for terraform. The OpenTF project seeks to address concerns raised by HashiCorp's change in licensing, which could have limiting effects on the use and development of the software. OpenTF aims to provide a thriving ecosystem, fostered by a governance structure that involves multiple companies dedicated to the project's success. Overall, OpenTF represents a collective effort to sustain an open and vibrant open-source terraform version.
The role of foundations and the benefits of Open Source
The podcast also explores the importance of having a foundation structure for OpenTF and reflects on the benefits of open source projects. Establishing a foundation, such as the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), helps ensure proper governance and inclusivity among contributors and sets a clear roadmap for the project. The discussion highlights the significance of open source software in driving innovation, fostering community collaboration, and serving as a way to align with shared values. Open source initiatives like OpenTF present opportunities for conversations, partnerships, and attracting talented individuals who resonate with the project's purpose. It also provides users with legal clarity, promotes a prosperous ecosystem, and allows for broader adoption of the technology. The podcast emphasizes the importance of companies not taking their communities for granted and upholding the social contract that open source represents.
On August 10th, HashiCorp made the controversial decision to re-license some of the popular, formerly-open source project under the Business Source License (BUSL). Bryan and Adam spoke with founders of the OpenTF project, an effort to keep Terraform operating in the open.
If we got something wrong or missed something, please file a PR! Our next show will likely be on Monday at 5p Pacific Time on our Discord server; stay tuned to our Mastodon feeds for details, or subscribe to this calendar. We'd love to have you join us, as we always love to hear from new speakers!
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