The Business of Open Source

Open Foundations with Or Weis

11 snips
Sep 17, 2025
Or Weis, the CEO and co-founder of Permit.io and expert in developer tools, shares his insights on the intricate balance between open source and commercial offerings. He discusses the concept of 'open foundations,' advocating for a model distinct from traditional open core strategies. Weis also delves into the significance of OPAL, its distinctions from Permit.io, and the importance of clarity regarding what features belong in open source versus commercial products. Plus, he offers strategic advice on navigating the evolving landscape influenced by AI.
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INSIGHT

Access Control Became A Core Problem

  • Permit.io exists because rebuilding access control repeatedly at Rookout drove Or Weis to solve the problem generically.
  • Access control complexity grows with software and AI increases the need for fine-grained permissions.
ANECDOTE

Opal Started From A Real Need

  • Opal began as a necessity to scale policy engines across many instances for Permit.io's product.
  • It became the de facto control plane for loading policy and data into engines at scale.
ADVICE

Use Open Source To Win Developers

  • Use open source when building developer tools because it aligns with how developers inspect and adapt software.
  • Offer an open fallback to reduce perceived vendor lock-in and increase adoption.
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