The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source

Elasticsearch is open source, again (Interview)

Oct 24, 2024

Shay Banon, the creator of Elasticsearch and founder of Elastic, dives into Elasticsearch's return to open source. He discusses the complexities of licensing and the emotional challenges surrounding the initial decision to move away from open source. The conversation touches on trademark law, the competitive landscape with cloud providers, and the impact on the developer community. Banon highlights how this shift benefits users and explores the evolving role of open source in AI advancements and the tech industry.

01:23:47

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Episode guests

Shay Banon

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Elasticsearch's return to open-source status highlights the complexities of trademark law and its impact on community trust.

The emotional and business significance of the initial license change reflects the delicate balance companies must navigate between profit and open-source values.

Advancements in vector databases and semantic search demonstrate Elasticsearch's commitment to innovating while enhancing usability for developers.

Deep dives

Elasticsearch's Return to Open Source

Elasticsearch has officially reverted to an open-source model after previously changing its licensing due to trademark disputes with Amazon. The initial license change was a significant emotional decision for the creator, Shea Band, who has been deeply involved in the open-source community for years. This previous shift led to issues of market confusion as users mistook Amazon's service for the original Elasticsearch product. However, with Amazon transitioning to OpenSearch, the return to open-source status was made feasible, aligning with Elastic's foundational commitment to making software accessible and fostering community engagement.

Intro

5min

Navigating Open Source and Trademark Challenges

18min

Navigating the Open Source Landscape: Elasticsearch and OpenSearch

4min

Navigating Open Source Licensing Challenges

17min

Embracing Open Source and Speech AI Advancements

4min

Embracing Open Source: A Journey Forward

16min

Elasticsearch: Open Source Revolution

8min

Navigating Trademark and Open Source Challenges

12min

Shay Banon, the creator of Elasticsearch, joins us to discuss pulling off a reverse rug pull. Yes, Elasticsearch is open source, again! We discuss the complexities surrounding open source licensing and what made Elastic change their license, the implications of trademark law, the personal and business impact of moving away from open source, and ultimately what made them hit rewind and return to open source.

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Featuring:

Shay Banon – Twitter, GitHub, LinkedIn, Website
Adam Stacoviak – Mastodon, Twitter, GitHub, LinkedIn, Website
Jerod Santo – Mastodon, Twitter, GitHub, LinkedIn

Show Notes:

Something missing or broken? PRs welcome!

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