Elasticsearch goes back to full open source!

Elasticsearch returns to open source with AGPL license

The Elasticsearch search engine has just announced its return to full Opensource status, choosing the AGPL license.
This brings to a close the battle with AWS, which had been accused of doing a lot of business on Elasticsearch's back without contributing to its development. Elasticsearch then opted for a much more restrictive license (SSPL, Server Side Public License), which forced AWS to create a fork, OpenSearch.

SSPL versus AGPL

It should be noted that the SSPL license is the equivalent of the GPL for hosted services; a “disseminating” license that obliges you to provide the source code for all developments made around software licensed under the SSPL. The AGPL license, on the other hand, only requires you to provide the source code of the AGPL software and any modifications.

Historical consequences of Open Source license changes

Historically, Opensource software license changes have generated a number of forks (derivatives), such as KeyDB (fork of Redis) supported by Snap, OpenTofu (fork of Terraform). A little different, but in the same vein, Almalinux taking over from CentOS.

The importance of infrastructure software in the technology ecosystem

These are “infrastructure” software packages that are little known to the general public, but are strategic to the operation of many applications, and many of them are distributed by the major hyper-scalers AWS, Azure, etc.

The resilience of Open Source technologies

The most important thing to remember is the incredible resilience of many Opensource technologies. As soon as the governance of a widely-used Opensource software product becomes problematic, derivatives take over.

The contrast with Microsoft's proprietary applications

On the other hand, I'd like to mention a few flagship applications that have been “killed” by Microsoft, which, not being Opensource, have no chance of continued development, leaving IT Departments to find alternatives: HyperV Server, Skype for Business, Yammer and, on the client side, Publisher, Mail, Calendar, Silverlight, Paint3D and dozens of others...

The importance of Open Source for the long-term future of the GoFAST platform

All of which, of course, underlines the importance of Opensource for our GoFAST platform, guaranteeing its longevity over time.

Article source : https://news.itsfoss.com/elasticsearch-kibana-open-source/