Percona is dedicated to open source software. But recently, open source software has come under attack. Once open source software is being locked away by changing licenses and code that you depended on. You either get to pay for the privilege of having less freedom or find yourself sequestered with rapidly aging software.
Before open source was available, there was little to no interoperability between computer systems. If you ran IBM hardware, then you ran IBM software, and that handy calendaring program that ran on Data General or Digital hardware/software was unavailable to you. You could not compile from scratch as the code was proprietary and could not be shared. If, by some miracle, you had source code, the chances are that you would be lacking the compiler, libraries, or another component that would keep the program from running the way you wanted. If your vendor’s code lacked a feature and you have the skills to make the required modifications, you probably could not make the changes due to your licensing restrictions. Most of the low-level development tools were either unavailable or extremely expensive. You had two choices – like it or lump it, and in both cases, you paid through the nose for the privilege.,
If your one vendor of hardware, software, training, and all tangential things discontinued your sole-sourced system in favor of a newer, better-margined system of their manufacture, then all your investment was suddenly worth next to nothing. Your software, your knowledge, your books, and your career options were also suddenly similarly valued. If you do not believe me, visit your favorite career website and try to find openings for HPUX, Tops-10, RSTS/E, or SUNoS personnel. And the marketplace for RCA, Singer, Apollo, and Wang computing equipment is pretty sad.
Blindsided by a license change
When your open source software suddenly morphs into something with a restrictive license, the possibilities are several. You can stay with the last non-restrictive version, hoping that no CVEs appear for that product, your staff likes working on obsolete software, and your other software does not develop dependencies on later versions.
You could fork your own version, starting with the last open release. But do you really have the skills, the knowledge, and the time to create a new version of an existing product? Is the passion there for you to continue support? Adopting a project is a big step that not too many can take.
Options? Do you have any other choices?
Maybe work-a-likes can do what you need? MongoDB changed its license, and many were caught unaware, facing a decision to use less restrictive code thrust upon them. The choice could be to switch to another document database or maybe use a relational database like PostgreSQL or MySQL that supports JSON data types. But that will require a big rewrite of your application to support the new database. New technologies like FerretDB, which is the MongoDB protocol running on top of PostgreSQL, may not need a major rewrite of the application if there are enough of the MongoDB features you depend upon in the FerretDB software. FerretDB just might be the answer to your problem or close enough to satisfy your requirements. If close enough is not good enough, you need to consider a major architectural change and the resulting costs in time, money, and sanity.
When a vendor changes their license, they may be saying that they need a better financial return on their investment, but they are also heavily discounting your existing investment in your technology. Your sunk costs in time, personnel, and product were just heavily reduced by their actions. You get no appeal. If this incenses you, then you need to do something about it.
Keeping open source software is no longer a passive act. If you like to use open source software, then you need to actively support it.
What can you do?
This is a plea for you to support open source software by participating in an event next March in Pasadena, California. The Southern California Linux Expo, or SCaLE. SCaLE is the largest community-run open source and free software conference in North America. The presentations have always come from the community and feature the gambit from well-known individuals in the community to those less famous but still passionate about their subjects. Percona has sponsored this show for many years, provided presenters, and participated in the expo hall. Thousands of people attend each year, and their support helps keep open source software flourishing.
As you would expect, Percona is involved in several of the presentation tracks that feature database or Kubernetes topics. We are instrumental in helping launch a Data on Kubernetes track. And we will be back in the PostgreSQL and MySQL tracks as well.
What you need to do is to participate actively
If you fear the future of open source software is waning and want to show your support for it, you need to be in Pasadena next March. Your attendance shows those on the forefront that you support open-source software. Submitting a talk allows the SCaLE track committees to present the best information to our community. Please make no mistake – open source software is vulnerable, and simply hoping all goes well may be disastrous. You need to participate.
And tell the people in the projects used in your organization that you appreciate their work. This simple act of acknowledging their efforts may not repay them for lost time with their families, make up for the lack of a Porsche in their driveway, or even help them to own part of a football team, but it does show your appreciation of what they do.
And look for your local user groups, Meetups, and conferences. The days of passive support must end, or you will find yourself with a huge increase in operational costs or be stuck with old software. Either of those two choices takes freedom, options, and your future away.
