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Discussion on: Automatically combine your scattered documentation with a few lines in GitLab CI

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tillsanders profile image
Till Sanders

Then I should clarify a bit more – "open source" only means that you can read the source code here, it does not imply that it is also Free Open Source Software, licensed under a permissive license acknowledged by the Open Source Initiative. Their license seems to be based on the Apache License with only one exception: it forbids use as a competitor. While slight deviations of Open Source Licenses are not a great idea in general, I find it reasonable that they want to protect their revenue. Maybe dual licensing would have been the better option.

Anyhow, thanks for the heads-up, I'll add a hint to the article.

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jayjeckel profile image
Jay Jeckel

Viewable source doesn't make something open source. Software doesn't have to be gratis (free as in beer) to be open source, but it does have to be libre (free as in freedom). If a license restricts libre, as the BS License does, then it isn't open source.

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tillsanders profile image
Till Sanders

I understand what you mean and I‘m not saying you’re incorrect. I just feel like the Business Source License deserves a little better. It is not technically an open source license, but it ticks many boxes and even Bruce Perens does not dismiss it, apparently. So it really is in kind of a gray area. Who knows, maybe it will be an acknowledged license in the future. For me, it is close enough to call it open source with an asterisk.