[shadowmint]

https://webassets.mongodb.com/_com_assets/legal/SSPL-compare...

“Service Source Code” means the Corresponding Source for the Program or the modified version, and the Corresponding Source for all programs that you use to make the Program or modified version available as a service, including, without limitation, management software, user interfaces, application program interfaces, automation software, monitoring software, backup software, storage software and hosting software, all such that a user could run an instance of the service using the Service Source Code you make available.”

^ not the same.

[kstrauser]

That... is an impressive load of shit. So because I want to host MongoDB, I have to offer up the source for the Linux distro used to host the Jenkins server that I use to test it, huh.

Last week I was debating whether MongoDB is now completely obsoleted by PostgreSQL’s JSON datatype. As of now, I consider that no longer a debate.

[rmc]

Couldn't you just say "I run Jenkins available from https://blah.com and Ubuntu from https://blah.com"? Doesn't sound too strenuous

[kstrauser]

If you've never had to enumerate every piece of software you've installed, you might not think so. In practice, it's a major PITA. And what if you're using a closed-source CI/CD or monitoring system, so that you can't comply with their bizarre terms?

No, I think the real goal here is to make it effectively impossible to use this in a business setting without buying a commercial license. I'm glad Linus and RMS didn't see it that way.

[notacoward]

The "all programs you use" clause seems to make it extremely viral, perhaps unprecedentedly so. It seems to me that anyone not willing to comply with AGPL would be even less likely to comply with this. Not sure how that's supposed to be a good outcome, even for Mongo.

[amyjess]

This sounds like a violation of provision 9 of the Open Source Definition and the DFSG.

It's going to backfire hard when distros start removing Mongo from their main repos.

[Symbiote]

Why would they? They don't make a Mongo service available. Neither do most users who install Mongo from a Linux distribution repository.

(Thanks for the explanation, "DFSG" passed over me the first time I read this. "Debian Free Software Guidelines".)

[amyjess]

Distributions like Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, etc. require that all software in their core repos be FOSS. It's not about their legal obligations but about their own policies forbidding proprietary software in their core repos.

Since the new Mongo license violates rule 9 of the DFSG, it is considered proprietary software by Debian's definition, and that means Debian's FOSS policy will require Mongo to be moved out of the core repos and into the non-free repo. Fedora and Ubuntu have their own policies which will have the same effect.

[pas]

Mongo already provides their own repos, and recommends using that for install and updates. I don't think they care or anyone seriously wanting to develop something on/around Mongo does either.

[gshipley]

The same can be said for docker?

[pas]

Yes, though I think their enterprise efforts are truly different offerings, and Kubernetes probably surprised them a bit there.

[pas]

Why is it viral? It doesn't require those other stuff to also be available under this license, just as source-available. Which means this is basically AGPL++.

[mbreese]

Also from the license, w.r.t. "Corresponding Source" definition:

===

However, it does not include the work's System Libraries, or general-purpose tools or generally available free programs which are used unmodified in performing those activities but which are not part of the work.

===

Not that this makes the issue any more clear or enforceable...

[nebulous1]

Original: your modified version must prominently offer all users interacting with it remotely through a computer network (if your version supports such interaction) an opportunity to receive the Corresponding Source of your version by providing access to the Corresponding Source from a network server at no charge, through some standard or customary means of facilitating copying of software.