[iammukunthan]

You can earn by offering a hosted version and releasing an open-source version under the GPL license, similar to Plausible [1]. This approach can help reduce competition with the hosted version.

Alternatively, you can release the software under the MIT license and keep certain parts of the code under an enterprise license, following the PostHog model [2]. This allows you to offer an enterprise version and charge for it.

Ultimately, the decision should be based on your target users. Small businesses may prefer the hosted version as it relieves them of hosting and maintenance responsibilities.

[1] https://plausible.io/blog/open-source-licenses

[2] https://github.com/PostHog/posthog/blob/master/LICENSE

[IndySun]

"...we’ve become aware that there are risks associated with permissive open source licenses that corporations that don’t care about open source are happy to take advantage of..."

Interesting line from Plausible. Isn't this how commercial/non open source/propriety software came about in the first place?