[gr4vityWall]

> Why aren't n8n or MongoDB considered open-source?

In the case of MongoDB, it's because the SSPL requires that all the software used to offer the network service is also licensed under the SSPL. That prevents it from being used to write Free Software by mixing free programs and libraries that use a different license, even if they are free.

So, for example, if your network service supports managing MongoDB instances, and it includes Caddy or Nginx, then you're not complying with the license, as Caddy and Nginx aren't released under the SSPL and you cannot relicense them.

> Why does requesting that others not sell your product make the project not open-source?

Because requesting them to not do that makes your program proprietary, and thus non-free by definition.