Redis has made a significant decision to adopt dual source-available licensing, announced by Rowan Trollope, the CEO of Redis, on March 20, 2024. This change will ensure that future versions of Redis will be released under the Redis Source Available License (RSALv2) and Server Side Public License (SSPLv1), effectively replacing the previous three-clause Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) license.

Hello and welcome 🤗 . In this episode, it's all about Redis, so without further ado, lets get started!

Since its inception, Redis has been a cornerstone in providing high performance and simplicity for modern Internet applications and data infrastructure. Over its 15 years of existence, Redis has garnered a substantial user base globally, supporting essential real-time applications. The adoption of dual licensing, a model previously implemented for advanced Redis modules under the Redis Stack distribution, aims to further enhance Redis's capabilities by combining advanced data types and processing engines.

The new source-available licenses will allow Redis to continue offering permissive use of its source code sustainably. This move signifies a transition into the next phase of Redis's development, positioning it as a real-time data platform with a unified set of clients, tools, and core product offerings. These offerings will include features such as search, JSON, vector, probabilistic, and time-series data models, all integrated into one free, downloadable software package.

However, the success of Redis has posed challenges, particularly concerning commercial sales predominantly driven by major cloud service providers. To address this, under the new licensing terms, cloud service providers will no longer have free access to Redis source code for hosting Redis offerings. Instead, they will need to agree to licensing terms with Redis to access future versions of Redis, ensuring support for existing integrated solutions and access to upcoming innovations.

Despite these changes, the Redis developer community will continue to benefit from permissive licensing, and Redis client libraries will remain open source. Additionally, Redis will maintain its support for its partner ecosystem, including managed service providers and system integrators, through its Partner Program.

Overall, Redis's new licensing approach aims to strike a balance between broad availability of the source code, minimal limitations for the developer community, and the protection of Redis's ability to invest in feature-rich software and enterprise products.

The Future

In a recent post (March 21) Redis announced a shift in licensing, paving the way for a future focused on simplicity, innovation, and community collaboration. With plans to integrate advanced features into its Community Edition and streamline the developer experience, Redis aims to stay at the forefront of real-time data platforms. Notably, the acquisition of Speedb promises enhanced speed and efficiency.

Curious about the details? Read more on this blog on how Redis is shaping the future of data management.

Personally, I can't help but wondering : is this the end for Redis as we know it? I'd love to hear your take on these changes.

Until next time!.....