Open Source vs Source-Available

The cluster centers on debates over whether a software project qualifies as truly 'open source' or merely 'source-available' due to restrictive licenses that fail to meet open source definitions. Commenters frequently reference the Open Source Initiative criteria and urge accurate terminology.

📉 Falling 0.5x Open Source
6,039
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#9664
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Keywords

MS DB HN Opensource.org OSS TI opensource.org RL FLOSS imgur.com source open source open source available source open available license source just closed source source code

Sample Comments

Matterrr Jan 11, 2019 View on HN

It's not open source, it's source-available, which is almost irrelevant in terms of openness and freedom

kelnos Nov 23, 2023 View on HN

Sure, but then it's not "open source".

Polylactic_acid Jan 30, 2020 View on HN

That's not open source. They make the source available but open source does not restrict what you can do with it other than sometimes requiring that you share the source for your binaries.

red_trumpet Aug 28, 2024 View on HN

Yeah sure, just don't claim it's open source if the actual source is not open.

Xss3 May 8, 2025 View on HN

It is still open source it just isn't an open license.

mips_avatar Oct 16, 2025 View on HN

You're "source available" don't call something open source when it's not

nullcipher Jun 15, 2022 View on HN

The opening line says "Open source" , but they aren't. Source available is the correct term.

bosswipe Mar 25, 2021 View on HN

It is not Open Source™, but it is open source.

josephcsible Jun 29, 2024 View on HN

It's not open-source, just source-available. Check the license.

gyaru Dec 3, 2018 View on HN

Why wouldn't it be? It's open source but not free software.