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Apache 2.0 vs BSL License Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of Apache 2.0 and BSL 1.1 for greatVibe licensing decision
Output
🔐 Apache 2.0 vs BSL 1.1 — License Comparison
| Aspect | Apache 2.0 | BSL 1.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | OSI Approved | Source Available |
| Can view source? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Can modify? | ✅ Yes, freely | ✅ Yes, freely |
| Can use internally? | ✅ Yes, freely | ✅ Yes, freely |
| Can redistribute? | ✅ Yes, freely | ✅ Yes (source only) |
| Can compete commercially? | ✅ Yes — anyone can build a competing SaaS | ❌ No — cannot offer as hosted service |
| Patent protection? | ✅ Yes, explicit grant | ⚠️ Varies by implementation |
| Enterprise adoption | ✅ Very high — pre-approved at most corps | ⚠️ Medium — needs legal review |
| Becomes open source? | Already is | Yes, after 4 years (converts to Apache/MIT) |
| Used by | Kubernetes, Android, TensorFlow | HashiCorp (Terraform), MariaDB, Couchbase |
🎯 The Key Difference
Apache 2.0: Anyone can take your code and build a competing cloud service. AWS could host "Amazon greatVibe" tomorrow.
BSL 1.1: People can use/modify the code, but cannot offer it as a hosted service. Blocks direct SaaS competition.
✅ My Recommendation: Apache 2.0 for Agent/Local
Your commercial moat is greatVibe.ai (the SaaS platform) — not the agent code itself. Benefits:
- Maximum adoption — enterprises can use without legal review
- Community contributions — easier to attract contributors
- Trust signal — "true" open source builds credibility
- Network effects — more users of agent = more potential SaaS customers
The agent is the funnel, the SaaS is the business.
⚠️ When BSL Makes Sense
Choose BSL if the agent itself is your product and you're worried about:
- AWS/Azure/GCP offering "managed greatVibeAgent"
- Competitors forking and undercutting on price
- No differentiated SaaS to fall back on
What's Next?
Choose an action:
Quick Actions
Original Request
No layout configured
Details
Type
General
Status
Completed
Scope
vibetools
Tags
licensinglegalopen-source
Created
6 Jan 2026, 2:10 am
Updated
6 Jan 2026, 2:10 am
Timing
⏱️ 45.1s
0 tools
● TTFE 2%
● Thinking 98%
● Tools 0%
Created By
claude
Raw Data
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"output": "<div style=\"background:#1e1e1e;color:#e0e0e0;padding:20px;border-radius:8px;font-family:sans-serif;\">\n<h2 style=\"color:#fff;margin:0 0 16px 0;\">🔐 Apache 2.0 vs BSL 1.1 — License Comparison</h2>\n\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:16px 0;\">\n<tr style=\"background:#2d2d2d;\">\n<th style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:2px solid #444;color:#61afef;\">Aspect</th>\n<th style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:2px solid #444;color:#98c379;\">Apache 2.0</th>\n<th style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:2px solid #444;color:#e5c07b;\">BSL 1.1</th>\n</tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#252525;\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\"><strong>Type</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\"><span style=\"background:#22c55e;color:#fff;padding:2px 8px;border-radius:4px;font-size:0.85rem;\">OSI Approved</span></td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\"><span style=\"background:#f97316;color:#fff;padding:2px 8px;border-radius:4px;font-size:0.85rem;\">Source Available</span></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\"><strong>Can view source?</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">✅ Yes</td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">✅ Yes</td>\n</tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#252525;\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\"><strong>Can modify?</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">✅ Yes, freely</td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">✅ Yes, freely</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\"><strong>Can use internally?</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">✅ Yes, freely</td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">✅ Yes, freely</td>\n</tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#252525;\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\"><strong>Can redistribute?</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">✅ Yes, freely</td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">✅ Yes (source only)</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\"><strong style=\"color:#c678dd;\">Can compete commercially?</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">✅ <strong>Yes</strong> — anyone can build a competing SaaS</td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">❌ <strong>No</strong> — cannot offer as hosted service</td>\n</tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#252525;\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\"><strong>Patent protection?</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">✅ Yes, explicit grant</td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">⚠️ Varies by implementation</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\"><strong>Enterprise adoption</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">✅ Very high — pre-approved at most corps</td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">⚠️ Medium — needs legal review</td>\n</tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#252525;\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\"><strong>Becomes open source?</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">Already is</td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">Yes, after 4 years (converts to Apache/MIT)</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\"><strong>Used by</strong></td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">Kubernetes, Android, TensorFlow</td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #333;\">HashiCorp (Terraform), MariaDB, Couchbase</td>\n</tr>\n</table>\n\n<div style=\"background:#2d2d2d;padding:16px;border-radius:6px;margin:16px 0;\">\n<h3 style=\"margin:0 0 12px 0;color:#fff;\">🎯 The Key Difference</h3>\n<p style=\"margin:0;line-height:1.6;\"><strong style=\"color:#98c379;\">Apache 2.0:</strong> Anyone can take your code and build a competing cloud service. AWS could host \"Amazon greatVibe\" tomorrow.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:12px 0 0 0;line-height:1.6;\"><strong style=\"color:#e5c07b;\">BSL 1.1:</strong> People can use/modify the code, but <em>cannot</em> offer it as a hosted service. Blocks direct SaaS competition.</p>\n</div>\n\n<div style=\"background:#1a3a1a;border:1px solid #22c55e;padding:16px;border-radius:6px;margin:16px 0;\">\n<h3 style=\"margin:0 0 12px 0;color:#22c55e;\">✅ My Recommendation: Apache 2.0 for Agent/Local</h3>\n<p style=\"margin:0;line-height:1.6;\">Your commercial moat is <strong>greatVibe.ai</strong> (the SaaS platform) — not the agent code itself. Benefits:</p>\n<ul style=\"margin:12px 0 0 0;padding-left:20px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<li><strong>Maximum adoption</strong> — enterprises can use without legal review</li>\n<li><strong>Community contributions</strong> — easier to attract contributors</li>\n<li><strong>Trust signal</strong> — \"true\" open source builds credibility</li>\n<li><strong>Network effects</strong> — more users of agent = more potential SaaS customers</li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"margin:12px 0 0 0;line-height:1.6;\">The agent is the <em>funnel</em>, the SaaS is the <em>business</em>.</p>\n</div>\n\n<div style=\"background:#3a2a1a;border:1px solid #f97316;padding:16px;border-radius:6px;margin:16px 0;\">\n<h3 style=\"margin:0 0 12px 0;color:#f97316;\">⚠️ When BSL Makes Sense</h3>\n<p style=\"margin:0;line-height:1.6;\">Choose BSL if the <em>agent itself</em> is your product and you're worried about:</p>\n<ul style=\"margin:12px 0 0 0;padding-left:20px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<li>AWS/Azure/GCP offering \"managed greatVibeAgent\"</li>\n<li>Competitors forking and undercutting on price</li>\n<li>No differentiated SaaS to fall back on</li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n\n<div style=\"background:#2d2d2d;padding:16px;border-radius:6px;margin-top:16px;\">\n<h4 style=\"margin:0 0 8px 0;color:#fff;\">What's Next?</h4>\n<p style=\"color:#9ca3af;margin:0;\">Choose an action:</p>\n</div>\n</div>",
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{
"label": "Use Apache 2.0",
"value": "Create Apache 2.0 LICENSE file for greatVibe open source repos (agent and .local)",
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"label": "Use BSL 1.1",
"value": "Create BSL 1.1 LICENSE file for greatVibe repos with 4-year conversion clause"
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"label": "Dual License",
"value": "Create both licenses - Apache for agent/local, proprietary for .ai platform"
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"label": "More questions",
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"createdAt": "2026-01-05T16:10:27.457Z",
"updatedAt": "2026-01-05T16:10:32.716Z",
"requestId": "383974bd-69b0-4d10-a1e6-f135a48dd300",
"scope": "vibetools",
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