Talk Intermediate FSL-1.1-ALv2 (Functional Source License v1.1)

Sentry Wrote Its Own License. Is "Fair Source" Actually Fair to You?

Review Pending

Session Description

Sentry started open source, moved to the Business Source License, and now has authored an entirely new license called the Functional Source License (FSL) branding it "freedom without free-riding." FSL converts to Apache 2.0 or MIT after two years, which sounds generous, but it's still not OSI-approved open source today. Here's what that actually means for your stack, your compliance team, and your self-hosted setup.

Key Takeaways

FSL is source-available, not true open source.
Users can self-host freely but cannot compete commercially with Sentry.
Code automatically converts to Apache 2.0 after 2 years.
Compliance and legal review are still important with FSL.
The license aims to balance developer sustainability with source access.

References

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/aakash-dhakshnamoorthy-6909991ab_fossunited-opensource-iitmadras-activity-7459198656550932480-Is3S?

Session Categories

Knowledge Commons (Open Hardware, Open Science, Open Data etc.)

Talk License: FSL-1.1-ALv2 (Functional Source License v1.1)

Speakers

Aakash Dhakshnamoorthy AI/ML Engineer | Zenardy Technology

I am Aakash Dhakshnamoorthy, an AI/ML Engineer & Strategist in the R&D Department at Zenardy Technologies and an Oracle Certified GenAI Professional and Data Scientist. My expertise spans Python, Generative AI, DevOps, Jenkins, React, and JavaScript, with a strong focus on Generative AI application development and AI Agent workflows.

I am a winner and mentor of the Smart India Hackathon 2022 and was among the Indian nominees for the UNESCO India Africa Hackathon. Over the years, I have actively contributed to the AI and technology ecosystem through speaking engagements, mentorship, and community initiatives.

I have been a speaker at events including the Global AI Bootcamp, Dev Summit, Microsoft AI workshops, and Google AI Agent workflow sessions, where I share insights on AI, cloud technologies, and emerging innovations.

I have also delivered sessions on AI, Machine Learning, Azure, Google Cloud, and AI Agents for college students and aspiring developers. As a mentor in multiple AI-focused hackathons, I enjoy helping participants solve real-world problems using AI technologies.

As an open-source enthusiast, I actively contribute to the developer ecosystem as a core member of the Elasticsearch Chennai community and through my involvement with FOSS United and Google Developer Groups, collaborating on initiatives that promote innovation, knowledge sharing, and open technology adoption.

Beyond my professional work, I am passionate about teaching underprivileged students, participating in environmental initiatives, and exploring painting and design blending creativity with technology to innovate and inspire.

Bhavya Srii Software Engineer | ILink Digital

I am Bhavya Srii, a Software Engineer at iLink Digital, specializing in Data Engineering with expertise in PySpark, Python, SQL, and Microsoft Fabric. I focus on building scalable data pipelines and AI-driven solutions that enable efficient and intelligent data workflows.

I am also an open-source enthusiast and actively mentor college students, helping them grow in technology and encouraging them to contribute to the developer community.

As a finalist at the Smart India Hackathon and a speaker across communities like Google Developer Groups Chennai, I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experiences in Data Engineering, AI, Cloud Technologies, and emerging tech trends.

Reviews

This is a relevant topic for the FOSS community. It would be great if the talk also covers common open-source licenses and explains how newer licenses like FSL affect developers, self-hosting, businesses, and the wider OSS ecosystem. That would make the session more useful for attendees.

Reviewer #1 Not Sure