Podcasts Technology Software Defined Talk Episode 162: The diapers.com effect, also, LTS and the mysteries of software pricing

Episode 162: The diapers.com effect, also, LTS and the mysteries of software pricing

Published: Jan. 18, 2019, 9 a.m.

Are we still on that open source licensing thing? Yes. \u201cThe most boring topic of all time.\u201d Also, Slack's logo and long term support software monetization models: how do they work?

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Summary:

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  • \u201cDiapers.com buster (AKA Amazon)\u201d
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  • \u201cWhat is someone really selling with LTS?\u201d
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  • \u201cArtful genitals.\u201d
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  • \u201cIt\u2019s not butt ducks\u201d
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  • \u201cI\u2019ve had three dogs since then\u2026\u201d
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  • Microsoft laughed.
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This week\u2019s cover art from TheNextWeb.

\n\nMONGO, MONGO, MONGO!\n\n
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  • MongoDB Issues New Server Side Public License for MongoDB Community Server
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  • MongoDB not in RHEL 8.0
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  • MongoDB "open-source" Server Side Public License rejected
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  • AWS vs. open source: DocumentDB is the latest battlefront
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  • AWS gives open source the middle finger
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  • AWS, MongoDB, and the Economic Realities of Open Source (Ben Thompson)\nFine, fine\u2026but music companies didn\u2019t \u201csell\u201d CDs, they sold music. Authors don\u2019t \u201csell\u201d printed books, they sell stories. They sell IP. The medium isn\u2019t the product. \n\n
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    • \u201cThis trade-off is inescapable, and it is fair to wonder if the golden age of VC-funded open source companies will start to fade (although not open source generally). The monetization model depends on the friction of on-premise software; once cloud computing is dominant, the economic model is much more challenging.\u201d
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    • There\u2019s some ponderous gyrating between public cloud being good at managed hosting/services (they run the stuff well) vs. software (their features are unique/good).
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  • Ben\u2019s follow-up (subscription required):\n\n
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    • \u201c Atlas was only 8% of total revenue last year, which grew 57% year-over-year; that means that Atlas itself grew 330% year-over-year, from $3.3 million to $14.3 million. Of course cost of revenue grew 68% as well, thanks to a $4.1 million increase in hosting costs (AWS wins either way), but particularly given the addition of a free Atlas offering, those costs aren\u2019t out of line.\u201d
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  • So, with this \u201cSSPL\u201d thing, AWS would have to open source all of itself, or just the DocumentDB part? \n\n
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    • Here: \u201cThe specific objection is that SSPL requires, if you offer services licensed under it, that you must open-source all programs that you use to make the software available as a service.
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    • From Mongo\u2019s press release on SSPL, Oct. 2018: \u201cThe only substantive change is an explicit condition that any organization attempting to exploit MongoDB as a service must open source the software that it uses to offer such service.\u201d
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  • What would happen if AWS was all open source? Given that few companies could use OpenStack or make their own clouds (even with cloud.com and such), just having the code matters little to a successful cloud business, right?\n\n
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    • Or, maybe it doesn\u2019t mean all of AWS, just the DocumentDB part. Which is, really, the in the spirit of the GPL.
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  • The competitive tactic of forcing competitors to open source their stuff is weird.
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\n\nSDT news & hype\n\n\n\nRecommendations\n\n
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  • Matt: Neil Gaiman\u2019s Norse Mythology.
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  • Brandon: DIRECTV Alexa skill.
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  • Cot\xe9: Peak, but read in, like 4x mode. Summary: (1.) Model the thing learned, (2.) focused exercises, (3.) coaching, (3.) using feedback loops to improve, (4.) stretching yourself. Derry Girls.
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