[the_precipitate]

Playing devil’s advocate here, I do have some doubts about the future dynamics between open source and database systems. Andy Pavlo mentioned in his CMU DB course that nowadays new database companies are either fully closed-source or only open a small portion of non-essential code.

If you think about it, databases are arguably a more critical piece of IT infrastructure than cybersecurity products. Yet, while cybersecurity companies are thriving with many company valuations exceeding $10 billion, database companies—especially those embracing open source—struggle to achieve similar commercial success. The few database companies that do reach high valuations are typically based on closed-source products, while those adopting open-source models often face significant challenges in becoming profitable.

It's also worth noting that many companies in the database space have recently changed their licenses around open source or source availability. If major players like MongoDB, ElasticSearch, and Redis are all making these tough decisions to build sustainable businesses, it might not be fair to simply blame corporate greed. Without adequate returns on investment, venture funding for database development could dry up, which would ultimately stifle innovation in this crucial sector.