[3PS]

It doesn't always work, but I like the SQLite model: the core offering is free and open source, but enterprises can pay for things like

* Professional support, including on-prem hosting when applicable

* Additional features that enterprises care about (encrypted databases, SSO)

* Compliance documentation/certifications

[rattray]

How big of a business is SQLite?

[n2d4]

Maybe SQLite isn't that big, but Red Hat makes billions of dollars of annual revenue. GitLab is a public decacorn (or was one yesterday, anyways). Those are good businesses, and I'm pretty sure a good chunk of us run software from both of these.

[_1tem]

It’s a one man company run by Richard Hipp.

[graemep]

Big enough to keep the developers happy to keep working on it. That is all that matters.

[mritchie712]

This is how DuckDB is structured too:

DuckDB Labs: The core contributors. Instead of developing features that will be behind a paywall, they provide support and consulting.

DuckDB Foundation: A non-profit that ensures DuckDB remains MIT licensed.

0 - https://x.com/thisritchie/status/1797962367571239309

[paulddraper]

FWIW SQLite has 3 developers, and I don't think it's even full-time for all of them.

This can work because SQLite is deliberately a very small yet very high impact project.

Very few projects (unfortunately) can boast that.