Redis Reinstates Open Source Status with AGPLv3 Licensing

Redis, the widely used memory warehouse, has restored its open source status by adopting GNU general public license 3 for its main software. This movement, effective with the release of Redis 8.0, marks a significant change of its previous double license model and aims to repair tense relations with the developer community.

The decision to reveal to an open source license follows an dispute period that began in March 2024 when Redis made the transition of the permissive license of BSD 3 clause to a double license model that includes the Source Licenses of Redis. This change restricted certain commercial uses, partly by cloud service providers, which caused criticism of the open source community and the appearance of forks such as Valkey.

Salvatore Sanfilippo, the original creator of Redis, who had moved away from the project in 2020, joined the company in November 2024 as an evangelist of developers. His return played a fundamental role in the project guide to his open source roots. Sanfilippo expressed satisfaction with the change of license, emphasizing a renewed commitment to community participation and open development practices.

The adoption of AGPLV3 is intended to align Redis more closely with the expectations of its user base and promote a more collaborative development environment. This license guarantees that any modification made to the software, even when used on a network, are shared with the community, therefore, the transparency of promotion and shared innovation.

Redis 8.0 introduces several improvements, including performance improvements and new features that meet modern application requirements. The launch also integrates Redis Stack, providing an integral set of tools for developers. By consolidating the thesis offer under an open source license, Redis aims to optimize its ecosystem and promote the broader adoption.

The company’s leadership has indicated that they are not plans to alter the current license model, suggest a stable and predictable framework for users and taxpayers advanced. This stability is expected to reassure organizations that depend on Redis for critical infrastructure, as well as developers who contribute to their continuous development.