Agree with the above, they are VC backed and not open-source (Any Source Available License 1.0). Given the Skiff story it just not worth it.
Any company can turn 180 on their users, regardless of VC fund. Unless there’s a law to prohibit someone from selling the company in their procession.
Yes, given the license, the only limitation is commercial use. Other than that, people can fork, edit, redistribute however they want:
Any Association grants you (“Licensee”) a license to use, modify, and redistribute the Software, but only (a) for Non-Commercial Use, or (b) for Commercial Use in Allowed Networks.
So, what is the issue with the license?
There are many paid alternatives to Anytype already. Again, the license allows non-commercial fork. So, after Anytype’s demise a free fork can exist (from Anytype’s code base).
When we’re talking about Skiff story, we must put the context into consideration. When Skiff sunset their services, their users were doom, since there’s no way to use any part of the services further. If this happens to Anytype, nothing will happen, like every other abandoned FOSS software out there. People would migrate to a new app whenever it’s available. Otherwise, there are paid options available regardless of Anytype.
I feel like the Skiff story put more harm than good to the community. Maybe, we should make it clear that what’s nonsense to consider. Otherwise, there will be zero app/service that we can recommend.
What will happen is PG will remove another service from their recommendations and will look stupid. The more situations like this happens the less credible PG look like. Let Anytype prove itself first, then it’ll make sence to start considering them. Their apps are not even stable yet.
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Nice catch. That’s still a significant downside imo and if Anytype fails, that probably means development will stop (since another company can’t make a profit off of it).
Does anyone know of any alternatives that ideally have the organizational capacities of something like Notion (I don’t use Notion, but some of the features it offers seem useful) while also being encrypted (so that I can self-host for friends/family as well)?
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The part where you are forbidden from sublicensing your work, which is the entire point of open-source licenses like GPL.
These terms do not allow Licensee to sublicense or transfer any of Licensee’s rights to anyone else.
Any “forks” of the software made are hamstrung by the fact that you will only ever own the changes. The underlying code will still be owned by AnyType.
If Licensee makes available a copy of the Software to any third party, the Software must be subject to the terms of this license only, and Licensee must provide a copy of this license to that third party. If Licensee makes changes or additions to the Software, Licensee may license those changes or additions under terms of your choice, but Licensee cannot change the license for the Software.
When we’re talking about Skiff story, we must put the context into consideration. When Skiff sunset their services, their users were doom, since there’s no way to use any part of the services further. If this happens to Anytype, nothing will happen, like every other abandoned FOSS software out there. People would migrate to a new app whenever it’s available. Otherwise, there are paid options available regardless of Anytype.
The harm wrought isn’t just to the users, but also to PG’s reputation. Getting people to switch to more private apps is already difficult enough. Having to tell them that you were wrong and you should use something else instead is liable to make them stop listening altogether.
People would migrate to a new app whenever it’s available.
Most of the time, people aren’t liable to just “switch apps”, especially for a service like AnyType that facilitates constructing systems in your notes.
Unlike markdown, that’s not something easily transferable. And if forced to do it, that might also build resentment, worsening the aforementioned reputation loss.
But VCs do add external pressure for ROI. That’s part of how they work.
We’re not suggesting PG blacklist Anytype forever, but until we know how they plan on earning money, then PG should hold off on recommending them.
We can’t eliminate risk entirely, but there’s also nothing to be gained from PG listing them early.
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Looks like these are going to be the plans/options or you can selfhost…
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Anytype brings the ability of sharing spaces. It’s on the way to become a true E2EE notion alternative.