Why GPL instead of AGPL license? - eviltoast

People who use GPLv3 want the code to stay open/libre under any circumstances. If this is the goal, why not use the AGPL instead, even for applications which are not served over a network?

This takes away the possibility that people integrate parts of your program into a proprietary network application, even if this seems improbable. There’s nothing to loose with using this license, but potentially some gain.

Only reason I can think of is that AGPL is less known and trusted which may harm adoption.

  • linuxPIPEpower@discuss.tchncs.de
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    11 months ago

    @rbn@feddit.ch made a well structured comment using bullet points. It can be read pretty quickly but I guess the tldr is the last line:

    There is a lot of uncertainty when using AGPL software in a business context which will - in many cases - lead to the decision not to use the software at all.

    if you want to know why you have to spend 20 seconds reading the preceding text.