Terraform implications for users and the open source community

HashiCorp’s Terraform has shifted from the Mozilla Public License (MPL 2.0) to the Business Source License (BSL), signaling an enterprise-focused direction backed by commercial customers. This change reshapes how users, providers, and the open-source community interact with Terraform’s core code.

Community Response and the Birth of OpenTofu

In reaction to the BSL, developers and organizations united to create a fully open-source fork. What began as OpenTF quickly transformed into OpenTofu, a project championed by a growing manifesto of contributors. Endorsements from leading companies and foundations underscore the community’s commitment to open governance.

The image discusses the impact of Terraform's shift on users and the open-source community, highlighting the creation of OpenTofu, which evolved from OpenTF and received support from numerous companies, projects, foundations, and individuals.

Community collaboration has proven powerful in maintaining a vendor-neutral Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool.

License Timeline

The licensing trajectory for Terraform is summarized below:

Terraform Version	License	Key Impact
1.0 – 1.5.7	Mozilla Public License 2.0 (MPL 2.0)	Fully open-source, no usage restrictions
1.6+	Business Source License (BSL)	Source available, production use restricted after a period

Note

The Business Source License provides source code access but limits commercial distribution for a defined time. Review HashiCorp’s BSL terms for complete details.

The image discusses the impact of Terraform's shift to a Business Source License (BSL) from version 1.6 onward, affecting users and the open-source community.

OpenTofu’s Early Milestones

Since its launch, OpenTofu has quickly achieved significant benchmarks:

OpenTofu 1.6.0: First stable release, fully compatible with Terraform 1.6.
September 20, 2023: Official project announcement by the Linux Foundation.
Within two months: Pledges from over 140 organizations and 600 individuals, reflecting broad industry support.

The image announces that on September 20, 2023, the Linux Foundation declared the formation of OpenTofu.

Warning

When migrating existing Terraform configurations to OpenTofu, ensure you update provider references and verify compatibility in a staging environment before production rollout.

With robust backing from the Linux Foundation and a vibrant contributor base, OpenTofu is set to become the leading open-source IaC solution for users seeking a fully unrestricted Terraform experience.

Links and References

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