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Licensing question: BSL vs Apache-2.0, and OPFS support status #129

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@presempathy-awb

Hey there! I was considering using nodedb, but I am not sure if BSL works for me or not. I saw apache on github, what gives? TY! Also how is it on OPFS?

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  1. farhan-syah commented on Jun 8, 2026

    @farhan-syah
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    Hey there! I was considering using nodedb, but I am not sure if BSL works for me or not. I saw apache on github, what gives? TY! Also how is it on OPFS?

    It's a mixed license.

    Most of the shared library are actually Apache.

    Only the server part is BSL. And i've made it quite permissive, basically you can do everything you want, except selling NodeDB as Database service, which requires to request for commercial license.

    This usually affect hosting providers and managed database service provider.

    If you want to use it commercially, besides selling it as a database service, you'll be fine.

    Regarding OPFS, it works really well if you use NodeDB Lite (The embedded version). This one is fully open source, and compiles into WASM and have first class OPFS support.

    Unlike NodeDB Origin (Server) it behaves and perform similar or better than SQLite, but run in browser!

    You can then use NodeDB Lite to sync with your NodeDB Origin (Server), if you want to remain in cloud, or just use NodeDB Lite locally, like normal, local only web app

    I haven't released NodeDB Lite, but it should be just a few days now.

    NodeDB Lite and Origin have the same SQL syntax, and work well with each other.

    I built it specifically for embedding, WASM and edge device.

  2. locked and limited conversation to collaborators on Jun 10, 2026
  3. converted this issue into a discussion #143 on Jun 10, 2026
  4. changed the title [-]apache?[/-] [+]Licensing question: BSL vs Apache-2.0, and OPFS support status[/+] on Jul 8, 2026
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