December 9, 2025
When “open” gets O’Sassy
'Source available' is not open source (and that's okay)
Open? Open-ish! Internet erupts as tech titans spar
TLDR: DHH called his new app “open source” despite a license that blocks competitors, and Matt Mullenweg pushed back hard. The comments split between strict definitions vs. sustainability hustle, arguing whether words matter more than keeping projects funded—and why this fight affects how the software we all use survives.
Rails creator David Heinemeier Hansson (DHH) launched a new project, Fizzy, and called it “open source.” The catch: his O’SaaSy license blocks anyone from offering a competing hosted version. The Open Source Initiative (OSI) says that’s not open source, and WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg swooped in with a spicy analogy—likening it to North Korea calling itself a democracy. Cue the memes: the internet immediately dubbed it the “O’Sassy” license and started posting “open ≠ open-ish” jokes.
The comments went off. The hardliners cheered the OSI definition, with one blazing take declaring, “DHH can pound sand.” Others argued the words “open source” have a common-sense meaning, snapping back with “No, YOU look,” insisting the term is confusing because it sounds like “source is open.” Meanwhile, pragmatists rolled their eyes at the semantics, calling it “counterproductive bickering between people on the same team.” Sustainability became the real battlefield: some said blocking freeloading companies is fair play; others slammed it as anti‑freedom and bad vibes for community trust. One commenter laid it out simply: “you can read it, run it, modify it—but you can’t compete,” a classic “source available” model.
Bottom line: the web is split between gatekeepers of the definition and hustlers of sustainability, and everyone brought popcorn.
Key Points
- •Fizzy, a new kanban tool by David Heinemeier Hansson, uses the O’SaaSy license that restricts competing SaaS offerings.
- •The article states the O’SaaSy license violates the Open Source Initiative’s Open Source Definition.
- •Matt Mullenweg challenged DHH’s characterization of Fizzy as open source, insisting adherence to OSI’s definition.
- •The author argues sustainability pressures in open source are more critical than semantics, citing uneven corporate contributions.
- •Drupal is experimenting with contribution credits and guidance toward supportive companies; WordPress's long-term GPL licensing limits change.