Just over a year after the controversial license change in Redis, another unexpected twist occurs in the history of this popular in-memory data store.
And is that Redis has officially returned to the world of free software.Starting with version 8.0, Redis is once again available under an open source license, the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPLv3), approved by the Open Source Initiative (OSI).
The SSPL controversy and the break with the community
We must remember that in March 2024, Redis had changed its license to a dual model that combined the Redis Source Available License v2 with the Server Side Public License (SSPL), a decision that sparked a wave of criticism. Although legally viable, the SSPL was not recognized by the OSI as an open source license, which effectively ended Redis's free software status. This change sought to limit free use software by large cloud providers like AWS or Google Cloud, which benefited from Redis without contributing to its developmentHowever, the decision did not sit well with the community.
Projects like Valkey, a fork Led by the Linux Foundation, they emerged as a free alternative to Redis. Even distributions like Fedora considered removing Redis from their repositories, fearing compatibility issues with their free software policies.
Redis' return to its origins
It is worth mentioning that the return of Redis to open source did not happen overnight, since this movement was given thanks to Salvatore Sanfilippo (known as "antirez"), the original creator of Redis, who in November 2024, rejoined the project as a developer and soon began promoting a return to a truly open license. As he explained in an emotional post on the official blog, writing free software is an essential part of his identity as a programmer, and he couldn't imagine his work being distributed under a closed license.
Sanfilippo joined an internal debate already active within Redis, in which several voices had defended the option of adopting the AGPL instead of the SSPLThanks to his leadership and collaboration with CTO Benjamin Renaud, Redis ultimately decided to include the AGPLv3 as a third licensing option alongside the previous ones.
Redis 8, a new path
As we mentioned at the beginning, Redis 8 is the version in which it is introduces the new licensing model and not only that, but also with a lot of improvements and among them highlights the arrival of Vector Sets, The first new data type which adds to Redis in years, designed for machine learning tasks, semantic search and high-dimensional vector retrieval.
Furthermore, Redis 8 natively incorporates technologies that were previously available using the Redis Stack, such as JSON, Time Series, and the Redis Query Engine, Consolidating integration. According to the company, this version includes more than 30 performance improvements, with commands that can be up to 87% faster and overall performance that doubles compared to previous versions.
An uncertain but hopeful future
Given the circumstances in which Redis is positioned, Recovering its position before the controversy will be difficult, as a 2024 study revealed that 83% of large enterprises using Redis had either already adopted Valkey or were considering it in response to licensing changes.
Redis CEO Rowan Trollope also explained the business motivation behind the initial use of the SSPL, pointing to the imbalance that cloud hyperscalers introduce by profiting from open source software without contributing to its sustainability. However, the decision to incorporate the AGPL appears to recognize that preserving open software is the best option.
With the release of Redis 8 under the AGPLv3 license, the project realigns itself with the principles of free software. Although the community has suffered a significant rift, this change represents a serious attempt at reconciliation.
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