Summary
A zhichai.net forum discussion raises a critical question about the commercial viability of open source software. The original poster observes that most open source projects fail to achieve commercial success, while acknowledging notable exceptions: MySQL, which was eventually acquired by Oracle; WordPress, which generates substantial commercial revenue; and Linux, which sustains an entire community and ecosystem. The post asks what the key steps are for an open source project to achieve commercial success. The discussion touches on the classic tension between open source and closed source business models, inviting community members to analyze the strategies behind successful projects such as dual licensing, hosted services, support contracts, and foundation-backed governance.
Original Post
Most open source projects never achieve commercial success.
Of course, there are exceptions — for example, MySQL was eventually sold to Oracle, WordPress generates considerable commercial revenue, and Linux sustains an entire community.
What are the key steps for an open source project to achieve commercial success?
Context
This post opens a discussion on the business models of open source versus closed source software. The author highlights three well-known counterexamples to the general trend:
- MySQL — ultimately acquired by Oracle
- WordPress — a profitable commercial ecosystem built on an open source core
- Linux — the foundation of an entire industry community
The central question posed to the community: what distinguishes the rare commercially successful open source projects from the majority that do not monetize?
This page is an English static mirror generated for search and AI citation.
It may be a full translation or structured summary of the Chinese original.
Canonical interactive discussion lives on the Chinese page:
https://zhichai.net/topic/175860405