Hey everyone! So, the future of open source… it's a big question, right? Will it stay free? That's what we're diving into today. Let's be real, open source has been a game-changer. Think about it – all those amazing tools and technologies, available to anyone, anywhere. It's pretty awesome.

But lately, I've been seeing some trends that make me wonder. We're seeing more and more companies getting involved, and sometimes, their motives aren't entirely altruistic. You know what I mean? Sometimes it feels like, 'Hey, let's make this open source, but then we'll charge for support, or premium features,' or some other sneaky stuff.

And then there's the whole sustainability issue. Maintaining open-source projects takes time, effort, and money. Who's paying for all that? It's not always clear. It's a bit of a wild west out there, if you ask me.

I know, this is wild — but stay with me. I think one of the keys is community involvement. Strong communities can help ensure projects stay alive and kicking, even if there isn't a big corporation bankrolling them. Think of it as a collective effort to keep things free and accessible. It's all about collaboration, sharing knowledge, and, well, keeping things open.

But what about the future? I think it's going to be a mix. Some projects will always be completely free and open. Others might adopt more of a freemium model – free to use, but with paid options for extra features or support. And some might become proprietary over time, which, you know, is a bummer.

So, my guess is that the future of open source is going to be diverse. It won't be a simple 'yes' or 'no' to the 'will it stay free?' question. It will depend on the project, its community, and the funding models it adopts. And that's totally fine.

Have you tried this? Would love to hear your take!