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HOW TO KEEP AN OPEN-SOURCE
APP TOGETHER WITH
COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS?
TATIANA KRUPENYA
March 23, 2023

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o I am the CEO of DBeaver Corporation
o DBeaver is a UI tool for database management and
administration
o DBeaver was born as an open-source project in 2011
o The number of DBeaver users has grown to more
than 8 million
o DBeaver is used in every country in the world
NICE TO MEET YOU

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WHY DO PEOPLE START OSS PROJECT
INDIVIDUALS BUSINESS
Ø I have a great tool, and I want
to share it with people.
Ø I have a great business idea, and I will
distribute all the required software for free.
Ø We thought we could sell this software, but
no one wanted to buy it. So, we decided to
publish it as OSS.
Ø OSS is cool. If we want to attract more
customers, we have to create our own OSS
product.

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WHY DO PEOPLE STOP OSS PROJECT

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SUPPORT
We will help you to setup the
system and integrate it to your
infrastructure.
COMMERCIAL FEATURES
You will only get these things if
you pay for the product.
HOW TO MAKE MONEY ON OSS
LIMITATIONS
You cannot do this with OSS.
FEATURES ON THE TOP
We have prepared special
add-ons that make the product
even better.
SECURITY AND TRUSTNESS
We are ready to confirm that
the product is safe.
LATE DELIVERY
All new features will first be
available in the commercial
version.

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KNOW YOUR COMPETITOR
from: https://wallpapercave.com/three-spider-man-wallpapers

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SUPPORT
We will help you to setup the
system and integrate it to your
infrastructure.
COMMERCIAL FEATURES
You will only get these things if
you pay for the product.
HOW TO NOT MAKE MONEY WITH OSS
LIMITATIONS
You cannot do this with OSS.
FEATURES ON THE TOP
We have prepared special
add-ons that make the product
even better.
SECURITY AND TRUSTNESS
We are ready to confirm that
the product is safe.
LATE DELIVERY
All new features will first be
available in the commercial
version.
I’ll ask community about this. I don’t need it. I use it for my personal needs.
I don’t need it. Security auto-checks are enough. I’m ready to wait.

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o I believe that most of my users
want to buy my product.
o I believe that most of my users are
ready to buy my product.
o I believe I will attract even more
users to my paid product than to
my OSS.
MY COMMUNITY IS MY CUSTOMERS

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COMMUNITY FORCES
Your community can bring you much more than money.

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COMMUNITY FORCES
Recommendations
Localization
Testing
Support
Promotion
Contribution

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HOW TO GROW YOUR COMMUNITY
o Develop your open-source product
together with commercial ones
o Build a friendly infrastructure for the
users of the open-source product
o Create an environment for the
contributors
o Keep an eye on the community culture

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46%
36%
18%
Your vision
Customer needs
Community requests
HINT 1 TO SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE
DEVELOPMENT

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HINT 2 TO SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE
INFRASTRUCTURE
FOR USERS
o Simple access to your product
o Predictable release cycle
o Clear documentation

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HINT 3 TO SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE
ENVIRONMENT
FOR CONTIBUTORS
o Organize a contribution space
o Make working with a community
a routine task for your team
o Provide contribution guides

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HINT 4 TO SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE
CULTURE
Build any community you like.
But build it with respect to community members.

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FIND THE BALANCE

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1. Determine your business model
2. Determine the most valuable things for your community
3. Determine the benefits you get from the community
4. Create a development strategy for your OSS and commercial products
5. Build an infrastructure that simplifies your collaboration with contributors
LONG STORY SHORT
How to keep an open-source app together with commercial products?

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o To sell your products globally
o To not spend money on advertisements
o To be the first to find critical issues
o To test your products end to end
o To provide free support for your users
IF IT WAS A BUSINESS BOOK
ONLY 1 HOUR WITH A COMMUNITY PER DAY HELPS YOU:

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THANK YOU
USEFUL LINKS
EMAIL: tati@dbeaver.com
DBEAVER GITHUB: github.com/dbeaver
DBEAVER COMMUNITY: dbeaver.io
DBEAVER PRO: dbeaver.com