This is an add-on to my previous post…
Now this Spring acquisition is it really a big win for Apache as Matt says? Or is it really only a (minor) win for the ASL license? I would say the latter. When has there been a business success story for any project hosted at Apache.org on the magnitude of the SS, JBoss, or MySql? I don’t think the Gluecode guys or ServiceMix guys got much money.
This goes to an original point I made some time ago that Apache.org is a horrible place to build a business as Apache owns your brand. I know that’s how they like it and to each his own.
Bill the Plumber 
Aug 25, 2009 @ 19:47:54
I think Lucid Imagination is a better pro-Apache example (yet still startup stage). Of course search is an entire category where the spring framework (the AL piece) is only a “developer preference” type framework. This is a bias for engines rather than APIs. On the other hand I think the SpringSource acquisition is a bit of a rebut for Apache and Apache Licensing. They sold after acquiring Hyperic (not AL), TC-Server (not AL) and DM-Server (not Apache license). So to be clear Apache licensing is clear for adoption of frameworks. It is far less clear for engines.
Aug 25, 2009 @ 20:03:32
Andy!!! Good to hear from you! Hope things are going good!
Aug 25, 2009 @ 20:24:19
Things are pretty good. just busy.