Database Reference
In-Depth Information
The support program for Neo4j is typically something that is most needed at
the beginning of the process (as that is when the development teams have most
questions about the new technology that they are using), but it is often only
sought at the end of a development cycle.
The license conditions
For the slightly more complicated bit, Neo Technologyhaschosenveryspeciic
licensing terms for Neo4j, which may seem a tad complicated but actually really
supports the following goals:
• Promoting open source software
• Promoting community development of Neo4j
• Assuring the long-term viability of the Neo4j project by providing
for a revenue stream.
This is achieved in the following ways:
• The Community Edition uses the GNU Public License Version 3 (GPLv3)
as its licensing terms. This means that you may copy, distribute, and modify
thesoftwareaslongasyoutrackchanges/datesofinsourceilesandkeep
modiicationsunderGPL.YoucandistributeyourapplicationusingaGPL
library commercially, but you must also provide the source code. It is therefore
a very viral license and requires you to open source your code—but only if
your code directly interfaces with the Neo4j code through the Java API. If
you are using the REST API, then there are little or no contamination effects
and you can just use Neo4j at will.
• The Enterprise Edition uses a so-called dual license model. This means that
users of the Neo4j Enterprise Edition can choose one of two options:
° Either they adhere to the Affero GNU Public License Version 3
(AGPLv3), which is sometimes also referred to as the "GPL for
the web".
The AGPL license differs from the other GNU licenses in that it was
built for network software. Similar conditions apply as to the GPL;
however, it is even more "viral" in the sense that it requires you to
open source your code not only when you link your code on the
same machine (through Neo4j's Java API), but also if you interface
with Neo4j over the network (through Neo4j's REST API). So, this
means that if you use Neo4j's Enterprise Edition for free, you have
to open source your code.
