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Placemark is going open source and shutting down (macwright.com)

565 points by Tomte · 1013 days ago · 132 comments on HN

Article summary

Placemark, a startup, is shutting down due to inability to achieve sustainability. The founder, Tom MacWright, will release the full source code of the site later in January, after turning off signups and allowing existing customers to use it for free until January 19, 2024. The founder reflects on the experience of building Placemark, noting it was fun but failing to find success was hard. The code will be open-sourced, potentially allowing it to live on as a community-maintained project.

Main themes

  • open-sourcing code
  • startup failure
  • sustainability
  • intellectual property
  • community maintenance
  • business value

What commenters say

  • Some argue that startups should commit to open-sourcing their code from the beginning, in case the company fails.
  • Others believe that open-sourcing code after a company fails can create an incentive for the public to see the product fail, as they can wait for the code to be released for free.
  • It is suggested that the value of a company lies in its people, structure, and brand, rather than its intellectual property, which can be open-sourced.
  • A counterpoint is that open-sourcing code can make a company more valuable, as it provides a potential alternative for customers if the company is acquired or shut down.
  • Some commenters think that open-sourcing code is not always a viable option, as intellectual property can be locked down by investors or debtors.
  • There is a discussion about whether open-sourcing code can lead to a sustainable, community-maintained project, with some arguing that it is unlikely without a dedicated company behind it.
  • Others point out that even if a project is open-sourced, it may not be easily maintainable by anyone, requiring significant time and effort to learn and understand the codebase.
  • A few commenters note that the decision to open-source code may be influenced by the founder's personal feelings and motivations, rather than purely business considerations.