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Business Source License 1.1

Dockhand is licensed under the Business Source License 1.1 (BSL 1.1), which provides a fair and sustainable licensing model for both users and developers.

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Key Information

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License Parameters

  • Licensor: Finsys / Jarek Krochmalski
  • Licensed Work: Dockhand
  • Copyright: (c) 2025-2026 Finsys / Jarek Krochmalski
  • Change Date: January 1, 2029
  • Change License: Apache License, Version 2.0

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What This Means

On January 1, 2029, Dockhand will automatically convert to the Apache License 2.0, making it fully open source under one of the most permissive licenses available.

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Permitted Uses

You may use Dockhand for any purpose, including production use, except offering it as a commercial hosted service to third parties where the primary value is Docker container management.

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Explicitly Permitted Uses

The following uses are completely free and unrestricted:
Free for:
  • Home labs and hobby projects
  • Personal learning and experimentation
  • Side projects and portfolio work
  • Any non-commercial personal use
Free for:
  • Managing your organization’s Docker infrastructure
  • Any number of Docker environments
  • Any company size (startup to enterprise)
  • Internal tools and platforms
  • Development, staging, and production environments
Free for:
  • Charitable entities
  • Educational institutions
  • Research organizations
  • Open source projects
  • Community services
Free for:
  • Academic purposes
  • Student projects
  • Research projects
  • Training and workshops
  • Classroom use
Free for:
  • Testing and evaluation
  • Development and demos
  • Proof of concepts
  • Performance testing
  • Feature exploration
Free for:
  • Embedding in internal tools
  • Integration into platforms (not offered commercially)
  • Custom dashboards
  • Automation systems
  • CI/CD pipelines
Free for:
  • Managing Docker infrastructure on behalf of clients
  • Providing infrastructure management services
  • Using Dockhand as a tool (not the service itself)
  • Client infrastructure support
Note: MSPs can use Dockhand to manage client infrastructure, provided they don’t offer Dockhand itself as the primary commercial service product.

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Restricted Use

The only restriction is:
You may not offer Dockhand, or any derivative work of Dockhand, to third parties as a commercial hosted service, managed service, or software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering where the primary value proposition to users is Docker container management functionality substantially similar to the Licensed Work.

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What Requires a Commercial License

You need a commercial license if you want to:
  • Offer Dockhand as a hosted SaaS product to customers
  • Sell Dockhand as a managed service where it’s the primary offering
  • Build a competing commercial Docker management platform based on Dockhand

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What Does NOT Require a Commercial License

  • Using Dockhand internally in your company (any size)
  • Using Dockhand to manage client infrastructure as an MSP
  • Embedding Dockhand in internal tools
  • Using Dockhand for personal projects
  • Contributing to the Dockhand project

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Rights Granted

Under the BSL 1.1, the Licensor grants you the right to:
  • Copy the Licensed Work
  • Modify and create derivative works
  • Redistribute the Licensed Work
  • Make non-production use of the Licensed Work
  • Make production use as permitted by the Additional Use Grant

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License Conversion

On the Change Date (January 1, 2029), or four years after the first public distribution of a specific version (whichever comes first), Dockhand will convert to the Apache License 2.0. After conversion, all restrictions are lifted, and Dockhand becomes fully open source.

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Commercial Licensing

If your use case requires a commercial license (offering Dockhand as a SaaS), please contact: Commercial licenses may include:
  • Enterprise features
  • Priority support
  • Custom integrations
  • Service level agreements (SLAs)

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License Display

You must conspicuously display this License on each original or modified copy of the Licensed Work. If you receive the Licensed Work from a third party, the terms of this License apply to your use.

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Termination

Any use of the Licensed Work in violation of this License will automatically terminate your rights under this License for the current and all other versions of the Licensed Work.

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Trademarks

This License does not grant you any right in any trademark or logo of the Licensor or its affiliates. You may use a trademark or logo of the Licensor only as expressly required by this License.

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Warranty Disclaimer

TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE LICENSED WORK IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” BASIS. LICENSOR HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING (WITHOUT LIMITATION) WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND TITLE.

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Why BSL 1.1?

The Business Source License was chosen to:
  1. Enable Free Use: Allow individuals, businesses, and organizations to use Dockhand freely
  2. Ensure Sustainability: Prevent large companies from offering Dockhand as a competing service without contributing back
  3. Guarantee Open Source Future: Automatically convert to Apache 2.0, ensuring Dockhand becomes fully open source
  4. Protect Innovation: Allow the project to grow sustainably while remaining accessible

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Comparison with Other Licenses

BSL 1.1 provides similar freedoms to open source licenses, with one key restriction: you cannot offer the software as a competing SaaS.Open Source licenses (like Apache 2.0) allow anyone to offer the software as a service, which can undermine sustainability.BSL converts to open source (Apache 2.0) after the Change Date, providing the best of both worlds.
BSL 1.1 allows you to view, modify, and redistribute the source code freely.Proprietary licenses typically restrict access to source code and limit modification and distribution rights.BSL is more permissive than proprietary licenses while protecting against unfair competition.
BSL 1.1 has fewer restrictions than Fair Source licenses and converts to fully open source.Fair Source often limits the number of users or has permanent restrictions.BSL is more permissive and has a guaranteed open source future.

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Full License Text

The complete Business Source License 1.1 text is available in the repository at:
  • LICENSE.txt
  • Included in all distribution packages
  • Embedded in the Docker image

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FAQ

Yes! Dockhand is free for personal use, internal business use, non-profits, education, and most other uses. The only restriction is offering it as a commercial SaaS.
Yes! You can modify Dockhand and create derivative works. Modified versions are subject to the same license terms.
Yes! You can redistribute Dockhand, provided you include the license and comply with its terms.
On January 1, 2029, Dockhand will automatically convert to the Apache License 2.0, making it fully open source.
Yes! MSPs can use Dockhand to manage client infrastructure, provided they don’t offer Dockhand itself as the primary service product.
No! Internal business use is completely free, regardless of company size or number of environments.
Yes! Contributions are welcome. You’ll be asked to sign a CLA to ensure contributions are properly licensed. See the Contributing Guide.
If you’re unsure whether your use case requires a commercial license, contact us at dockhand.pro for clarification.

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Resources

For licensing inquiries, commercial licensing, or enterprise features: Website: dockhand.pro
This page provides a summary of the Business Source License 1.1 as applied to Dockhand. The full license text is the authoritative document for all legal purposes.

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