ModelingToolkit V11 Library Split and Licensing (discourse.julialang.org)

The SciML Steering Council has announced a significant decision regarding the future of the ModelingToolkit (MTK), which involves splitting the library into two distinct components: a base library called MTKBase under the MIT license, and an add-on library hosted by JuliaHub under the AGPL license. This move stems from concerns that major companies are utilizing MTK for commercial benefits without contributing back to the open-source ecosystem, impacting ongoing development. JuliaHub, which has largely driven MTK’s advances, stated it can no longer support the “product-like” aspects of MTK under the MIT license due to funding constraints. This split is crucial for the AI/ML community as it introduces a more restrictive licensing model for some components of MTK, which may deter commercial use and collaboration. While MTKBase will maintain an unrestricted MIT license allowing seamless integration for existing projects, the AGPL license for the add-on will impose requirements on modification and distribution that may conflict with some companies' policies. The SciML council aims to gather community feedback to refine this approach before finalizing the decision, highlighting the need for ongoing contributions and collaboration to support the library's long-term viability.