Is ArangoDB Fully Open Source and Free to Use?

Understanding ArangoDB Licensing and Editions

ArangoDB is a flexible, multi-model database management system that offers both open source and premium editions. It is designed to handle a variety of use cases ranging from simple testing and development to enterprise-level deployments. This article aims to clarify the aspects of ArangoDB licensing, particularly whether it is fully open source and free to use.

ArangoDB Editions Overview

ArangoDB comes in several editions, each tailored to different needs and use cases. Understanding these editions is crucial for deciding which one best suits your requirements.

Community Edition

The Community Edition of ArangoDB is fully open source and free to use. This edition is designed for developers, testers, and hobbyists. It offers a wide range of features that are essential for getting started with ArangoDB without any restrictions.

As a tester, developer, or a hobbyist, the Community Edition is more than sufficient for long-term use. However, there are certain limitations in terms of features and performance. For instance, the free tier lacks some advanced features and supports limited hardware resources. It is recommended to use this edition as a baseline for development and testing purposes.

Premium Editions

For those who require advanced features and higher performance, ArangoDB offers several premium editions. These editions are not open source and come with a cost. The premium versions are specifically designed for enterprise-level deployments and offer enhanced features, better performance, and additional support.

While the Community Edition is fully open source and free, the premium editions are not. This is necessary to offset the development and support costs for these advanced features. If your use case requires these additional features, it may be necessary to consider the premium editions.

Usage Considerations

The choice of edition depends primarily on your specific use case. If you are a developer or tester, the Community Edition is an excellent starting point. However, if you are an enterprise user with high performance and reliability requirements, you may need to consider one of the premium editions.

For testing purposes, you can install the Community Edition on Windows and test various features. This can provide you with a solid understanding of how ArangoDB works and whether it meets your requirements.

Installation and Testing

The ArangoDB site provides detailed documentation and guides to help you install and set up ArangoDB, including the Community Edition on Windows. This can be a useful resource for developers and testers who want to explore the system's capabilities.

Once installed, you can test various features of the Community Edition. This can include database operations, querying, indexing, and other functionalities. By testing these features, you can determine if ArangoDB is the right fit for your needs.

Conclusion

In summary, ArangoDB does offer a fully open source and free Community Edition, which is suitable for developers, testers, and hobbyists. However, for enterprise-level deployments and advanced use cases, premium editions are available. The premium editions are not open source and carry a cost to cover development and support costs.

The best option for you will depend on your specific requirements and use case. The ArangoDB site provides comprehensive documentation and resources to help you choose the right edition for your needs.