Why Falcon is Open Source
We open-sourced Falcon on day one because logbooks die when companies die.
The problem with closed logbooks
Every digital logbook you've ever used is tied to a company. That company can pivot, get acquired, or just shut down. When it does, your flight records become a migration problem - if you can get them out at all.
Open source breaks that. The code is public. If we disappear tomorrow, anyone can pick it up, host it, and keep it going. Your logbook doesn't expire when our business does.
What open source means for you
- Transparency - every line of code is visible. No hidden data handling, no surprises
- Longevity - the project survives as long as people want to use it. Not as long as a company wants to run it
- Community - bugs get spotted and fixed by people who actually use the app. Features get suggested by pilots, not product managers
The license
Falcon is licensed under PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0. In plain English:
- You can use it for personal, hobby, or educational flying
- You can modify it and share your changes, as long as it's noncommercial
- You cannot sell it or bundle it into a paid product
- You must keep the copyright and license notices intact
Falcon Cloud will be a separate paid service covering hosting costs. The app itself stays free and noncommercial. That's the line we won't cross.
The bottom line
Spreadsheets work until they break. Proprietary apps work until they don't. Open source works as long as pilots need it. We're betting that's a long time.