It's FOSS

Skiff is a very privacy-friendly alternative to the big tech offerings.

https://news.itsfoss.com/skiff-mail-review/

Skiff is a Dashing Open-Source Secure Email Alternative to Gmail and Proton Mail

A privacy-friendly answer to Google suite and others. Learn more here.

It's FOSS News
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:30pmMissingLettr
Show threadViktor NagornyyAug 12, 2023

@itsfoss "Skiff developers claim it to be open source, and their source code is available on GitHub. However, as some readers noticed, the licensing might not be entirely open-source compatible."

Actually, Skiff claims only Mail is open source on their website: "Skiff Mail is open-source, uses open-source cryptography, and undergoes external security audits."

On Reddit, Skiff confirmed they don't open source their backend:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Skiff/comments/10yn8a5/are_all_parts_of_skiff_opensource/j811jki/

Are all parts of skiff open-source?

We do not open-source the backend and do not plan to. This is quite consistent with most E2EE products.

reddit
Show threadDan BrownAug 12, 2023

@viktor @itsfoss

Additionally, most of the code they do provide is not open source either: https://github.com/skiff-org/skiff-apps/issues/94

This has been voiced to @itsfoss but they don't seem to care:
https://itsfoss.community/t/avoid-skiff-com-falsely-advertising-as-open-source/10968

Not open-source · Issue #94 · skiff-org/skiff-apps

This project is advertised as open-source despite that CC BY-NC-SA is clearly not an open-source license since it limits commercial use. Therefore I highly recommend replacing all mentions of open-...

GitHub
Show threadViktor NagornyyAug 12, 2023
@danb @itsfoss Thanks, Dan. They did add a notice to the post (quoted in my first reply), but it's still not as clear as it should be.
Show threadIt's FOSSAug 13, 2023

@danb @viktor We are aware of the licensing issue. Hence, the disclaimer.

I'd be more careful about the source code availability and license. Hence, we have updated the notice as well.

Furthermore, if you notice, the GitHub issue is in a better state of discussion where they want to consider moving to a different license.

Hopefully, that improves it!

-Ankush

Show threadDan BrownAug 13, 2023
@itsfoss @viktor Thanks. Although the disclaimer is far far below the fold, and after labelling Skiff as open source 4 times, including within the title and subtitle which is being re-shared across the web so further pushing this misrepresentation of open source.
Show threadIt's FOSSAug 14, 2023

@danb @viktor

I'm uncertain if you noticed the updated disclaimer, but it does mention that not all aspects of the product are open-source, some of it.

The subtitle has been updated as well – it takes time to reflect the URL preview when people re-share it.

And, as for the term "open-source" being used, should that be dropped when talking about Proton Mail as well?

In both the cases, the back-end is closed, and both have been audited.

Hope that makes sense!

Show threadViktor NagornyyAug 14, 2023

@itsfoss @danb ProtonMail backend is not open source. Various apps and tools are open source, such as mobile apps. When licensing is mixed, you have to be specific about what is open source and what is not.

ProtonMail is partially open source. That's more accurate.

Show threadIt's FOSSAug 14, 2023

@viktor @danb Technically, that makes sense.

I just wanted to convey that, everyone does make use of "open-source" when describing proton mail.

So, I just think that going forward, it would be best if we would add disclaimers for license + being partially open-source for everything that's in question.

That's the best we can do. Hopefully, that will make a difference in clarifying things better in our future coverages.

Cheers!

Show threadViktor NagornyyAug 14, 2023

@itsfoss @danb That's a good idea! 👍

Proton Mail doesn't claim to be open source, people assume it is because a lot of their apps are open source. They state on their homepage: "Proton Mail is a private email service that uses open source..."

Show threadeosdev.eth 🐧Aug 13, 2023
@itsfoss been using Skiff for like a year or so and love it!