Because most frameworks expect you to trust them. This one expects you to read it.
Most web frameworks are opaque. They route requests, manage sessions, hash passwords — and they expect you to trust that they're doing it right. The code is either closed, obfuscated, or buried under so many abstraction layers that reading it is effectively impossible.
That's fine for simple applications. It becomes a problem when your app handles user data, processes payments, or manages authentication. At that point, "trust us" is not a good enough answer.
Joinery is source-available. Every line is readable. The auth system, the session management, the payment handling, the password hashing — you can open any file and read exactly what it does.
This isn't just a philosophy position. It has practical consequences: when something goes wrong, you can trace the code. When you need to customize behavior, you're not fighting the framework — you're reading it.
These are specific, concrete commitments — not vague promises.
You can read every line of code. We will never ship obfuscated or compiled versions. If you have a question about how something works, the answer is in the source.
You install Joinery on your own server. You own the code, the database, and the data. If you stop using Joinery tomorrow, nothing disappears. Take your install and go.
Joinery is one developer with no investors. Every product decision can be made in the interest of the people using the software — not a growth target or acquisition story.
Individuals, students, hobbyists, and nonprofits can use Joinery at no cost under the PolyForm Noncommercial license.
If you're building a commercial product, a business license covers you. Fair pricing for fair use.
The PolyForm Noncommercial license covers the Joinery core. Anything you build on top — plugins, themes, integrations — is your code, under whatever license you choose. Sell it, open source it, keep it proprietary. We make no claim on it.
Revenue comes from White Glove Install (one-time install service), business licenses for commercial self-hosting, and support contracts for organizations that want ongoing help.
No subscription fees. No per-seat fees. No platform transaction tax. No data selling. No advertising. No VC.
The goal is to be sustainable and to be around in 20 years — not to raise a Series B.