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Goodbye `greenplum_path.sh`, Hello `cloudberry-env.sh`: A Phased Transition Plan
Apache CloudberryJuly 2, 2025

To the Apache Cloudberry Community,

This post outlines our plan to rename legacy user-facing scripts such as greenplum_path.sh, aligning them with Apache Cloudberry’s official brand identity and complying with ASF trademark policy. This will be a two-step process designed to be transparent and minimize disruption for our users.

Background: Why This Change is Necessary

As Apache Cloudberry (Incubating) matures, establishing a clear and independent brand identity is essential. While our project originated from Greenplum, it is now independently governed under the ASF Incubator, with a distinct development roadmap.

The "Greenplum" name is a registered trademark owned by Broadcom Inc.. To comply with ASF policies and avoid potential trademark confusion, the PPMC reached a consensus through the discussion that took place on the Dev@ mailing list and GitHub issues to rename legacy user-facing scripts that use the Greenplum name term.

A Phased Approach to the Transition

To manage this transition smoothly, we will implement the changes in two phases:

Phase 1: Non-Breaking Notice (Release 2.0)

The first step has been implemented in Pull Request #1189 and will be included in the upcoming Apache Cloudberry 2.0 release.

  • What's Changing: When you run source greenplum_path.sh, you will see a notice clarifying Apache Cloudberry’s independence from Broadcom’s Greenplum, like the following output:

    [gpadmin@cloudberry]$ source /usr/local/cloudberry-db/greenplum_path.sh

    # --------------------------------------------------------------------
    # NOTICE from the Apache Cloudberry PPMC
    # --------------------------------------------------------------------
    # This file uses the term 'greenplum' to maintain compatibility with
    # earlier versions of Apache Cloudberry, which was originally called
    # Greenplum. This usage does not refer to VMware Tanzu Greenplum,
    # nor does it imply that Apache Cloudberry (Incubating) is affiliated
    # with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Broadcom Inc.
    #
    # This file will be renamed in a future Apache Cloudberry release to
    # ensure compliance with Apache Software Foundation guidelines.
    # We will announce the change on the project mailing list and website.
    #
    # See: https://lists.apache.org/thread/b8o974mnnqk6zpy86dgll2pgqcvqgnwm
    # --------------------------------------------------------------------
  • Impact: This is a non-breaking change. Your scripts and workflows will continue to function as before. This step offers immediate brand clarification and serves as advance notice of the upcoming rename.

Phase 2: Full Rename (Targeted for Release 2.1)

The second step will complete the brand alignment.

  • What's Changing: We plan to formally rename greenplum_path.sh to cloudberry-env.sh. This effort may also include a broader review of related configuration scripts and internal naming for consistency.

  • Impact: This will be a breaking change. You need to run the command source cloudberry-env.sh instead of source greenplum_path.sh. The change will be documented in the release notes, along with an optional alias method in the documentation, like:

    sudo ln -s /usr/local/cloudberry-db/cloudberry-env.sh /usr/local/cloudberry-db/greenplum_path.sh

What This Means for You

  • For the 2.0 Release: No action is required. Simply be aware that the notice will now appear when setting up your environment.
  • For the 2.1 Release: Plan to update your scripts to use the new cloudberry-env.sh file.

Moving Forward

This initiative lays a stronger foundation for the project's future as we continue our journey toward becoming a Top-Level Project. We thank everyone who participated in the discussion and the ASF legal team for the valuable inputs and advice.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

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