Feature Request: Add ability to view Projects other than "default" in Dashboard

[JustGitting]

Hi,

The ZenML OSS dashboard is only able to display the single "default" project. Other projects created using the OSS CLI (e.g. zenml project register my_new_project ) are not shown.

On the Projects tab, there is a faded "Add Project" button with the hover-over message:

Upgrade to create Projects

Get access to additional projects and workspaces, manage user ans permissions, and get advance features with ZenML Pro

I understand the problem of funding FOSS and the unfortunate drive to artificially hide useful features behind paywalls.

However in this case, restricting the Project Tab view of only the "default" project is overly restrictive of a FOSS project and more like an open-core one [1].

In this feature request I propose allowing the display of any project within the zenml server. The administrative powers are still behind the proprietary Pro Dashboard. Where users would still need to administer the projects using the OSS zenml CLI if using the ZenML OSS stack.

[1] “The problem with Open Core,” Keygen. [Online]. Available: https://keygen.sh/blog/the-problem-with-open-core/

[htahir1]

@JustGitting Hi there — thanks a lot for taking the time to write this up and for sharing such thoughtful context.

You’re absolutely right that the open-core vs. open-source distinction is an important one, and feedback like this is genuinely valuable for us. We totally understand where you're coming from: having projects visible in the OSS dashboard feels like a natural extension of the existing functionality, and it makes sense why hiding them can feel more restrictive than intended.

The tricky part for us is that projects only really become meaningful when combined with things like RBAC, multi-workspace management, and the broader governance layer — and those are features that we simply can’t sustain in the OSS offering. Without that, the “project” abstraction ends up providing limited real utility, which is why it’s currently placed behind the Pro dashboard.

That said, your point is well-taken, and we’ve already been discussing internally how we might make this experience smoother or more OSS-friendly without undermining the sustainability of the project. We don't have anything concrete to announce yet, but this kind of feedback genuinely helps shape where we go next.

Thanks again for raising this so thoughtfully — it’s really appreciated.

[JustGitting]

@htahir1, Thanks for your considered reply too!

The tension between paying bills and holding to the FOSS principles that allows society to benefit is a tough challenge to solve.

I think a sustainable future for FOSS will use a source-available like license that essentially means if you make money from the software, you need to help pay for development. How that is implemented is very challenging.

The OSI co-founder, Perens, has been working on this problem for a while, as has many other people.

https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/30/bruce_perens_post_open_license/