GitHub is a popular platform used by developers to host and share their open-source projects. One important aspect of any open-source project is the licensing. The license of a project defines the terms and conditions under which the project can be used, modified, and distributed. In this blog, we will explore the different types of GitHub licenses and provide examples of each.
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The MIT License is one of the most permissive licenses available on GitHub. It allows anyone to use, modify, and distribute the software for any purpose, as long as the original copyright notice and license terms are included. It is a popular choice for libraries and other code that is intended to be widely used.
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The Apache License 2.0 is another permissive license that allows for the use, modification, and distribution of software for any purpose. However, it also includes patent and trademark grants, making it a good choice for projects that may involve intellectual property. Example: Apache Kafka
GNU General Public License (GPL)
The GPL is a copyleft license, which means that any modifications or derivative works must also be licensed under the GPL. This ensures that the software remains open source and freely available. The GPL also requires that any distributed software must include the source code. Example: Linux kernel
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The BSD 3-Clause License is a permissive license that allows for the use, modification, and distribution of software, as long as the original copyright notice and license terms are included. It is similar to the MIT License but includes an additional clause that prevents the use of the project's name in the promotion of a derivative work. Example: React Native
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The Mozilla Public License 2.0 is a copyleft license that is specifically designed for software that is distributed as part of larger works. It requires that any modifications to the software be licensed under the MPL 2.0, but allows for the software to be distributed as part of proprietary works. Example: Firefox browser
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Creative Commons licenses are a set of licenses that are designed for creative works, such as music, art, and writing. They allow for the sharing and modification of works, as long as the original author is credited and any derivative works are licensed under the same terms.
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The Unlicense is a public domain dedication that allows anyone to use, modify, and distribute the software without any restrictions. It is a good choice for projects where the original author wishes to relinquish all rights to the code. Example: Node.js
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The EPL is a permissive license that allows for the use, modification, and distribution of software, as long as the original copyright notice and license terms are included. It also includes patent grants, making it a good choice for projects that may involve intellectual property. Example: Eclipse IDE
GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL)
The AGPL is a copyleft license that is similar to the GPL, but it includes an additional clause that requires any software that uses the licensed software over a network to also be licensed under the AGPL. This makes it a good choice for web-based software. Example: Mastodon social network
The Do What the F*ck You Want to Public License (WTFPL)
The WTFPL is a very permissive license that allows anyone to do whatever they want with the software, including modifying and distributing it without any restrictions. It is a good choice for projects where the author wants to explicitly allow any use of the code.
The most commonly used license on GitHub is the MIT License, which is used by over 40% of all repositories on the platform. Its popularity is due to its simplicity and flexibility, as well as its compatibility with many other open source licenses. Other popular licenses on GitHub include the Apache License 2.0, the GNU GPL 3.0, and the BSD 3-Clause "New" or "Revised" License.
The MIT License is the easiest license for students to apply to their projects since it has few restrictions on software usage. GitHub's feature makes it easy to choose and apply the license, and there are many resources and open source projects that students can learn from to understand the license.
In conclusion, choosing the right license is an important decision when creating an open-source project. The above-mentioned licenses are just a few of the options available on GitHub, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. It is important to understand the implications of each license before choosing one for your project.