Linux

48145 readers

792 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

Rules

Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
No misinformation
No NSFW content
No hate speech, bigotry, etc

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago

MODERATORS

AgreeableLandscape@lemmy.ml

nooter692@lemmy.ml

MarcellusDrum@lemmy.ml

cypherpunks@lemmy.ml

cyclohexane@lemmy.ml

d3Xt3r@lemmy.nz

Question regarding license choice for my program (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by Zion@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml

32 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Hey fellow Linux enthusiasts.

I'm inching closer to releasing my program for Linux. I'll go into details on what the program is when I release it, as it's not really relevant to this question (IMHO).

Anyway, here are my prerequisites:

the program will be free. I will accept donations, but the program will be free to download and use.
open source.
I'm happy for others to use my code, as long as I'm credited.
I do not wish to allow others to use my code in commercial applications (as there will be mobile versions later, and I don't want clones selling it for money, as the mobile versions will also be free.

I'm looking for advice on the best code license to choose, based on my requirements. I'd also like it if my choice of license didn't prohibit my program from potentially being included in package managers.

I'm grateful for any advice. Thank you.

Edit

Thanks for the replies everyone. I've decided to not let my concerns overcome the most important thing of releasing the project as fully open source.

Just going to go with GPLv3 and not worry about the clones that will happen regardless of the license type, if the program becomes popular.

Thank you all for your insight and for helping me come to what I believe to be the best option.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[+] skullgiver@popplesburger.hilciferous.nl 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

[deleted]

[–] pavunkissa@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 year ago

That is a good point to emphasize. A downside of a CLA is that it adds a bit of bureaucracy and may deter some contributors. If the primary concern is whether a GPL licensed app is publishable on an App Store, an alternative is to add an app store exception clause to the license. (The GPL allows optional extra clauses to make the license more permissive.) Though this means that while your code can be incorporated to other GPL licensed applications, you can't take code from other GPL projects that don't have the same exception.

[–] stifle867@programming.dev 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Please don't do this. It's immoral to ride off the free work of others, then turn around and rug pull them. Either stick with open source and take the good and the bad, or go proprietary. Don't do this fake open source that harms the community. If you have a permissive license there's nothing stopping you from selling other's work and a CLA is not needed. If you have a copyleft license then a CLA defeats the entire purpose of that.

[–] skullgiver@popplesburger.hilciferous.nl 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

[This comment has been deleted by an automated system]