Open source licenses#

Each open source project adopts an open source license that describes the conditions for using and redistributing the code.

Examples of popular open source licenses:

  • GNU General Public License (GPL)

  • Common Development and Distribution License (CDDL)

  • Apache License 2.0

The Open Source Initiative (OSI) is an organization that promotes the benefit and adoption of open source software, and it maintains a list of open source licenses it approves:

Open Source Initiative: Licenses & Standards


IMPORTANT: To ensure you follow the project’s license, look for these files within the code:

  • LICENSE.TXT - This file contains the license information itself. The license typically includes a condition that this file (unmodified) follows the code on redistribution.

  • README - README files often provide guidelines that can help you follow the open source license.