Understanding Open Source Licensing on GitHub 🔐

When you share code on GitHub, licensing determines how others can use, modify, and distribute your work. Without a license, your project is technically not open source, and others may be hesitant to contribute or use it.

1. Why Licensing Matters 📜

A clear license protects both creators and users by defining usage rights and restrictions.

Without a License:

• ❌ Your code is NOT open source
• ❌ Others cannot legally use your code
• ❌ No one knows what they can/cannot do
• ❌ Limits collaboration and adoption

With a License:

• ✅ Legal clarity for everyone
• ✅ Defines usage rights
• ✅ Encourages contributions
• ✅ Protects both creators and users

2. Types of Open Source Licenses 🏷️

Permissive Licenses (Business-friendly)

Allow almost any use with minimal restrictions.

MIT License

The most popular and permissive license.

✅ Allows:

• Commercial use
• Modification
• Distribution
• Private use
• Sublicensing

⚠️ Requires:

• Include original copyright notice

💡 Best for: Projects that want maximum adoption with minimal restrictions.

Apache License 2.0

Similar to MIT but includes patent protection.

✅ Everything in MIT +

• Explicit patent grant
• Protection against patent lawsuits
• Requires notice of modifications

💡 Best for: Projects involving patents or corporate contributions.

Copyleft Licenses (Protective/Reciprocal)

Require derivatives to remain open source under the same terms.

GNU GPLv3 (General Public License)

Ensures derivatives remain open source.

✅ Allows:

• Commercial use
• Modification
• Distribution
• Private use

❌ Requires:

• Share source code
• Use same license for derivatives
• State changes

💡 Best for: Projects that want all derivatives to stay open source.

GNU LGPLv3 (Lesser GPL)

Less restrictive than GPL, allows linking with proprietary software.

✅ More flexible than GPL:

• Proprietary software can link dynamically
• Only modifications to library itself must be open source

💡 Best for: Libraries that want wider adoption while protecting core code.

3. How to Add a License to GitHub 🛠️

Method 1: During Repository Creation

1. Create new repository
2. Click “Add a license”
3. Choose from dropdown menu
4. GitHub automatically creates LICENSE file

Method 2: Add to Existing Repository

# Navigate to your project
cd your-project

# Create LICENSE file
touch LICENSE

# Or copy a license template
curl -o LICENSE https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT

# Add and commit
git add LICENSE
git commit -m "Add MIT License"
git push