Questions tagged [software]
For questions about software in an open-source context; its uses and limitations.
100
questions
1
vote
3answers
97 views
Are there any real punishments for intentional malicious behavior in GPL or any other "no-warranties" licensed software?
There haven't been any significant incidents on FOSS software developers turning evil and pumping their software with malicious code. But each person is different, with different intentions. While I ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
Is using SheetJS free for commercial use?
I downloaded a version of SheetJS here https://unpkg.com/xlsx@0.17.4/dist/xlsx.full.min.js
It's basically a version of xlsx that allows me to export an excel document and allows me to manipulate data ...
4
votes
1answer
99 views
What is the meaning of "internal use" in the GPL 3?
I want to develop a specific module from a GPL 3 software in a partnership with a third company to share the costs.
Can we each use it for our companies (meaning internal use) without having to ...
1
vote
3answers
107 views
Using GetText (GNU) license in a commercial product (For now SaaS)?
I have a commercial product that will be will be available as a SaaS for now, but later on might be distributed.
So for SaaS, using GNU libraries seems like a no issue since there is a loophole, ...
0
votes
0answers
17 views
Distribute Nexus OSS with custom software
Nexus OSS is distributed using the Eclipse Public License.
The Sencha Ext JS component belonging to Nexus OSS is licensed under GPL v3.
Nexus Repository OSS is distributed with Sencha Ext JS pursuant ...
-1
votes
2answers
115 views
Which licenses of Open Source plugins/libraries can i used in my commercial SaaS product
i wan to create SaaS for help people to solve different tasks.
Which licenses of plugins/libraries can i use in my SaaS?
A lot of examples describes a use of plugins and libraries with a software, but ...
3
votes
3answers
147 views
Can I prevent the National Security Agency from using my work?
I am currently working on a research project in a subfield of computer/data science that concerns a topic whose research seems to have worrying correlations with the U.S. National Security Agency due ...
1
vote
1answer
143 views
Redistribution of BSD source code
If I can access a source code with a BSD license, who, if anybody, do I need to ask permission to use/modify/commercialize/redistribute the code (under BSD license conditions)?
The BSD license allows ...
2
votes
1answer
52 views
Do you need to document your changes/modifications to a program under GPLv3?
I heard that you must document all your changes and modifications to a software under the GPLv3. Is this true? If I'm not distributing this software, do I have to document my changes/modifications. ...
-4
votes
1answer
123 views
Where is the VLC changelog? [closed]
There was finally (after like a year) a new minor version of VLC released. Neither the program itself, nor the website, says one single word about what changes have been made. I've spent like an hour ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
Software license for non-commerical reproducible research [duplicate]
I am a researcher at a university with a guest status. I am not employed though and the work I do is my own. The software I develop belongs to me. For reproducible research I want to publish some of ...
1
vote
2answers
431 views
Can Ubuntu be used to make money? [duplicate]
I plan to sell course(s) on Udemy by using Ubuntu. As you predict, there will be everything what the Ubuntu has (such as screens, icons, logos, symbols, tools, softwares etc. and their use) in the ...
0
votes
0answers
45 views
How does a cooking recipe and a software recipe (source code) differ from other kinds of data?
I understand that it is commonly believed that cooking recipes and "software recipes" (source codes) differ from other kinds of potentially-computer-memorized-data (such as a romantic song ...
4
votes
2answers
155 views
The specifics of licensing public domain code within project under GNU GPLv3+
I'm developing a project which I'm about to release under the GNU GPL 3+ license. It does, however, contain a number of public domain subroutines.
Question: How do I go about placing a GPL license ...
1
vote
0answers
26 views
Licensing of software in commercial Youtube videos
I'm thinking of recording a couple of coding tutorials on Youtube. I wonder if I can use free (e.g. codepen) and purchased software (e.g. Visual Studio) in those videos without risking to run into ...
2
votes
1answer
268 views
Can I use dynamically linked MinGW runtime libraries with a BSD dll library for commercial purposes?
I had earlier asked Can I use BSD license-based dll statically linked to MinGW under the run-time licence exception?.
Can I use dynamically linked MinGW runtime libraries (f.e. libgcc_s_sjlj-1.dll, ...
3
votes
1answer
596 views
Can I use BSD license-based dll statically linked to MinGW under the run-time licence exception?
This BSD DLL depends on 3 MinGW run-time libraries (libgcc_s_sjlj-1.dll, libgfortran-3.dll and libquadmath-0.dll). What if I'll compile them statically into BSD dll to eliminate dependences on MinGW ...
2
votes
1answer
65 views
Confused by html2canvas library's license
I was planning to use html2canvas
The license is really confusing to me, as it's never stated which parts are for Microsoft, which are not and if the whole code is licensed under MIT, as it also ...
5
votes
1answer
235 views
How can I use programming documentation without infringing copyright?
I have a really hard time understanding how can I use copyrighted programming documentation, tutorials, articles, blogs, etc. presented as text or video, without infringing copyright?
I will explain ...
2
votes
0answers
42 views
Licencing a software while working in an enterprise
I work for one of the 4 big consulting companies.
I developed a software on my free time. It gained lot of attention, I was asked to register it as company asset. I guess there are plans to use/sell ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views
Use of GPL licensed code in commercial software
I have created an library (A) that uses several other GPL v2 or v3 licensed libraries (B,C,D) which, I am not the author of. I am only the author of A.
Can I license library A under a GPL or a dual ...
5
votes
2answers
333 views
Copyright holder in R packages
I am developing an R package and distribute it under the GPL-2 license by submitting it to CRAN. According to CRAN's Writing R extensions, i am the author and maintainer of the source code.
The R ...
0
votes
1answer
99 views
Copyright issue of the interface of Windows Notepad [closed]
I'm developing Windows application. It is crypto-functioning notepad.
And its design(UI interface) is almost(approx 90%?) same with Microsoft Windows Notepad.
Differences are only some buttons and ...
1
vote
1answer
82 views
Can I use CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 content in a webview while keeping the app commercial?
I am developing an app that uses material (the material I want to show is a website) which is licensed with CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 but I want to place ads in my application. The application has another ...
2
votes
1answer
138 views
How to effectively browse mailing lists
There are many open source projects whose development is officially discussed through mailing lists (the obvious example being the Linux kernel).
Being young and spoiled by nice clean website design,...
3
votes
1answer
89 views
Rebranding existing library under MIT
I bit of background: When I was working in my previous company I came up with an idea to extract all some generic functionality from the different projects and create open source library (MIT) from ...
3
votes
1answer
305 views
Under what license may I take and use screenshots of LibreOffice?
Recently, I have been considering making some screenshots of LibreOffice's applications and putting them on my blog (just as graphical examples for the text). But then, I started to think about what ...
11
votes
3answers
34k views
Is Java (JRE) still free for commercial use?
United States here. I have a client that I would like to build a small suite of Java 8+ applications for to be installed on their office desktops and servers. This requires the Java Runtime ...
7
votes
2answers
318 views
Creative Commons ShareAlike, weak or strong copyleft?
I am wondering whether Creative Commons ShareAlike is a weak or strong copyleft license. That is, does it allow linking with code with under a different license?
0
votes
0answers
149 views
Placement of Licensing in Apple Sample Code - Swift
I was going through a tutorial on Apple/Swift and they show a sample project which they offer users to download. On the Swift file, they show:
/* See LICENSE folder for this sample's licensing ...
1
vote
1answer
240 views
Can I use libgit2 in commercial application?
I want to embed libgit2 in my commercial application (here is license https://github.com/libgit2/libgit2/blob/master/COPYING) . I want to create static libgit2 library, and link it with my commercial ...
28
votes
4answers
8k views
Is it legal to have the "// (c) 2019 John Smith" header in all files when there are hundreds of contributors?
Companies use headers like
// Copyright 2011 The Go Authors.
But countless projects with a single maintainer have
// Copyright 2011 John Smith
even though they have hundreds of contributors, all ...
2
votes
1answer
207 views
Can I use a company's name in my open-source project?
I'm developing a small open-source plugin for a fairly well known CMS, which as far as I can tell has a trademark on the product and company name. It's starting to get a bit of traction, so I'm in the ...
4
votes
1answer
117 views
What does it mean to say two licenses are compatible?
If license A is compatible with license B, does it mean that one can combine code from those two and should be able to release combination under license B?
or
Is it just symmetric like 'A is ...
3
votes
1answer
389 views
What is the license of code found in ObservableHQ?
What is the license of code found in ObservableHQ, for example this one?
I really tried reading The Observable Terms of Service but I couldn't get a conclusive answer by myself.
The following excerpt ...
1
vote
0answers
79 views
How do you manage provenance metadata and licence conditions for the data and software packages you use in your research?
Background: I asked this question to a statistical research audience on CrossValidated but was suggested that here might be more appropriate, so re-posting; keen for any tips!
In spatial analysis (...
2
votes
1answer
205 views
PHP mysqli and pdo drivers licensing
I use PHP language in my application and use these two drivers to connect to MySQL - mysqli and pdo. I know that PHP is licensed under PHP License v3.01, so I can freely use it, but at the same time, ...
1
vote
1answer
172 views
Does Licensing have to be mentioned for MIT/BSD-3 Plugins/Libraries for my Commercial Website?
If I create a commercial website that uses MIT/BSD-3 libraries and plugins, do I have to specifically mention the licences of each plugin/library? If so where do I have to add the same? Are the ...
0
votes
1answer
147 views
What are the libraries Blender is based on for mesh visualization and editing? [closed]
I'd like to make a software on Python with a GUI for 3D visual editing of meshes. That's why I ask the question. I suppose at least one mesh editing library is used. And at least one 3d visualization ...
3
votes
1answer
11k views
Can i use a GPLv2 module in my commercial application?
I am developing a commercial wordpress plugin. There is a form module that i have to develop however, i found one already built under GPL2 here
https://github.com/weDevsOfficial/weforms
All other ...
11
votes
1answer
1k views
License to use for smaller GitHub repos
I frequently create programs to process my local files in some fashion. About half of them are Bash shell scripts under 100 lines, others may be longer, include multiple files, or even be in other ...
-1
votes
1answer
77 views
A worldwide software todo list [closed]
When someone wants to develop a project but has no idea of what to do, where does he/she go to look for ideas? I guess i.e. github will be part of an answer.
But is there any platform out there with ...
1
vote
1answer
84 views
Getting a company to start discussing open source
I work in a large company which makes use of a lot of open source software and employees a fair number of software developers but does not consider itself to be a software development firm. I believe ...
3
votes
2answers
171 views
False Claims and Open Source
I discovered a chrome extension Adblock ultimate, it claims to be open source on the aforementioned webpage. I see that the app was updated about a year ago. Also, a GitHub page is also mentioned. ...
5
votes
4answers
295 views
What are the good reasons for my company to offer open source code?
I've been thinking for some time now for my company to share code publicly that we use in our projects. Code that is not related to any particular business case, but is useful and often copied from a ...
1
vote
1answer
255 views
What does Google have in return from developing Angular?
The other day I was thinking about Angular when the question arised:
What does Google have in return from developing Angular? The same principle applies of course not only for Google, but jQuery, ...
-2
votes
1answer
78 views
if I include source code with my commercial software, how much will that hurt the height of its sales?
i have an unreleased product i believe to be of great commercial value due to its algorithms. in the future, i intend to do four things in this order:
release the source of the software to customers ...
5
votes
1answer
421 views
Moving project from AGPL to Apache v2 / MIT license
The question in a nutshell
Hi! Together with a team of brilliant engineers we've been building a software project (http://luna-lang.org) for the last two years and now we want to release everything ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Can I hide a few lines of code because of security reasons?
I am working on a little project, and I consider making it open source (GPLv3). But there is one little problem:
There are a few lines of code I don't want to show off to the public because of a ...
-1
votes
1answer
62 views
What do I have to consider if I'm publishing software, where parts of it are written with another software under BSD license?
I'm going to publish a software, which tests are written with googletest framework. I've read the googletest license, but I'm not going to publish the source code or any modifications of it, or ...