Ask HN: What open source license is appropriate for my project?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6465029

by MojoJolo • 13 years ago

2 4 13 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Hi guys, I'm thinking of open sourcing my project TextTeaser (http://www.textteaser.com/). What open source license is appropriate for it?

TextTeaser is an automatic summarization application and API. The algorithm used to summarize articles was formulated by me for my MS degree. It actually performs good enough. With open sourcing TextTeaser, I'll also release the research paper containing the algorithms implemented in it.

neur0mancer2• 13 years ago

It depends on what you want for your project:

GPL 2-3: If you want to create a comunity around your code. AGPL: Same as GPL but it can't be used remotely without releasing the source code. BSD: If you want to be flexible enought to let companies to use your code without releasing back the source.

Of course, these are simplifed explanations.

MojoJolo• 13 years ago

Thanks. Really not well versed with those licenses. Right now, I'm leaning to choose MIT. What do you think of it?

neur0mancer2• 13 years ago

MIT/BSD is a "safe" choice.

If you see that companies are using your work and not contributing back, you can shift your contributions to GPL in the future.

nadaviv• 13 years ago

I'm glad to see you're open-sourcing it. I saw your submission some time back and was quite interested in peeking in the source. Thanks!

Ask HN: What open source license is appropriate for my project?

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