0

I'm looking for a good licence for software available publicly, but is in pre-alpha development stage (i.e., use it at your own risk and don't use it in any commercial software etc.)

As it's pre-alpha, the best license would be simply one that read something like "Don't use this for anything, even though it's online".

  1. Is there an open source license that is very restrictive?
  2. Would a simple notice saying "Don't use this" actually be any good?
6
  • This might get better answers at Open Source.
    – feetwet
    Commented Oct 29, 2016 at 15:07
  • @feetwet Good idea, I didn't know we had one of those.
    – BanksySan
    Commented Oct 29, 2016 at 15:34
  • @feetwet Can it be transferred or do I have to do a copy & paste job?
    – BanksySan
    Commented Oct 29, 2016 at 15:35
  • What is your goal in publishing it if you don't want people to use it?
    – Brandin
    Commented Nov 25, 2016 at 20:29
  • @Brandin Testing.
    – BanksySan
    Commented Nov 25, 2016 at 20:40

1 Answer 1

1

While it's here, "license" and "don't use this" are at opposite ends of the spectrum. If you want people to not use it, all you have to do is not license it and rely on basic copyright. You can post source code on a web page, just as you can post an essay on a blog, and that is conventionally interpreted as granting permission to look. A license is needed to actively copy. The basic idea of a license is to state what actions you allow, so for instance if you allow people to download and read offline, and nothing else, they you would say that. If you want to allow people to compile (when applicable), say that. And so on. If the point is to disclaim liability for damage, you should read up on warranty disclaimers. The CC license scheme is popular because it allows you to fiddle with distinctions. The main obstacle is deciding what you mean by "Open Source", since the least restrictive license (CC0 or PD) is what you want to make it "most open", but that depends on what you mean by "open".

0

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .