ICODE-ADC/lammps
4
0
Fork 0
Code Issues Pull Requests Actions Packages Projects Releases Wiki Activity

clarify license terms description and reduce redundancy. mention LGPL verison

Browse Source
This commit is contained in:
Axel Kohlmeyer
2021-08-23 23:24:47 -04:00
parent 897dfdfb19
commit d561fe3457
1 changed files with 38 additions and 17 deletions
Download Patch File Download Diff File Expand all files Collapse all files

55
doc/src/Intro_opensource.rst
View File

@ -1,40 +1,61 @@
LAMMPS open-source license LAMMPS open-source license
-------------------------- --------------------------
LAMMPS is a freely-available open-source code, distributed under the GPL version of LAMMPS
terms of the `GNU Public License Version 2 <gpl_>`_, which means you can ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
use or modify the code however you wish for your own purposes, but have
to adhere to certain rules when redistributing it or software derived LAMMPS is an open-source code, available free-of-charge, and distributed
under the terms of the `GNU Public License Version 2 <gpl_>`_ (GPLv2),
which means you can use or modify the code however you wish for your own
purposes, but have to adhere to certain rules when redistributing it -
specifically in binary form - or are distributing software derived
from it or that includes parts of it. from it or that includes parts of it.
LAMMPS comes with no warranty of any kind. As each source file states LAMMPS comes with no warranty of any kind.
in its header, it is a copyrighted code that is distributed free-of-
charge, under the terms of the `GNU Public License Version 2 <gpl_>`_ As each source file states in its header, it is a copyrighted code, and
(GPLv2). This is often referred to as open-source distribution - see thus not in the public domain. For more information about open-source
`www.gnu.org <gnuorg_>`_ or `www.opensource.org <opensource_>`_. The software and open-source distribution, see `www.gnu.org <gnuorg_>`_
legal text of the GPL is in the LICENSE file included in the LAMMPS or `www.opensource.org <opensource_>`_. The legal text of the GPL as it
distribution. applies to LAMMPS is in the LICENSE file included in the LAMMPS distribution.
.. _gpl: https://github.com/lammps/lammps/blob/master/LICENSE .. _gpl: https://github.com/lammps/lammps/blob/master/LICENSE
.. _lgpl: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/lgpl-2.1.html
.. _gnuorg: http://www.gnu.org .. _gnuorg: http://www.gnu.org
.. _opensource: http://www.opensource.org .. _opensource: http://www.opensource.org
Here is a summary of what the GPL means for LAMMPS users: Here is a more specific summary of what the GPL means for LAMMPS users:
(1) Anyone is free to use, modify, or extend LAMMPS in any way they (1) Anyone is free to use, copy, modify, or extend LAMMPS in any way they
choose, including for commercial purposes. choose, including for commercial purposes.
(2) If you **distribute** a modified version of LAMMPS, it must remain (2) If you **distribute** a modified version of LAMMPS, it must remain
open-source, meaning you distribute **all** of it under the terms of open-source, meaning you are required to distribute **all** of it under
the GPL. You should clearly annotate such a code as a derivative version the terms of the GPL. You should clearly annotate such a modified code
of LAMMPS. as a derivative version of LAMMPS.
(3) If you release any code that includes or uses LAMMPS source code, (3) If you release any code that includes or uses LAMMPS source code,
then it must also be open-sourced, meaning you distribute it under then it must also be open-sourced, meaning you distribute it under
the terms of the GPL. the terms of the GPL. You may write code that interfaces LAMMPS to
a differently licensed library. In that case the code that provides
the interface must be licensed GPL, but not necessarily that library
unless you are distributing binaries that require the library to run.
(4) If you give LAMMPS files to someone else, the GPL LICENSE file and (4) If you give LAMMPS files to someone else, the GPL LICENSE file and
source file headers (including the copyright and GPL notices) should source file headers (including the copyright and GPL notices) should
remain part of the code. remain part of the code.
LGPL version of LAMMPS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
We occasionally make stable LAMMPS releases available under the `GNU
Lesser Public License v2.1 <lgpl_>`_. This is on request only and with
non-LGPL compliant files removed. This allows uses linking non-GPL
compatible software with the (otherwise unmodified) LAMMPS library
or loading it dynamically at runtime. Any **modifications** to
the LAMMPS code however, even with the LGPL licensed version, must still
be made available under the same open source terms as LAMMPS itself.