HACKER Q&A
📣 traverseda

Why would you release your source code under a license like MIT of BSD?


If I'm releasing something to the public I almost always pick a viral license from the GPL line. Mostly that's the AGPL but sometimes it's the LGPL.

Why would you want to release your source code under a non-viral open source license like MIT or BSD?


  👤 zzo38computer Accepted Answer ✓
For me, the reason is simplicity, although I prefer public domain.

👤 JohnFen
I think it depends on who your "target market" is. Non-viral licenses make sense if you want companies to use it.

I've never released my work under MIT or BSD. I release about half of my work into the public domain, about a quarter of it under a GPL variant, and a quarter of it remains under a more conventional commercial license.


👤 em10fan
If you want people to use it.

Companies are not that keen on GPL in any form.