License

git-cache is licensed under the same terms as the Git project itself.

GPL Version 2 License

git-cache - A high-performance Git repository caching tool
Copyright (C) 2025 git-cache contributors

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
(at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.

License Rationale

Why GPL v2?

git-cache is licensed under GPL v2 for the following reasons:

Consistency with Git: As a tool that extends Git functionality, using the same license ensures compatibility and consistency.
Copyleft Protection: GPL v2 ensures that improvements and modifications to git-cache remain open source and available to the community.
Community Contribution: The license encourages contributions back to the project while protecting the open source nature of the codebase.
Legal Clarity: GPL v2 is a well-established license with clear terms and extensive legal precedent.

License Compatibility

Compatible Licenses

Code licensed under the following licenses can be incorporated into git-cache:

GPL v2 or later - Direct compatibility
GPL v3 - Compatible (as GPL v2+ allows v3)
LGPL v2.1/v3 - Compatible for linking
BSD licenses - Compatible (can be relicensed under GPL)
MIT License - Compatible (can be relicensed under GPL)
Apache 2.0 - Generally compatible with proper attribution

Incompatible Licenses

The following licenses are generally incompatible with GPL v2:

Proprietary/Commercial licenses
GPL v3-only code (without “or later” clause)
AGPL v3 (different copyleft terms)
Licenses with GPL-incompatible restrictions

Third-Party Components

Dependencies

git-cache uses the following third-party libraries:

libcurl * License: MIT/X derivative license * Compatibility: Compatible with GPL v2 * Usage: HTTP/HTTPS operations for GitHub API

libjson-c * License: MIT License * Compatibility: Compatible with GPL v2 * Usage: JSON parsing for GitHub API responses

System Libraries * Various system libraries (libc, etc.) * Generally compatible or exempted under GPL system library clause

Development Dependencies

Additional tools used in development (not distributed):

Sphinx (Documentation) * License: BSD License * Usage: Documentation generation

Doxygen (API Documentation) * License: GPL v2 * Usage: API documentation generation

Test Frameworks * Various testing utilities under compatible licenses

Attribution Requirements

When Redistributing

When redistributing git-cache or derivative works, you must:

Include License Text: Provide the full GPL v2 license text
Preserve Copyright: Keep all copyright notices intact
Provide Source: Make source code available (for binary distributions)
Document Changes: Clearly mark any modifications made

Example Attribution

This software includes git-cache, which is licensed under the
GNU General Public License version 2.

git-cache Copyright (C) 2025 git-cache contributors

For the complete license text, see LICENSE file or visit:
https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Commercial Use

Commercial Usage Rights

GPL v2 explicitly allows commercial use with these requirements:

Source Availability: Must provide source code to recipients
License Propagation: Must license derivative works under GPL v2
No Additional Restrictions: Cannot add additional use restrictions
Patent Grant: Implicit patent license for GPL-covered code

Examples of Allowed Commercial Use: * Using git-cache in commercial development workflows * Packaging git-cache with commercial products (with source) * Providing git-cache as part of commercial services * Creating commercial training/consulting around git-cache

Examples of Restricted Use: * Creating proprietary derivatives without source release * Adding additional licensing restrictions * Patent-based restrictions on GPL-covered functionality

Dual Licensing

Currently, git-cache is only available under GPL v2. Dual licensing under commercial terms is not offered at this time.

For commercial licensing inquiries, contact the project maintainers.

Contributing and Copyright

Contributor License Agreement

Contributors to git-cache agree to:

License Compatibility: Only contribute code compatible with GPL v2
Copyright Assignment: Grant project right to use contributions under GPL v2
Original Work: Ensure contributions are original or properly licensed
No Conflicting Obligations: Have right to make the contribution

By submitting a pull request, contributors agree that: * Their contribution is original work or properly licensed * They have the right to contribute the code under GPL v2 * The contribution can be distributed under GPL v2 terms

Copyright Ownership

Project Copyright: Held collectively by “git-cache contributors”
Individual Contributions: Contributors retain copyright to their specific contributions
Collective Work: The overall work is owned by the contributor community
No Copyright Assignment: Contributors do not assign away their copyright

Legal Notices

Disclaimer

This software is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind.
See the GNU General Public License for complete warranty disclaimers.

Trademark Notice

“git-cache” is a descriptive name, not a registered trademark
“Git” is a trademark of Software Freedom Conservancy
“GitHub” is a trademark of GitHub, Inc.

Patent Notice

GPL v2 includes an implicit patent license for GPL-covered code. Contributors grant a patent license for their contributions under GPL v2 terms.

International Considerations

Export Control

git-cache may be subject to export control laws in some jurisdictions. Users are responsible for compliance with applicable export control regulations.

Jurisdiction

The GPL v2 license is interpreted under the laws where the copyright holder resides. For git-cache, this follows the jurisdiction of the primary maintainers.

Getting Help with Licensing

Questions about License

For questions about licensing:

Read the License: Full GPL v2 text is available at https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html
Check FAQ: GPL FAQ at https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html
Contact Maintainers: For project-specific questions
Legal Advice: Consult qualified legal counsel for legal advice

Common Questions

Q: Can I use git-cache in my commercial project? A: Yes, GPL v2 allows commercial use. You must provide source code to recipients and license derivative works under GPL v2.

Q: Can I create a proprietary tool based on git-cache? A: No, derivative works must be licensed under GPL v2 and source code must be available.

Q: Can I bundle git-cache with my proprietary software? A: Yes, as separate programs. If you create a derivative work, it must be GPL v2.

Q: Do I need to release my configuration files? A: No, configuration files and data files are generally not considered derivative works.

License History

v1.0.0: Initial release under GPL v2
Future: License changes require community consensus

For the complete, legally binding license text, see the LICENSE file in the source repository or visit https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html.