MIT License facts for kids
| Author | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
|---|---|
| Version | N/A |
| Copyright | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Published | 1988 |
| DFSG compatible | Yes |
| Free software | Yes |
| OSI approved | Yes |
| GPL compatible | Yes |
| Copyleft | No |
| Linking from code with a different license | Yes |
The MIT License is a special set of rules for computer programs. It was created at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It is a type of free software license. This means people can use, change, and share the software freely.
The MIT License is very permissive. This means it lets computer programmers use the code in their own programs, even if those programs are sold. The only rule is that the MIT License must be included with the software. It also works well with the GPL. This means programmers can mix and share code that uses both licenses.
According to the Free Software Foundation, the MIT License is sometimes called the X11 license. This is because MIT has used many different licenses over time. This specific license was first made for the X Window System.
What Software Uses the MIT License?
Many popular computer programs use the MIT License. Some examples include:
- Expat, which helps with XML files.
- PuTTY, a program for connecting to other computers.
- Mono development platform, which helps build apps.
- Ruby on Rails, a tool for making websites.
- Cakephp, another tool for building websites.
- Twisted, a tool for network programming.
- Lua 5.0 onwards, a programming language.
- The X Window System, which helps computers show graphics.
Some software can be used with more than one license. This is called dual licensing. For example, older versions of the cURL library let users choose between the Mozilla Public License or the MIT License.
What Does the License Mean?
The MIT License is a short and simple set of rules. It gives people a lot of freedom to use and share software. Here are the main things it allows:
- Use the software: You can run the program for any purpose.
- Copy the software: You can make as many copies as you want.
- Change the software: You can modify the code to make it do new things.
- Share the software: You can give copies to other people.
- Sell the software: You can even sell copies of the software, even if you changed it.
The main conditions are:
- You must include the original license text with all copies of the software.
- The license also says that the creators of the software are not responsible for any problems. This means if something goes wrong, it's not their fault.
Related Pages
See Also
In Spanish: Licencia MIT para niños
