Skip to content

License

Zaojun is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 or later (AGPL-3.0-or-later).

License Text

The full text of the license is available in the LICENSE.md file in the repository.

What This Means

You Can:

  • Use Zaojun for any purpose
  • Study how Zaojun works and change it
  • Share copies of Zaojun with others
  • Improve Zaojun and release your improvements

Under These Conditions:

  1. Source Code Availability: If you modify Zaojun and run it on a server that interacts with users over a network, you must make the modified source code available to those users.
  2. License Preservation: You must keep the same license when distributing original or modified copies.
  3. Notice: You must include copyright and license notices.
  4. State Changes: You must state if you changed the software.
  5. Same License: Modified versions must be licensed under the same AGPL license.

Why AGPL?

The AGPL license was chosen because:

  1. Freedom: Ensures software remains free and open
  2. Network Use: Extends GPL requirements to network/cloud use
  3. Community: Encourages contributions back to the community
  4. Transparency: Requires sharing improvements with users

For Users

If you're using Zaojun (not modifying or distributing it):

  • You can use Zaojun without any restrictions
  • No need to share your own code
  • No licensing fees

For Developers

If you're modifying or distributing Zaojun:

  • You must share your modifications under AGPL
  • You must provide source code to users
  • You can charge for distribution or support

For Companies

If your company uses Zaojun:

  • Internal Use: No restrictions
  • Public Service: If you provide Zaojun as a service, you must share modifications
  • Integration: Zaojun can be used alongside proprietary software

Commercial Use

Zaojun can be used commercially under the AGPL:

  • Yes: Use in commercial projects
  • Yes: Offer paid support
  • Yes: Sell distributions
  • No: Make proprietary modifications without sharing source

Compatibility

The AGPL is compatible with:

  • Other GPL licenses (GPLv3, GPLv2)
  • Many open source licenses for combined works
  • Most free software licenses

Alternative Licensing

For organizations that cannot use AGPL:

  • Contact the maintainers to discuss alternative licensing options
  • Consider sponsoring development for more permissive licensing

Dependencies License

Zaojun depends on several other packages, each with their own licenses:

  • httpx: BSD-3-Clause
  • packaging: BSD-2-Clause or Apache-2.0
  • cyclopts: MIT
  • h11: MIT
  • h2: MIT

All dependencies are compatible with AGPL.

Contributing

By contributing to Zaojun, you agree to license your contributions under the AGPL-3.0-or-later license.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

Getting a Copy

You can get a copy of the license:

  • In the repository: LICENSE.md
  • Online: GNU AGPL v3.0
  • Via email: Contact the maintainers

Questions?

If you have questions about the license:

  1. Read the full license text
  2. Consult with a legal professional
  3. Contact the maintainers through Codeberg Issues

Additional Resources