What Is the License for the google/skills Repository?

The google/skills repository is released under the Apache License, Version 2.0, a permissive open-source license that allows commercial use, modification, and distribution with proper attribution.

The license for the google/skills repository governs how developers can use, modify, and redistribute the code within the project. Understanding these terms ensures compliance when incorporating this open-source tooling into your own applications or commercial products.

Where to Find the License File

The complete Apache License 2.0 text resides in the repository's root directory within the LICENSE file. You can view the full legal text directly at https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/LICENSE. The README.md file also references this license, confirming that all content in the repository falls under these terms unless otherwise specified.

Key Permissions and Requirements of Apache 2.0

The Apache License, Version 2.0 provides specific freedoms and obligations that differ from copyleft licenses like GPL.

Permissive Use

You may freely use, modify, distribute, and even sell software derived from the google/skills repository. This permissive approach applies to both commercial and non-commercial projects without requiring you to open-source your derivative works.

Patent Grant

Contributors to the repository provide a royalty-free, worldwide patent license for any patents covering their contributed code. This protects users from patent infringement claims related to the repository's functionality.

Attribution Requirements

When redistributing code from google/skills—whether in source or binary form—you must include the copyright notice and license text. You cannot remove or alter existing attribution headers without permission.

How to Comply When Using google/skills Code

Proper compliance requires maintaining license headers and distributing the LICENSE file alongside any derived work.

Adding License Headers to New Files

When creating new files that incorporate logic from the repository, include the standard Apache 2.0 header:

"""
Copyright 2024 Your Name

Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
You may obtain a copy of the License at

    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
limitations under the License.
"""

# Your implementation here

Distributing the LICENSE File

Always include the original LICENSE file when packaging or shipping products containing google/skills code:

# Copy the LICENSE file into your project root

cp path/to/google/skills/LICENSE ./LICENSE

# Verify your package metadata includes the license reference

grep "license" setup.py

Summary

• The google/skills repository license is Apache License, Version 2.0, stored in the root LICENSE file.
• Commercial use is permitted without requiring source code disclosure for derivative works.
• You must retain copyright notices and include the license text when redistributing the code.
• The license includes an express patent grant from contributors.
• No warranty is provided; the code is distributed "as is" according to Section 7 of the Apache 2.0 text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use google/skills code in a closed-source commercial application?

Yes. The Apache 2.0 license permits incorporation into proprietary software without requiring you to release your source code. You must only include the original copyright notices and a copy of the LICENSE file within your distribution.

Does the license protect me from patent lawsuits?

Yes, partially. The Apache 2.0 license includes an explicit patent grant where contributors license any patents covering their contributions. However, this protection only extends to patents held by contributors and does not shield you from unrelated third-party patent claims.

Where exactly is the license file located in the repository?

The license text is located at LICENSE in the repository root. This file contains the complete Apache License, Version 2.0 text, and you can access it directly via the GitHub interface at https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/LICENSE.

Do I need to display the license in my application's user interface?

No. The Apache 2.0 license does not require displaying the license within your application's UI. You only need to include the LICENSE file and any required notices in your source distribution or documentation, typically within an "About" or "Legal" section or alongside your source code.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}