# Rowboatlabs/Rowboat License: Apache 2.0 Explained

> Understand the Apache 2.0 license for rowboatlabs/rowboat. Learn how this permissive open-source license allows commercial use, modification, and distribution with attribution.

- Repository: [RowBoat Labs/rowboat](https://github.com/rowboatlabs/rowboat)
- Tags: license
- Published: 2026-02-16

---

**The rowboatlabs/rowboat repository is licensed under the Apache License 2.0, a permissive open-source license that allows commercial use, modification, and distribution while requiring attribution.**

The rowboatlabs/rowboat license governs a monorepo containing multiple applications and packages. Understanding the specific license terms ensures compliance whether you are contributing to the project, building upon it, or integrating it into commercial products.

## Understanding the Apache 2.0 License for Rowboat

The Apache License 2.0 is a permissive open-source license approved by the Open Source Initiative (OSI). For the rowboatlabs/rowboat project, this license grants broad freedoms while protecting contributors from liability.

### Key Permissions and Requirements

- **Usage rights**: You may use, modify, and distribute the software for any purpose, including commercial applications.
- **Patent grant**: Contributors explicitly grant patent rights to users, protecting against patent infringement claims.
- **Attribution requirement**: You must retain the original copyright notice, license text, and disclaimer in any distribution.
- **Trademark restriction**: The license does not grant permission to use the contributors' trademarks without separate approval.

## Where to Find the License in the Repository

The rowboatlabs/rowboat license information appears in multiple locations to ensure visibility across the monorepo structure.

### Top-Level LICENSE File

The complete Apache 2.0 license text resides in the repository root:

```text
LICENSE

```

This file contains the full legal text of the Apache License, Version 2.0, including the appendix that explains how to apply the license to your work. You can view it directly at `https://github.com/rowboatlabs/rowboat/blob/main/LICENSE`.

### Package Manifest Declarations

Individual packages within the monorepo declare the license identifier in their respective [`package.json`](https://github.com/rowboatlabs/rowboat/blob/main/package.json) files. For example, the main Electron application specifies:

```json
{
  "name": "main",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "license": "Apache-2.0"
}

```

This declaration appears in [`apps/x/apps/main/package.json`](https://github.com/rowboatlabs/rowboat/blob/main/apps/x/apps/main/package.json), ensuring that package managers and automated tools recognize the rowboatlabs/rowboat license at the package level.

## Practical Examples: Working with the Rowboat License

When extending or modifying the rowboat codebase, follow these practical patterns to maintain license compliance.

### Adding License Headers to New Files

When creating new source files in the rowboat repository, include the standard Apache 2.0 header:

```javascript
/*
 * Copyright (c) 2024 RowBoat Labs
 *
 * 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.
 */

```

### Verifying License Information via CLI

You can programmatically verify the rowboatlabs/rowboat license using command-line tools.

Using `jq` to check a specific package:

```bash
jq '.license' apps/x/apps/main/package.json

```

Expected output:

```text
"Apache-2.0"

```

Using the GitHub CLI to check the repository license:

```bash
gh repo view rowboatlabs/rowboat --json license --jq .license.spdxId

```

Expected output:

```text
Apache-2.0

```

## Summary

- The **rowboatlabs/rowboat license** is **Apache License 2.0**, a permissive open-source license.
- The full license text resides in the top-level `LICENSE` file at the repository root.
- Package-specific declarations appear in individual [`package.json`](https://github.com/rowboatlabs/rowboat/blob/main/package.json) files (e.g., [`apps/x/apps/main/package.json`](https://github.com/rowboatlabs/rowboat/blob/main/apps/x/apps/main/package.json)).
- Apache 2.0 permits commercial use, modification, and distribution with proper attribution.
- Contributors grant patent rights to users, providing additional legal protection.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is rowboatlabs/rowboat open source?

Yes, rowboatlabs/rowboat is open source. The repository is publicly available on GitHub and released under the Apache License 2.0, which is an OSI-approved open-source license that permits free use, modification, and distribution of the code.

### Can I use rowboatlabs/rowboat for commercial projects?

Yes, you can use rowboatlabs/rowboat for commercial projects. The Apache 2.0 license explicitly permits commercial use, allowing you to integrate the software into proprietary products and services. You must retain the copyright notices and license text in your distributions, but you are not required to open-source your own modifications.

### Where is the license file located in the rowboat repository?

The license file is located at the root of the repository as `LICENSE`. You can access the full Apache 2.0 license text directly at `https://github.com/rowboatlabs/rowboat/blob/main/LICENSE`. Additionally, individual packages within the monorepo declare the license identifier in their respective [`package.json`](https://github.com/rowboatlabs/rowboat/blob/main/package.json) files, such as [`apps/x/apps/main/package.json`](https://github.com/rowboatlabs/rowboat/blob/main/apps/x/apps/main/package.json).

### Do I need to include the Apache 2.0 license header in every file I modify?

While the Apache 2.0 license does not strictly require headers in every file, it is best practice to include the standard license header in new source files you create or substantially modify within the rowboat repository. The `LICENSE` file at the repository root satisfies the distribution requirement, but per-file headers provide clarity regarding individual file licensing and copyright ownership.