What Is the Recommended License for an Awesome List?

The Awesome list project requires every new list to be released under a Creative Commons license, specifically the CC0 1.0 Universal public-domain dedication.

According to the sindresorhus/awesome repository guidelines, choosing the correct license is a mandatory requirement for submission. The project maintains strict licensing policies to ensure content remains freely accessible and modifiable. Understanding the recommended license for an awesome list ensures your contribution meets the community standards and passes the pull request review process.

Why Creative Commons Is Required

The Awesome project mandates Creative Commons licenses for all curated lists. This requirement exists because awesome lists are collections of resources, links, and descriptions rather than software code. Traditional software licenses do not adequately protect or free this type of content.

As documented in awesome.md, the project explicitly requires Creative Commons licensing to maintain consistency across the ecosystem. The pull_request_template.md contains a checklist item that states: "We strongly recommend the CC0 license." This template serves as the gatekeeper for all new submissions, ensuring compliance before maintainers review the content.

The Recommended CC0 License

While any Creative Commons license technically satisfies the requirement, the maintainers strongly recommend CC0 1.0 Universal. This public-domain dedication allows creators to waive all copyright and related rights, placing the work in the global public domain.

The CC0 license offers maximum freedom for users to copy, modify, distribute, and perform the work without asking permission. This aligns with the Awesome project's philosophy of open, unrestricted knowledge sharing. The repository includes the full CC0 text in its root license file, which serves as the reference implementation for new lists.

How to Add the License to Your Repository

Using GitHub's Template URL

You can quickly add the CC0 license using GitHub's web interface:

# Replace <user> and <repo> with your GitHub username and repository name

open "https://github.com/<user>/<repo>/community/license/new?branch=main&template=cc0-1.0"

This URL pre-populates a license file with the complete CC0 1.0 legal text.

Creating the License File Manually

Create a file named license or LICENSE in your repository root with this minimal content:

CC0 1.0 Universal

https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Ensure the file uses lowercase license or uppercase LICENSE as GitHub recognizes both naming conventions.

Repository Structure Guidelines

Do not include the license text in your README.md. Instead, rely on the dedicated license file. GitHub automatically detects and surfaces this license in the repository sidebar, providing clear legal information without cluttering your documentation.

Example README structure:

# Awesome MyTool

A curated list of …  

<!-- No license text here – GitHub shows it automatically -->

Licenses That Are Not Allowed

The Awesome project explicitly prohibits software code licenses for list content. Do not use any of the following:

• MIT License
• BSD License (any variant)
• Apache License 2.0
• GPL (any version)
• Unlicense
• WTFPL

These licenses are designed for source code, not curated lists of links and descriptions. Using them will result in your pull request being rejected during review.

Summary

• CC0 1.0 Universal is the strongly recommended license for awesome lists.
• Place the license text in a root-level license or LICENSE file, not in the README.
• Creative Commons licenses are mandatory; software licenses like MIT, BSD, Apache, and GPL are explicitly forbidden.
• Reference the pull_request_template.md and awesome.md files in the sindresorhus/awesome repository for official policy details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use MIT or Apache for my awesome list?

No. According to the pull_request_template.md in the sindresorhus/awesome repository, code licenses such as MIT, BSD, Apache, GPL, Unlicense, and WTFPL are explicitly not allowed for awesome lists. You must use a Creative Commons license, preferably CC0.

Is CC0 the only acceptable Creative Commons license?

No, CC0 is not the only option, though it is the strongly recommended choice. The project accepts any Creative Commons license, but CC0 1.0 Universal is the preferred public-domain dedication because it provides the most freedom for users.

Where should I put the license file in my repository?

Place the license file at the repository root with the filename license or LICENSE. Do not include the license text in your README file. GitHub automatically detects the license file and displays it in the repository information panel.

Can I modify the CC0 license text when adding it to my repo?

No, you should use the standard CC0 1.0 Universal text exactly as provided. You can obtain the official text either through GitHub's license template chooser or by copying the content from the license file in the sindresorhus/awesome repository. Modifying the legal text may invalidate the license.

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