MIT License

Open Shell is distributed under the MIT License, one of the most permissive open-source licenses.

About the MIT License

The MIT License is a permissive free software license originating at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It is a popular license for software libraries and applications due to its simplicity and minimal restrictions.

As an MIT-licensed project, Open Shell offers users the following freedoms:

  • The freedom to use the software for any purpose
  • The freedom to study how the software works and adapt it to your needs
  • The freedom to distribute copies of the software
  • The freedom to improve the software and release your improvements to the public

The only requirement is that the original copyright notice and the license text be included in all copies or substantial portions of the software.

MIT License Text

MIT License Copyright (c) 2017-2025 Open-Shell Copyright (c) 2009-2017 Ivo Beltchev Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the"Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions: The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software. THE 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.

License FAQ

Can I use Open Shell in a commercial product?

Yes. The MIT License allows you to use Open Shell in commercial applications without any restriction.

Do I need to open-source my entire project if I use Open Shell?

No. Unlike copyleft licenses (such as the GPL), the MIT License does not require you to release your source code even if you use or modify Open Shell.

Can I modify Open Shell and not share the changes?

Yes. The MIT License allows you to modify the software privately without releasing your modifications.

Do I need to include the license text in my application?

Yes. If you distribute Open Shell or any portion of it (modified or unmodified), you must include the original copyright notice and the full text of the MIT License.

Can I redistribute Open Shell under a different license?

No. While you can license your own additions/modifications under any license, the original Open Shell code must remain under the MIT License.

Does Open Shell come with any warranty?

No. As clearly stated in the license text, the software is provided"as is" without warranty of any kind.

Additional Notes

Open Shell is a community-maintained fork of Classic Shell, which was originally created by Ivo Beltchev. The copyright notice reflects both the original author and the current maintainers.

If you have any questions about licensing or how you can use Open Shell in your projects, please reach out to the community through our GitHub repository.