MIT vs GPL: The Ultimate Comparison
Understand the fundamental differences between permissive and copyleft licenses
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Quick Answers to Common Questions
Can I use MIT licensed code in commercial products?
Yes! MIT is one of the most permissive licenses. You can use, modify, and distribute MIT licensed code in commercial products without paying royalties or open-sourcing your code.
What happens if I include GPL code in my proprietary software?
If you distribute software containing GPL code, you must release your entire codebase under GPL. This is why GPL is called a "viral" license - it spreads to all linked code.
Is Apache 2.0 compatible with GPL v2?
No, Apache 2.0 is incompatible with GPL v2 due to patent termination clauses. However, it IS compatible with GPL v3, which was updated to address this issue.
What's the difference between LGPL and GPL?
LGPL (Lesser GPL) allows proprietary software to link to LGPL libraries without becoming open source, as long as the linking is dynamic. GPL requires the entire work to be GPL.
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