GPL许可证

As a developer, you are likely to use a LOT of libraries and software licensed as GPL.

作为开发人员，您可能会使用大量许可为GPL的库和软件。

In this post I want to give a high level overview of this license, telling you what you can do with GPL software, what you can’t do with GPL software, and what you must do when you rely on it.

在这篇文章中，我想对此许可证进行高层次的概述，告诉您可以使用GPL软件做什么， 不能使用GPL软件做什么以及依靠它必须做什么。

The GPL is, historically, at the core of Open Source software. It was originally created by Richard Stallman in 1989 to be used within the GNU Project, a free software version of the UNIX Operating System, which was proprietary.

从历史上看，GPL是开源软件的核心。 它最初是由Richard Stallman于1989年创建的，用于GNU Project (UNIX操作系统的免费软件版本， GNU Project是专有的)。

Since its introduction, GNU had a tremendous impact on our industry. Servers and computers which we say run “Linux” actually run a GNU/Linux system. Linux is the kernel (the “core”), and a big part of what’s around the kernel is composed by software built under the GNU Project umbrella like Bash and the GNU C library. The full list of GNU packages is very long and includes gems you’ll likely use like wget, nano, gcc, gimp, emacs, gtk+, and many more.

自推出以来，GNU对我们的行业产生了巨大的影响。 我们所说的运行“ Linux”的服务器和计算机实际上运行的是GNU / Linux系统。 Linux是内核(“核心”)，内核周围的很大一部分由在GNU Project框架下构建的软件(如Bash和GNU C库)组成。 GNU软件包的完整列表非常长 ，其中包含您可能会使用的gem，例如wget，nano，gcc，gimp，emacs，gtk +等。

Note: Android uses Linux as its kernel, but does not include GNU software, and includes proprietary software on top, which make it very different from the desktop GNU/Linux distributions. Plus, the Open Source parts of Android are licensed under the Apache 2.0 License, not GPL.

注意：Android使用Linux作为其内核，但不包括GNU软件，并且在其顶部包括专有软件，这使其与台式机GNU / Linux发行版完全不同。 另外，Android的开源部分是根据Apache 2.0许可而非GPL许可的。

Note: this article talks about the latest version of the GPL license, v3. At the end you’ll find some key differences with GPL v2.

注意：本文讨论了GPL许可证v3的最新版本。 最后，您会发现GPL v2的一些关键区别。

GPL v3软件生产商的优势 (Advantages for producers of GPL v3 software)

As a producer of software licensed as GPL v3, you cannot be hold liable for damages that occur while using your software.

作为获得GPL v3许可的软件生产商，您不承担使用软件时造成的损失的责任。

You can add a warranty on the software if you want, but by default you cannot be hold liable.

您可以根据需要在软件上添加保修，但是默认情况下您不承担责任。

Also, a great benefit is that software licensed as GPL cannot be re-licensed under a more permissive license.

另外，一个很大的好处是，被许可为GPL的软件无法根据更为宽松的许可进行重新许可。

作为GPL v3软件的生产者必须提供的东西 (Thing you must provide as a producer of GPL v3 software)

As a GPL software producer, you must:

作为GPL软件生产商，您必须：

• Include the full copy of the GPL license version in the package you distribute
  在您分发的软件包中包含GPL许可证版本的完整副本
• Include your copyright
  包括您的版权
• Include a disclaimer of warranty
  包含免责声明

If you distribute the executable version of the software, you have to provide the source code of the software to anyone that requests it.

如果分发该软件的可执行版本，则必须将软件的源代码提供给请求它的任何人。

Also (GPL v3 only) if the software is part of a consumer device you must provide the installation instructions to allow anyone to modify the software, build a binary and reinstall it.

另外(仅GPL v3)如果软件是消费类设备的一部分，则必须提供安装说明，以允许任何人修改软件，构建二进制文件并重新安装。

If you are redistributing a modified version of GPL software, you must also:

如果要重新分发GPL软件的修改版，则还必须：

• Include the original version copyright
  包括原始版本版权
• Include instructions to obtain the original version
  包括获取原始版本的说明
• Include a list of changes made to the original software
  包括对原始软件所做的更改的列表

GPL v3软件用户的优势 (Advantages for users of GPL v3 software)

As a user of GPL v3 software, you have lots of freedom:

作为GPL v3软件的用户，您有很多自由：

1. You can use GPL software for commercial purposes
   您可以将GPL软件用于商业目的
2. You can modify the software and create derivative work
   您可以修改软件并创建衍生作品
3. You can distribute the software and any derivative work you produce, without having to ask for permission or pay anyone
   您可以分发软件和所产生的任何衍生作品，而无需征求许可或支付任何费用

Plus, for GPL v3 only (not GPL v1 or v2), you are safe with any patent that is owned by contributors of the software you use (they give you a built-in right to use the software regardless of any patent they own, and they can’t sue you for using it)

另外，仅针对GPL v3(而非GPL v1或v2)，您可以安全使用自己使用的软件的贡献者拥有的任何专利(无论您拥有哪种专利，它们都赋予您内置使用软件的权利，他们不能起诉您使用它)

GPL v3软件用户的劣势 (Disadvantages for users of GPL v3 software)

You cannot change the license of code you received as GPL. You can apply modifications to the software, but you can’t change the license to something else.

您无法更改作为GPL收到的代码的许可证。 您可以对软件进行修改，但不能将许可证更改为其他内容。

Once software is GPL-ed, it will always have that license attached.

一旦软件通过GPL许可，它将始终附有该许可证。

翻译自: https://flaviocopes.com/gpl-license/