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Software-License-OrLaterPack-v0.9.0_01-TRIAL
River stage two • 1 direct dependent • 10 total dependents
/ Software::License::OrLaterPack

NAME

Software::License::OrLaterPack - Use GNU license with "or later" clause

VERSION

Version v0.9.0_01, released on 2015-09-27 13:18 UTC. This is a trial release.

WHAT?

Software-License-OrLaterPack is an add-on for Software-License, a set of licenses with "or later" clause (like GPL_3::or_later). It allows Perl developers (who use Dist-Zilla) to release their work under the terms of a License version N or (at user option) any later version.

This is OrLaterPack user manual. Read this if you want to use GNU license with "or later" clause.

If you are going to hack or extend OrLaterPack read module documentation, e. g. Software::License::GPL_3::or_later. General topics like getting source, building, installing, bug reporting and some others are covered in the README file.

SYNOPSIS

In dist.ini:

name             = Foo-Bar
version          = 0.001
author           = John Doe <john.doe@example.com>
license          = GPL_3::or_later
    ; or another license, see the list of provided licenses below
copyright_holder = John Doe
copyright_year   = 2015
…

Direct usage:

use Software::License::GPL_3::or_later;
    # or another license, see the list of provided licenses below
my $lic =
    Software::License::GPL_3::or_later->new( {
        holder  => 'John Doe',
        year    => '2010',
        program => 'Assa',
    } );
$lic->abbr;     # returns 'GPLv3+'
$lic->notice;   # Copyright statement and 3-paragraph GNU license notice
…

WHY?

Dist-Zilla is a popular tool for building CPAN distributions. Build process is controlled by dist.ini, Dist-Zilla configuration file. A distribution author can specify license covering his work by using license option in dist.ini file:

license = NAME

where NAME is a name of module from Software::License hierarchy.

Software-License is shipped with a set of popular licenses, from Apache_1_1 to Zlib, including GNU licenses (GPL), including their "Affero" and "Lesser" variants.

So, if a developer wants to release his work under the terms of the GPL version 3, he should write in his dist.ini:

license = GPL_3

However, Free Software Foundation recommends using clause "license version N or (at your option) any later version". Unfortunately, Software-License distribution does not supply (out of the box) a way to express such clause.

Software-License-OrLaterPack fulfills the lack. If Software-License-OrLaterPack is installed, a developer can specify in his dist.ini:

license = GPL_3::or_later

LIST OF PROVIDED LICENSES

Software::License::AGPL_3::or_later
Software::License::GPL_1::or_later
Software::License::GPL_2::or_later
Software::License::GPL_3::or_later
Software::License::LGPL_2_1::or_later
Software::License::LGPL_3_0::or_later

CAVEATS

CPAN::Meta::Spec hardcodes the list of "valid" licenses. In version 2.150001 of the module there are no "upgradable" GNU licenses, so in CPAN the GPLv3+ will look as ordinal GPLv3 (gpl_3), and so on.

SEE ALSO

Dist::Zilla
Software::License
Why should programs say “Version 3 of the GPL or any later version”?

AUTHOR

Van de Bugger <van.de.bugger@gmail.com>

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

Copyright (C) 2015 Van de Bugger

This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.