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ADR 0003: Apache-2.0 License

Status

Accepted

Context

AXON is an open-source quantitative trading framework. Need a license that: - Permits commercial use - Allows modification and distribution - Provides patent protection - Is widely recognized and understood

Decision

Use Apache License 2.0 for the entire project.

Rationale

  1. Commercial Friendly: Permits use in commercial products without copyleft requirements
  2. Patent Protection: Includes explicit patent grant from contributors
  3. Industry Standard: Widely used in open-source projects (Kubernetes, TensorFlow, etc.)
  4. Compatibility: Compatible with most other open-source licenses
  5. Contributor Friendly: Clear terms encourage contributions

Consequences

Positive

  • Can be used commercially without restrictions
  • Patent protection for users
  • Clear contribution terms
  • Wide ecosystem compatibility

Negative

  • Requires copyright notice and license copy in distributions
  • More verbose than MIT license
  • Some organizations may have license policies requiring approval

Neutral

  • All source files include Apache-2.0 header
  • LICENSE file included in repository root
  • Third-party dependency licenses documented