Blogging Roller

RIFE, a continuations-based web application framework for Java has decided to use the CDDL license. I like the way Geert puts it, CDDL: a copy-left license without ambiguities.

Geert Bevin: For the 1.1 release of RIFE, we have decided to dual license the framework and add CDDL as an option alongside the previous LGPL license.

The CDDL offers a copy-left open-source license that doesn't have any ambiguities regarding the terms 'linking' and 'executable', which make no sense in a Java application. There is no possible viral behavior that extends beyond RIFE itself. The CDDL protects us by requiring all source modifications to RIFE to be contributed back under the same license, but imposes no restrictions at all on the use of RIFE in a commercial application.

However, to be able to combine RIFE with a GPL license, a stronger copy-left license is required. In this case, the LGPL can be selected.