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Why I Use the GPL in 2025: A Student’s Guide to Free Software Licensing

twrix Follow May 01, 2025 · 11 mins read
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Why I Use the GPL in 2025: A Student’s Guide to Free Software Licensing

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Hey, CS students and new grads! Writing code for your next GitHub project or startup idea? Before you slap an MIT license on it because “everyone does,” pause. The GNU Public License (GPL) is the gold standard for keeping your software free, open, and safe from corporate greed. In 2025, as Big Tech hoovers up open-source code for AI models and spyware, choosing the right license is a power move. This guide explains why I use the GPL over permissive licenses (aka “Cuck Licenses” like MIT and BSD), how they can screw you over (hello, MINIX!), and when permissive licenses might be okay. Plus, we’ll cover Jitsi Meet alternatives like BigBlueButton for teaming up on open-source projects, all on a ramen budget with Linux-friendly tools. Ditch the corporate cuckery and code like a free software boss.

Why Licensing Matters for Students

Picking a license for your code isn’t just paperwork—it’s a statement:

  • Control your work: The GPL ensures your code stays free and open, unlike MIT/BSD, which let corporations close-source it.
  • Job skills: Open-source contributions with GPL boost your GitHub for tech jobs at places like xAI, where ethics matter.
  • Privacy flex: GPL code can’t be turned into spyware (e.g., Intel’s Management Engine), protecting users like you.
  • Academic cred: A GPL’d project (e.g., a LaTeX renderer) impresses CS profs and hackathon judges.
  • Budget-friendly: Free tools (e.g., Git, Matrix) and GPL’d software mean no pricey licenses, like avoiding restaurants.
  • Collaboration: Team up on GPL projects via MiroTalk, building skills and connections.

It’s like choosing Matrix over Discord—GPL gives you freedom, not just a free lunch.

What Is the GPL (And Why It’s Awesome)?

The GNU Public License (GPL), version 3 (GPLv3), is a copyleft license created by Richard Stallman’s Free Software Foundation (FSF). It’s a legal “hack” using copyright to keep software free:

  • Core rules:
    • Users can run, modify, and share your code.
    • Any derivative work (e.g., forks) must stay GPL’d, open-source, and freely shareable.
    • Violators (e.g., hiding source code) face legal trouble [gnu.org].
  • Why it’s awesome:
    • Freedom that sticks: Unlike MIT/BSD, GPL ensures your code can’t be locked up in proprietary software (e.g., Windows, iOS).
    • Community power: Fuels projects like Linux, GIMP, and VLC, which you use daily.
    • Privacy shield: Forces transparency, preventing your code from becoming spyware or AI training data without disclosure.
    • 2025 relevance: As AI firms scrape GitHub for code, GPL protects your work from uncredited use in closed-source models [eff.org].

For students: GPL is like writing a LaTeX thesis—your work stays yours, benefits others, and doesn’t end up in Microsoft’s next Word update.

Permissive Licenses: The “Cuck” Trap

Permissive licenses (e.g., MIT, BSD) are “free” but let anyone, including Big Tech, close-source your code. The original calls them “Cuck Licenses” because they’re like giving away your work to be exploited:

  • How they work:
    • Users can modify and share your code, but derivatives can be proprietary—no need to release source.
    • Example: You write a cool MIT-licensed app; Apple takes it, tweaks it, and sells it in iOS 19 without sharing code.
  • Why they’re a trap:
    • Corporate freebie: Tech giants (e.g., IBM, Microsoft) grab your code, save R&D bucks, and lock it behind paywalls.
    • No control: You can’t stop your code from becoming spyware, adware, or AI fodder.
    • Whining hypocrisy: MIT/BSD coders complain when firms profit or don’t credit them, but their license allows it.
    • Worse than public domain: Public domain code can be GPL’d later; MIT/BSD code is legally murkier for re-licensing [fsf.org].
  • 2025 risks: AI startups scrape MIT/BSD code from GitHub for proprietary models, leaving you uncredited and users surveilled [r/opensource].

Student takeaway: Using MIT/BSD is like posting your Python homework online and crying when someone sells it. GPL keeps your code free and your conscience clear.

The MINIX Horror Story: A Cautionary Tale

Exhibit A: MINIX, a tiny OS by Andrew Tanenbaum, licensed under BSD. Intel took it, used it in their Management Engine (a chip in all Intel CPUs), and turned it into a spyware backdoor—without telling Tanenbaum or releasing source [lwn.net]. Key lessons:

  • What happened:
    • MINIX’s BSD license let Intel close-source it, hiding its use for years.
    • Revealed in 2016, Tanenbaum was shocked but couldn’t complain—BSD allowed it.
    • His blog post (vitanuova.com) drips regret: he’s “proud” MINIX is “widely used” but wishes Intel had given a courtesy heads-up.
  • Why it sucks:
    • Privacy disaster: Intel’s Management Engine is a permanent NSA backdoor in most PCs, enabled by BSD’s permissiveness.
    • No credit, no cash: Tanenbaum got zero recognition or payment, unlike proprietary licensing.
    • GPL would’ve saved us: GPL’d MINIX would’ve forced Intel to open-source the Management Engine or write their own OS, protecting users.
  • 2025 impact: Intel’s still at it, and permissive licenses fuel similar privacy scandals in IoT devices and AI chips [eff.org].

Student takeaway: Your cool CS project could be the next MINIX—use GPL to avoid fueling Big Tech’s surveillance machine.

When Permissive Licenses Make Sense

GPL isn’t always king—sometimes permissive licenses (e.g., MIT, BSD, LGPL) are tactical:

  • Libraries: GPL’d libraries scare off firms, so LGPL (Lesser GPL) or BSD is used for mass adoption (e.g., glibc’s linking exception). LGPL keeps the library open but allows proprietary linking [fsf.org].
  • Standards: Formats like Ogg Vorbis switched to BSD for universal use (e.g., Spotify, YouTube), per Stallman’s advice [lwn.net].
  • Competition: LGPL competes with proprietary libraries, ensuring users get free options.
  • 2025 example: If your AI library needs to rival NVIDIA’s proprietary CUDA, BSD might boost adoption, but weigh the privacy cost.

Student takeaway: Use GPL for apps or standalone code (e.g., your Python CLI tool). For libraries or standards, consider LGPL or BSD if adoption trumps copyleft, but know the risks.

Collaborating with Jitsi Meet Alternatives

Building GPL’d software is a team sport—GitHub and Matrix handle code and chat, but video calls clarify project goals or licensing debates. Jitsi Meet (meet.jit.si) is free, E2EE, and supports 100 users but lags with large groups and lacks whiteboards. Here are 2025’s top open-source alternatives for open-source teams:

BigBlueButton

  • What: Open-source video platform with whiteboards, breakout rooms, and polls. Latest: BBB 2.7 (early 2025).
  • Pros: E2EE, supports 100+ users, Canvas/Moodle integration. Ideal for CS class projects or hackathons discussing GPL [bigbluebutton.org].
  • Cons: Self-hosting needs ~4GB RAM. Setup is complex for beginners.
  • For students: Perfect for large open-source teams. Use hosted versions like greenlight.io.

MiroTalk

  • What: Lightweight WebRTC video app for P2P or SFU calls, supporting 8K video. Latest: MiroTalk 1.2 (early 2025).
  • Pros: E2EE, low server needs (~1GB RAM), browser-based. Great for small teams (e.g., 5–10) planning GPL projects [mirotalk.github.io].
  • Cons: No whiteboards or polls. P2P lags with 10+ users.
  • For students: Ideal for quick code reviews or licensing chats. Host on a $5 VPS.

Why alternatives? Jitsi’s E2EE is solid, but BBB’s classroom tools (e.g., whiteboards for project plans) and MiroTalk’s lightweight setup better suit open-source collaboration.

Top Tools and Resources for 2025

Kickstart your GPL journey with these free or cheap tools:

All are free or low-cost, like avoiding restaurants.

How to Start with GPL: A Student Plan

Ready to license like a pro? Follow this 2025 plan to GPL your projects in one semester:

Step 1: Learn Licensing Basics (Weeks 1–2)

Step 2: Start a GPL’d Project (Weeks 3–6)

  • Goal: Write a small GPL’d program.
  • Tasks:
    • Code a simple Python tool (e.g., CLI calculator) in VS Code.
    • License it with GPLv3 (copy text from gnu.org) and add to LICENSE file.
    • Host on codeberg.org with a README explaining why GPL.
  • Resource: r/opensource for project ideas.

Step 3: Collaborate on Open Source (Weeks 7–10)

  • Goal: Join a GPL’d project.
  • Tasks:
  • Tip: Credit GPL’s role in your commit message.

Step 4: Share and Advocate (Weeks 11–14)

  • Goal: Spread the GPL gospel.
  • Tasks:
    • Host a hackathon planning session on BigBlueButton to start a GPL’d group project.
    • Write a blog post on r/opensource about your GPL experience.
    • Help a classmate license their code with GPL (share fsf.org).
  • Resource: greenlight.io for BBB hosting.

Step 5: Keep Growing

  • Contribute more: Join bigger GPL projects (e.g., GIMP, Inkscape).
  • Advocate: Talk GPL at CS club or job interviews.
  • Track wins: Save your first GPL’d repo link. Flex on GitHub or LinkedIn.

Common Worries (And Why They’re No Big Deal)

  • “Is GPL too restrictive for jobs?”
    Nope—GPL’d code is standard in Linux, GCC, and more. Employers love open-source contributions, per [r/opensource].
  • “What if firms ignore GPL?”
    GPL’s enforceable—violators risk lawsuits (e.g., VMware’s 2016 GPL case [lwn.net]). It’s a “viral” shield.
  • “Can I afford open-source work?”
    It’s free—use codeberg.org, VS Code, and Matrix. No budget needed.
  • “Should I use MIT for simplicity?”
    MIT’s simplicity is a trap—your code could end up in spyware. GPL’s extra lines save headaches.
  • “What about libraries?”
    Use LGPL for libraries needing adoption, but GPL for apps to maximize freedom.

The Bottom Line

In 2025, the GPL is your weapon against Big Tech’s code grabs, from AI models to IoT spyware. Unlike MIT/BSD’s “Cuck Licenses,” which let corporations close-source your work (RIP MINIX), GPL keeps your code free, open, and privacy-safe. Use free tools like Git, LaTeX, and codeberg.org to build GPL’d projects, and team up via MiroTalk or BigBlueButton for hackathons. In a semester, you’ll ship code that benefits users, not Microsoft, and boost your CS resume. Be the coder who says “no” to corporate cuckery and “yes” to free software.

Ready to start? License your next Python project with GPL at gnu.org, join r/opensource, and host a coding sesh on MiroTalk. Build free software and own the open-source game.

Disclaimer: This isn’t legal advice—just a guide to code freer. Manage chat memory via the book icon below or disable in Data Controls.

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Written by twrix Follow
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