Devflow is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), version 2. When I started this project, I needed to choose a license that would help define its direction. Given the current state of the open-source ecosystem, I opted for the GPL and specifically GPLv2. My goal was to create a system with a familiar API that would lower the barrier to entry for PHP programmers.

The GPL often receives criticism and can discourage people from using GPL-licensed software. However, it's important to make a key distinction: while the Devflow code itself is licensed under the GPL, your content is not. This means you can use Devflow as a headless content repository and build your own application or website around it, using any JavaScript framework and consuming the REST API. This creates a clear separation between your code and the GPL-licensed Devflow code.

Additionally, when you build websites for clients using Devflow, that does not count as distributing a derivative work. However, the code you deliver to your client should be open for modifications and study, in keeping with the principles of free software.

I strongly believe in open-source software and the core principles of freedom—the freedom to use, modify, and share. Contributing back to the project is encouraged and lies at the heart of the GPLv2, helping make the software better for everyone. However, it should never be used as a means to create division or fragment a community.

Linus Torvalds does a great job in the video below in explaining GPLv2 and the true philosophy behind it: