name: ring:applying-licenses description: "Applying or switching a repository's license (Apache 2.0, Elastic License v2, or Lerian Proprietary): rewrites the LICENSE file, updates Go/TS source headers, sets SPDX identifiers, and validates consistency after user confirmation. Use when asked to set, apply, or switch a license, or when scaffolding a service with no LICENSE. Skip when license, headers, and SPDX already match, or for non-code repos."
License Management
When to use
- User requests to set, apply, or switch a license on a repository
- Scaffolding a new service from the boilerplate
- Task mentions "license", "licensing", "license header", "Apache 2.0", "ELv2", "proprietary"
- Gate 0 of dev-cycle when no LICENSE file exists
Skip when
- Repository already has requested license AND all headers match AND SPDX is correct (verified)
- Non-code repositories (documentation-only, design assets)
Related
Complementary: ring:running-dev-cycle, ring:implementing-tasks
You orchestrate. Agents update source headers. NEVER apply a license without user confirmation.
License Types
| License | SPDX | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Apache 2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
Open source (e.g., Midaz core) |
| Elastic License v2 | Elastic-2.0 |
Source-available Lerian products |
| Proprietary | LicenseRef-Lerian-Proprietary |
Internal/closed repositories |
Header Templates
Apache 2.0 — Go
// Copyright (c) {YEAR} {COPYRIGHT_HOLDER}
//
// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
// You may obtain a copy of the License at
//
// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
//
// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
// limitations under the License.
Elastic License v2 — Go
// Copyright (c) {YEAR} {COPYRIGHT_HOLDER}
// Use of this source code is governed by the Elastic License 2.0
// that can be found in the LICENSE file.
Proprietary — Go
// Copyright (c) {YEAR} {COPYRIGHT_HOLDER}. All rights reserved.
// This source code is proprietary and confidential.
// Unauthorized copying of this file is strictly prohibited.
TypeScript: wrap the same text in /** ... */.
Gate 0: Detection
Orchestrator runs directly:
# 1. Detect LICENSE file
ls LICENSE LICENSE.md LICENSE.txt 2>/dev/null
head -5 LICENSE 2>/dev/null
# 2. Identify type
grep -l "Apache License" LICENSE* 2>/dev/null → apache
grep -l "Elastic License" LICENSE* 2>/dev/null → elv2
grep -l "All rights reserved" LICENSE* 2>/dev/null → proprietary
# 3. Sample current source headers
head -5 $(find . -name "*.go" ! -path "*/vendor/*" ! -name "*.pb.go" | head -5)
head -5 $(find . -name "*.ts" ! -path "*/node_modules/*" | head -5)
# 4. Detect language
test -f go.mod && echo "Go project"
test -f package.json && echo "TypeScript project"
Determine:
current_license: apache | elv2 | proprietary | nonelanguage: go | typescript | bothcopyright_holder: from existing headers or Lerian Studio defaultyear: current year
Gate 1: User Confirmation
Present summary and wait for explicit APPROVED:
Current license: {current_license}
Target license: {target_license}
Language: {language}
Copyright: {copyright_holder} ({year})
Changes:
- LICENSE file: CREATE/REPLACE with {target_license}
- Source headers: UPDATE {N} files
- README badge: UPDATE
Proceed? (APPROVED / CANCEL)
STOP if user does not confirm.
Gate 2: Implementation
After confirmation:
1. Replace LICENSE file (orchestrator writes directly):
- Apache 2.0: fetch from https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.txt
- ELv2: write canonical ELv2 text
- Proprietary: write Lerian General License text
2. Update source headers (dispatch agent):
Task:
subagent_type: "ring:backend-go" # use "ring:backend-ts" for TS/JS sources
description: "Update license headers to {target_license}"
prompt: |
Update all source file headers to {target_license} format.
Copyright: {copyright_holder}, {year}
Files to update:
- Go: find . -name "*.go" ! -path "*/vendor/*" ! -name "*.pb.go" ! -name "*/mocks/*"
- TS: find . -name "*.ts" -o -name "*.tsx" ! -path "*/node_modules/*"
Header template: {header_template}
For each file:
1. Remove existing copyright block (first comment block if it mentions Copyright)
2. Add new header at top of file
3. Preserve package declaration and imports
Output: list of files updated
Gate 3: Validation
Orchestrator runs:
# All files should have consistent headers
grep -rL "Copyright (c)" $(find . -name "*.go" ! -path "*/vendor/*" ! -name "*.pb.go")
grep -rL "Copyright (c)" $(find . -name "*.ts" ! -path "*/node_modules/*")
# LICENSE file exists and has correct type
head -3 LICENSE | grep -i "{target_keyword}"
Report:
- Files missing headers: list
- LICENSE file status: PASS/FAIL
- Consistency: PASS/FAIL (if mismatches found, dispatch agent to fix)