The Lesser General Public License (LGPL) is a free software license designed to strike a balance between promoting software freedom and allowing for the creation of proprietary software. The LGPL is a variant of the GNU General Public License (GPL), but with certain modifications and additional permissions.
Under the LGPL, users are free to distribute, modify, and use software licensed under this license. However, there are some key differences compared to the GPL. One of the main distinctions is that the LGPL allows developers to link their code to proprietary software without forcing the proprietary software to become open source. This exception enables developers to use LGPL-licensed libraries or components in their proprietary applications.
Moreover, the LGPL requires that modifications to the LGPL-licensed code be made available to the public, in the form of source code, if the modified code is distributed. This provision ensures that any improvements or modifications made to the software are made accessible to others.
The LGPL also grants users the freedom to use a LGPL-licensed library in combination with non-free software, enabling compatibility and interoperability across different software applications.
In summary, the LGPL is a software license that provides developers with the freedom to use, modify, and distribute LGPL-licensed software, while allowing for linkage with proprietary software under certain conditions. It encourages the sharing of modifications and ensures that the code remains accessible to others.
