# Welcome to Apache Creadur ##About Apache Creadur This project started as just [Rat][1], a release auditing tool good with licenses, coded in Java with plugins for [Ant][2] and [Maven][3]. After adding some new tricks, it became clear that creating one uber-tool in one language is less useful than collecting a suite: * [Apache Rat][4] audits license headers — the boilerplate text needed in most source files. Coded in Java, it runs from the command line with plugins for Maven and Ant. * [Apache Tentacles][5] helps to audit in bulk components uploaded to a staging repository. Coded in Java, it runs from the command line. * [Apache Whisker][6] assists assembled applications maintain correct legal documentation. Coded in Java, it runs from the command or as a plugin for Maven. ### News * Join us in Portland, Oregon for [ApacheCon North America][7] on 26-28 February 2013 * Join us in Sinsheim, Germany for [ApacheCon Europe][8] on 5–8 November 2012 ###Learn More About Licensing Some recommended resources * [Open Source Licensing][9] by Lawrence Rosen * [Software Freedom Law Center][10] [publications][11] * [International Free and Open Source Software Law Review][12] * [The International Free and Open Source Software Law Book][13] --- # The Apache Creadur Project Apache Creadur is a top level [project][14] of the [Apache Software Foundation][15] (ASF), a [non-profit][16] [corporation][17] [dedicated][18] to the creation of [open source software][19] and distributed to the public at no cost. Apache develops software with a collaborative, consensus based [process][20] based on self-organising [community-focused][21] projects. ## License Apache (in general) and Creadur (in particular) licenses its software to the public under the [open source][22] [Apache License, Version 2.0][23]. Not every (third party) artifact included in an Apache distribution is covered by this license but [policy][24] allows only compatible licenses that are [well reported][25]. A [system][26] of [contributor license agreements][27] and [software grants][28] ties everything together from the legal perspective. Start [here][29] to learn more about licensing, or browse [Apache Legal Affairs][30]. ## Reports Each ASF project [reports][31] regularly to the [board][32], focusing on the health of the community. For Creadur, quarterly reports are due in February, May, August and November. However - as a recent graduate - reports are more regularly in 2012. The official reports are found in the board minutes but drafts are [here][33]. --- We maintain this page using the Apache CMS. See - [CMS Reference][34] and - [CMS 2010][35] for more about this CMS. Some tools in the suite use the CMS directly as well. Others sub-sites are generated using Maven then checked in. [1]: http://code.google.com/p/arat/ [2]: http://ant.apache.org [3]: http://maven.apache.org [4]: rat [5]: tentacles [6]: whisker [7]: http://na.apachecon.com [8]: http://www.apachecon.eu/ [9]: http://www.rosenlaw.com/oslbook.htm [10]: http://www.softwarefreedom.org/ [11]: http://www.softwarefreedom.org/resources [12]: http://www.ifosslr.org/ [13]: http://ifosslawbook.org [14]: http://projects.apache.org/ [15]: http://www.apache.org [16]: http://www.apache.org/foundation/faq.html#what [17]: http://www.apache.org/foundation/faq.html#is-ASF-a-corporation [18]: http://www.apache.org/foundation/faq.html#why [19]: http://www.opensource.org/ [20]: http://www.apache.org/foundation/how-it-works.html [21]: http://community.apache.org/ [22]: http://www.opensource.org/licenses/Apache-2.0 [23]: http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html [24]: http://www.apache.org/legal/ [25]: http://creadur.apache.org/whisker/ [26]: http://www.apache.org/licenses/ [27]: http://www.apache.org/licenses/index.html#clas [28]: http://www.apache.org/licenses/index.html#grants [29]: http://www.apache.org/foundation/license-faq.html [30]: http://www.apache.org/legal/ [31]: http://community.apache.org/boardreport.html [32]: http://www.apache.org/foundation/board/ [33]: boardreport.html [34]: http://www.apache.org/dev/cmsref.html [35]: http://wiki.apache.org/general/ApacheCms2010