6.3.5. File Templates

Every source code file shall have a copyright and license block. Corresponding to the license, every file shall have an SPDX License Identifier in the first possible line of the file. C/C++ files should have a Doxygen file comment block.

The preferred license for source code is BSD-2-Clause. The preferred license for documentation is CC-BY-SA-4.0.

6.3.5.2. C/C++ Header File Template

Use the following guidelines and template for C and C++ header files (here <foo/bar/baz.h>):

  • Place the SPDX License Identifier in the first line of the file.

  • Add a Doxygen file documentation block.

  • Place the copyright and license comment block after the documentation block.

  • For the <FIRST YEAR>, <LAST YEAR>, and <COPYRIGHT HOLDER> placeholders see Copyright and License Block.

  • Separate comment blocks by exactly one blank line.

  • Separate the Doxygen comment block from the copyright and license, so that the copyright and license information is not included in the Doxygen output.

  • For C++ header files discard the extern “C”.

/* SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause

/**
 * @file
 *
 * @ingroup TheGroupForThisFile
 *
 * @brief Short "Table of Contents" Description of File Contents
 *
 * A short description of the purpose of this file.
 */

/*
 * Copyright (C) <FIRST YEAR>, <LAST YEAR> <COPYRIGHT HOLDER>
 *
 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
 * are met:
 * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
 *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
 *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
 *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
 *
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
 * AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
 * IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
 * ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
 * LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
 * CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
 * SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
 * INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
 * CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
 * ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
 * POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 */

#ifndef _FOO_BAR_BAZ_H
#define _FOO_BAR_BAZ_H

#include <foo/bar/xyz.h>

#ifdef __cplusplus
extern "C" {
#endif

/* Declarations, defines, macros, inline functions, etc. */

#ifdef __cplusplus
}
#endif

#endif /* _FOO_BAR_BAZ_H */

6.3.5.3. C/C++/Assembler Source File Template

Use the following template for C, C++, and assembler source files (here implementation of <foo/bar/baz.h>). For the <FIRST YEAR>, <LAST YEAR>, and <COPYRIGHT HOLDER> placeholders see Copyright and License Block.

/* SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause */

/**
 * @file
 *
 * @ingroup TheGroupForThisFile
 *
 * @brief Short "Table of Contents" Description of File Contents
 *
 * A short description of the purpose of this file.
 */

/*
 * Copyright (C) <FIRST YEAR>, <LAST YEAR> <COPYRIGHT HOLDER>
 *
 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
 * are met:
 * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
 *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
 *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
 *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
 *
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
 * AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
 * IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
 * ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
 * LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
 * CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
 * SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
 * INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
 * CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
 * ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
 * POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 */

#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
#include "config.h"
#endif

#include <foo/bar/baz.h>

/* Definitions, etc. */

6.3.5.4. Python File Template

Use the following template for Python source files and other files which accept a #-style comment block. For the <FIRST YEAR>, <LAST YEAR>, and <COPYRIGHT HOLDER> placeholders see Copyright and License Block.

#!/usr/bin/env python
# SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause

# File documentation block

# Copyright (C) <FIRST YEAR>, <LAST YEAR> <COPYRIGHT HOLDER>
#
# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
# are met:
# 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
# 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
#    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
#
# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
# AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
# ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
# LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
# CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
# SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
# INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
# CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
# ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
# POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

6.3.5.5. reStructuredText File Template

Use the following template for reStructuredText (reST) source files. For the <FIRST YEAR>, <LAST YEAR>, and <COPYRIGHT HOLDER> placeholders see Copyright and License Block.

.. SPDX-License-Identifier: CC-BY-SA-4.0

.. Copyright (C) <FIRST YEAR>, <LAST YEAR> <COPYRIGHT HOLDER>