Check & Fix
Validate that all source files have compliant license headers, or auto-add and replace them in-place with a single command.
LicenseOps
License headers, automated across 50+ languages
Check, fix, and migrate license headers in CI, pre-commit hooks, or locally
$ lops check -l Apache-2.0 -o "Acme Corp" .What is LicenseOps?
LicenseOps (lops) is a fast CLI tool for managing license headers across your entire codebase. Built for automation — CI pipelines, pre-commit hooks, and local development workflows.
Multiple formats
SPDX short (1-line and 2-line), REUSE, Apache 2.0 boilerplate, GPL/LGPL/AGPL boilerplate, and custom Go templates.
50+ languages
Correct comment syntax for Go, Rust, Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Java, C/C++, Shell, YAML, CSS, HTML, SQL, and many more.
SPDX expressions
Full SPDX expression support including AND, OR, WITH operators. Dual-license with "Apache-2.0 OR MIT" or add exceptions.
Smart file handling
Preserves shebangs and Python encoding declarations. Skips generated files and binaries automatically.
Gitignore-aware
Respects .gitignore patterns automatically. No need to duplicate exclusion rules in your license config.
Cross-format migration
Switch from one header format to another without manual cleanup. Old headers are fully detected, stripped, and replaced.
CI-ready
Clean exit codes, --dry-run mode, Docker image, and GitHub Actions compatible. Fail fast in your pipeline.
Zero config viable
Works with just CLI flags — no config file needed. Or commit .licenseops.yaml for team-wide consistency.
Supported Header Formats
Choose from 5 built-in formats or define your own with custom templates. Migrate between formats automatically.
SPDX (2-line)
spdx// Copyright 2026 Acme Corp
// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0Default choice. Clean, machine-readable, and widely recognized by compliance tools.
SPDX (1-line)
spdx (no owner)// SPDX-License-Identifier: MITMinimal one-line header without per-file copyright. Used by the Linux kernel.
REUSE
reuse// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2026 Acme Corp
// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0FSFE REUSE specification compliant. Machine-readable copyright with standard tags.
Apache 2.0 Boilerplate
apache-long// Copyright 2026 Acme Corp
//
// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0
// ...(full 14-line boilerplate)Full Apache Foundation boilerplate. Legally self-contained in every file.
GPL/LGPL/AGPL
gpl-long// Copyright 2026 Acme Corp
//
// This program is free software...
// ...(full GNU boilerplate)FSF-recommended full boilerplate. Auto-selects GPL, LGPL, or AGPL wording.
Custom Template
custom// Copyright (c) {{.Year}} {{.Holder}}
// Licensed under {{.License}}User-defined Go templates for organization-specific headers.
Get Started with LicenseOps
Install in seconds, configure once, and enforce license compliance everywhere.
Binary / Go Install
Install the lops binary and start checking headers.
- Download from GitHub Releases or go install.
- Create a .licenseops.yaml config or use CLI flags.
- Run lops check to validate, lops fix to auto-add headers.
Docker
Run lops in a container with zero setup.
- No local installation required.
- Mount your project and run check or fix.
- Ideal for CI pipelines and reproducible environments.
50+ Languages Supported
LicenseOps auto-detects the correct comment syntax for each file type. No configuration needed — it just works.
| Comment Style | Languages |
|---|---|
// | Go, Rust, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, C/C++, C#, Swift, Kotlin, Scala, Dart, Protobuf, Zig |
# | Python, Ruby, Shell, Perl, YAML, TOML, Terraform, Dockerfile, Makefile, R, Elixir, Nix |
-- | Haskell, Lua, SQL, Ada, Elm |
/* */ | CSS, SCSS, Less |
<!-- --> | HTML, XML, SVG, Vue |
Smart Handling
Preserves shebangs, Python encoding declarations, and skips generated files automatically.
Auto-Skip
Binary files, images, fonts, lock files, and minified assets are skipped by default.
Gitignore-Aware
Respects your .gitignore patterns — no need to duplicate exclusion rules.
Join the Community
LicenseOps is open-source and Apache-2.0 licensed. We'd love your contributions.
Contribute
Help shape LicenseOps by submitting features, fixes, or improvements.
Report Issues
Found a bug or have an idea? Open an issue and let us know.
Discussions
Ask questions, share use cases, and connect with other users.