Open source under GPL-3.0
Every @imqueue package — @imqueue/core, @imqueue/rpc, @imqueue/cli and the rest of the GitHub org — is published under the GNU General Public License, version 3.0 (GPL-3.0).
GPL-3.0 is a free-software, copyleft license. It grants you broad rights:
- Use the software for any purpose, including commercially.
- Study how it works and adapt it to your needs.
- Modify it and distribute your modified versions.
There is no fee, no sign-up and no usage cap for open-source use. Install it from npm and build.
The copyleft condition
GPL-3.0's freedoms come with one central obligation: copyleft. When you distribute (convey) a work that is based on, incorporates or links @imqueue, that combined work must also be licensed under GPL-3.0, and you must make its complete corresponding source code available under the same terms.
In practice this means:
- Building an open-source project on @imqueue and releasing it under GPL-3.0 (or a GPL-compatible license) is exactly what the license is for. Nothing extra to do.
- Shipping a closed-source or proprietary product that includes @imqueue — and not releasing that product's source under GPL-3.0 — is not permitted by the open-source license. That is where a commercial license comes in.
When you need a commercial license
Consider a commercial license if any of the following apply:
- You distribute a proprietary / closed-source application or appliance that embeds or links @imqueue and you cannot release its source under GPL-3.0.
- Your organization's policy or a customer contract prohibits GPL / copyleft dependencies in shipped products.
- You want a commercial relationship with warranty terms, an SLA or priority support behind the framework.
The commercial license removes the copyleft obligation for your product and is offered per the terms and tiers on imqueue.com/license and imqueue.com/pricing. For anything specific to your use case, reach us at support@imqueue.com.
Frequently asked
Can I use @imqueue to build an internal or SaaS back end without a commercial license? Yes. @imqueue is GPL-3.0 (not AGPL). Running it on your own servers to power a service you operate is not distribution, so the copyleft source-sharing obligation is not triggered by SaaS/back-end use. You are free to use the open-source packages for this. A commercial license is still available if you want warranty or support terms.
Do I owe anything for local development, evaluation or open-source projects?
No. Use the open-source packages freely; if your own project is GPL-compatible, you are fully covered by GPL-3.0.
Which packages does this cover?
All of them — the entire @imqueue framework is GPL-3.0, and a single commercial license covers your commercial use across the framework.
This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. The full GPL-3.0 text and the GNU GPL FAQ are the authoritative sources; consult a lawyer for your specific situation.