Choosing an open source license is a critical step in releasing your software to the public. An open source license grants users the right to use, modify, and distribute your software, while also protecting your intellectual property. There are many different open source licenses to choose from, each with its own unique terms and conditions.
The most popular open source licenses include the GNU General Public License (GPL), the MIT License, and the Apache License. The GPL is a copyleft license, which means that any modifications to your software must also be released under the GPL. The MIT License and the Apache License are permissive licenses, which means that users are free to use, modify, and distribute your software without having to release their modifications under the same license.