All libraries hosted on GitMart use a GPLv3 license which prevents usage unless the parent application likewise publishes its source code. We chose this license specifically as it balances our needs with the standard expectations of the developer community.

Initially, we considered turning all libraries hosted on GitMart into obscured binaries as companies like Intercom do. However, we think it’s important for companies considering a library to be able to see how it works and ensure there is nothing fishy going on.

This puts code hosted on GitMart in an interesting position, where a competent developer could easily strip away the “paywalling” aspects of a library or simply copy the source code into their own project without using the Swift package. This is no doubt possible, but aside from violating the license, misses the point of GitMart.

Because developers have the chance to earn substantial income from their projects, GitMart developers are incentivized to maintain, upgrade, and improve their libraries. In addition, purchasing a library on GitMart gives you a direct line to the developer and other users of a library as well as access to premium resources, templates, and examples.