Updated on 7. August 2024 by Jan Bunk
Like most software, apps we create need to use some open source code to work. Simply put, open source code is published by other developers and they allow anyone to use it, as long as they follow the license requirements that apply to the code. Examples for such licenses are the MIT or BSD license. Many licenses include clauses that require the license to be contained in any software (in this case your app) that uses the code the license applies to.
Your app needs to display the licenses of some packages that are necessary for the app to work.
Most of our app layouts include an optional settings screen, where the licenses can be viewed by users of your app. If you didn't disable the button that leads to the settings screen, you don't need to do anything.
If you disabled the settings menu or your app uses the "Just Website" layout, which doesn't have any button to open the settings page, you need to take action.
Basically, you need to add a button or link to your website, which lets users open the app's license page.
The easiest solution is to add a button/link to your website that leads to https://webtoapp.design/apps/show_licenses
Now when a user clicks this link in your app, it will show them the licenses. The best place to add this link on your website is for example in your website's footer or in the terms of service.
Here's what the license screen of the app looks like:
executeWhenAppReady()
function of our app helper script. It ensures that your website doesn't try to interact with the app before it's ready or when your website is loaded using a regular browser (ReferenceError, function is not defined). Alternatively, if you've updated your app since December 2022, you can also call the showLicensePage
JavaScript function.
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Hi, I'm Jan! I created webtoapp.design in 2019 while studying computer science in university. A lot has changed since then - not only have I graduated, but it's also no longer just me running webtoapp.design. We've grown to a global, fully remote team and have gathered lots of experience around app development and app publishing. We've created and published hundreds of apps in the app stores, where they've been downloaded millions of times.