The framework runtime is MIT — free to adopt, modify, redistribute. The editor and proprietary design-system processors are source-available under PolyForm Shield — free to use, protected from direct commercial clones.
The animation library, reactive data layer, and authoring APIs shipped as @ferretdev/lsd-framework.
The LSD editor UI, brand compiler, .lsd format tooling, and the design-system processors (Orion pattern matching, Surface Generator).
The authoritative source-of-truth is LICENSING.md + REUSE.toml in the repo. A summary here:
| Path | Contents | License |
|---|---|---|
framework-dist/** | Public npm/CDN package | MIT |
src/framework/lsd-* | Animation library, runtime, APIs | MIT |
src/framework/lsd-motion/** | SCSS motion partials | MIT |
public/** | Static assets (logos, icons) | MIT |
src/framework/orion.ts | Orion pattern-matching engine | Shield |
src/framework/surfaceGenerator.ts | Surface Generator processor | Shield |
src/framework/surfaceDoc.ts | Live surface documentation builder | Shield |
src/ui/** | Editor UI (drawers, panels, pickers) | Shield |
src/core/** | Brand logic, palette math, exporters | Shield |
src/export/** | .lsd + HTML export engines | Shield |
server/** | Bun server, compile endpoint | Shield |
spec/lsd-file-format.md | .lsd file format spec | CC0 |
Most use cases are covered by MIT or fall cleanly inside Shield's "any non-competing purpose." The edge cases:
Yes — the framework (framework-dist/, everything under src/framework/lsd-* except Orion/Surface Generator/Surface Doc) is MIT-licensed. Commercial, private, open-source — no restriction.
Yes. Building websites, design systems, component libraries, landing pages, internal tools — all permitted non-competing purposes. Ship as much as you want.
Not if it competes with LSD. PolyForm Shield specifically blocks forking the editor, server, or proprietary processors to offer another design-system authoring tool, visual builder, brand-to-code compiler, or substantially similar functionality. Fork for your own internal use — fine. Commercial resale as a competing product — no.
Yes. Plugins, Figma bridges, WordPress integrations, VS Code extensions, CI tools — all fine, as long as the integration isn't itself a competing design-system authoring product.
The framework is, under the standard MIT/OSI definition. The editor is source-available — readable, forkable for non-competing use, but with a non-compete clause. PolyForm Shield isn't OSI-approved, so we don't call it "open source" — we call it "source-available with a fair-use grant." Both halves stay transparent; the code is readable in the repo.
100% yours. The compiled CSS, the baked :root tokens, the resolved colors, the .lsd package — they're your output. Distribute them as you like. The CC0 .lsd spec means any tool can read them too.
Yes — contributions are welcome via pull request. By contributing, you agree your contribution is covered under the same license as the file you're modifying. There's no Contributor License Agreement; git authorship + the existing license split is the contract.
Reach out — support@ferretdev.com. Most cases get a simple "yes, that's fine" by return email. If your product genuinely competes with LSD, we're happy to discuss commercial terms.
The definitive text lives in the repo's LICENSE and LICENSE-framework files. Reproduced here for convenience.
MIT License Copyright (c) 2026 Ferretdev Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions: The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
PolyForm Shield License 1.0.0 <https://polyformproject.org/licenses/shield/1.0.0> ## Acceptance In order to get any license under these terms, you must agree to them as both strict obligations and conditions to all your licenses. ## Copyright License The licensor grants you a copyright license for the software to do everything you might do with the software that would otherwise infringe the licensor's copyright in it for any permitted purpose. However, you may only make changes or new works based on the software according to Changes and New Works License, and you may not distribute copies of the software. ## Patent License The licensor grants you a patent license for the software that covers patent claims the licensor can license, or becomes able to license, that you would infringe by using the software. ## Noncompete Any purpose is a permitted purpose, except for providing to others any product that competes with the software. ## Changes and New Works License The licensor grants you an additional copyright license to make changes and new works based on the software for any permitted purpose. ## Patent Defense If you make a written claim that the software infringes or contributes to infringement of any patent, your patent license for the software granted under these terms ends immediately. If your company makes such a claim, your patent license ends immediately for work on behalf of your company. ## Notices You must ensure that anyone who gets a copy of any part of the software from you also gets a copy of these terms. If you modify the software, you must include in any modified copies of the software prominent notices stating that you have modified the software. ## No Other Rights These terms do not allow you to sublicense or transfer any of your licenses to anyone else, or prevent the licensor from granting licenses to anyone else. These terms do not imply any other licenses. ## Termination If you use the software in violation of these terms, such use is not licensed, and your licenses will automatically terminate. ## No Liability As far as the law allows, the software comes as is, without any warranty or condition, and the licensor will not be liable to you for any damages arising out of these terms or the use or nature of the software, under any kind of legal claim. ## LSD-specific: The Software For the purposes of this License, "the software" is defined as the LSD (Live Style Designer) editor and its supporting infrastructure, including but not limited to: - The LSD visual editor (src/ui/**) - The LSD brand compiler and .lsd file format (src/export/**, brand logic in src/core/**) - The LSD server and API (server/**) - The proprietary design-system processors: - Orion pattern-matching engine (src/framework/orion.ts) - Surface Generator (src/framework/surfaceGenerator.ts) - Surface documentation builder (src/framework/surfaceDoc.ts) - The LSD editor host pages (app.html, editor-specific features on index.html, /framework/motion/ docs page) A "competing product" is any product or service offered to third parties that provides design-system authoring, brand-to-code compilation, visual token editing, palette pattern matching, surface/elevation generation, visual builder interfaces, or any substantially similar functionality to LSD. Use of LSD to build websites, applications, design systems, component libraries, educational materials, internal tools, or any product or service that is NOT a competing product is a permitted purpose under the Noncompete clause above. Copyright (c) 2026 Ferretdev. All rights reserved.
