📜 License Guide — SemiDevKit
SemiDevKit adopts a hybrid licensing model designed to balance
open-source usability with appropriate protection of educational content and figures.
This document explains how each category of content is licensed and how it may be used.
📘 1. License Overview
SemiDevKit consists of multiple types of content, each governed by a different license:
| Category | License | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 💻 Source Code (Python, SPICE, Shell) | MIT License | Free use, modification, and redistribution |
| 📘 Documentation Text (Markdown, explanations) | CC BY 4.0 | Attribution required; commercial use allowed |
| 📊 Figures, Diagrams, Plots | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial use only; attribution required |
| 🔗 External References | Original license applies | Follow the original license and citation rules |
💻 2. MIT License (Source Code)
The MIT License applies to all source code, including:
- Python scripts under
tcad/ - BSIM analyzers and utilities under
bsim/ - Paramus Physical Edition tools
- Shell scripts and helper utilities
- OpenLane-Lite wrapper scripts
The MIT License grants:
- ✔ Free use
- ✔ Free modification
- ✔ Free redistribution
- ✔ No warranty
The full license text is provided in the LICENSE file.
📘 3. CC BY 4.0 (Text Materials)
The Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY 4.0) applies to:
- Markdown documentation
- Tutorials and usage guides
- Educational explanations and descriptions
You are free to:
- Copy and redistribute
- Adapt and modify
- Use commercially
Requirement:
You must provide appropriate attribution to the original author:
Shinichi Samizo / Samizo-AITL
📊 4. CC BY-NC 4.0 (Figures & Diagrams)
The Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (CC BY-NC 4.0) applies to:
- Plots generated by TCAD tools
- Educational figures and diagrams
- Block diagrams and architecture illustrations
You are allowed to:
- Redistribute
- Modify and adapt
You are not allowed to:
- Use the material for commercial purposes without explicit permission
🔗 5. External Materials
If a file includes any of the following:
- Third-party images
- Third-party model cards
- IEEE paper excerpts
- External diagrams or data
Then the original license takes precedence over SemiDevKit’s licensing rules.
Such materials must be cited and used in accordance with their original licenses.
📚 6. Recommended Citation
If you use SemiDevKit in academic research, publications, or presentations,
please cite it as follows:
Shinichi Samizo,
SemiDevKit: An Open Educational Toolkit for Semiconductor Device Simulation and Modeling,
2025.
https://github.com/Samizo-AITL/SemiDevKit
📬 7. Contact for Licensing Questions
For questions regarding licensing or commercial usage, please contact:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 👤 Name | Shinichi Samizo |
| 🧑💻 GitHub | https://github.com/Samizo-AITL |
⚖️ When in doubt, follow the more restrictive license or contact the author.