SRC-003 · License Headers for New Files

✓ Ratified in pack 0.1.0

Standard 0.1.0 · Source Changes. Ratified September 10, 2026.

Version history · All versions & release notes

New source or test files match the prevailing license format of the surrounding project.

Requirement

Patch providers MUST apply the repository's prevailing license header format to net new files added by a patch when the local convention is determinable.

When the surrounding project uses different headers for source and test files, providers SHOULD follow the local file-family convention.

For the SP-0.1.0 gate, the check SHOULD compare a new file against the nearest existing file of the same type in the same module. The comparison SHOULD ignore copyright years and whitespace-only differences.

The result SHOULD be not-applicable when the module has no determinable license-header convention.

Rationale

Most fixes modify pre-existing source files that already carry license headers. Test files are often the new files added by a patch, so license consistency should be explicit.

The working group expects this standard to be enforced where the surrounding project convention is determinable. The fail-open rule keeps the SP-0.1.0 gate focused on clear cases while allowing not-applicable where no local convention exists.

Evidence

Review evidence SHOULD include a license-header check for new files added in the patch commit set, the nearest same-type file used for comparison, the local convention used for comparison, and any not-applicable rationale.

Version history

This page preserves the proposed historical source. Open the central version register for current history and publication status.

Structured requirements and checks

These definitions come from this page's source front matter. Profile inheritance remains defined by the referenced parent; these are local definitions, not a resolved conformance catalog.

schema-version: 0.1.0
sequence: 130
standard_id: SRC-003
title: License Headers for New Files
summary: New source or test files match the prevailing license format of the
  surrounding project.
doc-status: Ratified
standard-version: 0.1.0
candidate-pack: OSERA-SP-0.1.0 ratified
ratified-in: OSERA-SP-0.1.0
ratified-date: 2026-09-10
fitness-role: Required check
type: SRC
category: Source Changes
applies-to:
  - Patch providers
requirements:
  - id: SRC-003.REQ-001
    level: MUST
    text: New source or test files added by a patch must follow the prevailing
      license-header convention of the surrounding project.
    checkability: partially-automated
    checks:
      - id: SRC-003.CHECK-001
        title: New files use the local license-header convention
        type: source
        severity: blocking
        implementation: osera-fitness.src003.license_headers
        evidence:
          - new_files
          - nearest_same_type_file
          - license_header_check
          - not_applicable_rationale

Source provenance

Source snapshot: Reconstructed from the source recorded at ratification; snapshot verification pending.

Historical source at 51e0afe · Source SHA-256: ab9e760e0eb31628032f59ecf3f9c9f6681a9ff0ca7348cd584203da868b0093.

Supporting guidance links point to the same historical Git revision; this prototype is not a self-contained release archive.