Frequently asked questions

OPEN SOURCE HARDWARE
Open-source hardware shares much of the principles and approach of free and open-source software. People should be able to understand our hardware: how it works, make changes to it, and share. We release all of the original design schematics of openPICUS products. These files are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 3.0 License, which allows for both personal and commercial derivative works, as long as they credit openPICUS and release their designs under the same license. The openPICUS software is also open-source. C/C++ microcontroller libraries and source code are under the LGPL.
 
I WANT TO DESIGN MY OWN BOARD. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Schematics of openPICUS boards are available on the product page. They're licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 3.0 License, so you are free to use and adapt them for your own needs without asking permission or paying a fee. If you're looking to make something of interest to the community, we'd encourage you to discuss your ideas with us and also other members of the community may give their help.
We ask you just to write on the PCB or on a visible label "powered by openPICUS".
 
MAY I BUILD A COMMERCIAL PRODUCT BASED ON OPENPICUS?
Yes, under the following conditions:

- Deriving the design of a commercial product from the files for openPICUS modules, boards, schematics and files requires you to release the modified files under the same Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike license. You may manufacture and sell the resulting product. 
- Using the openPICUS core and libraries for the firmware of a commercial product does not require you to release the source code for the firmware. The LGPL does, however, require you to make available object files that allow for the relinking of the firmware against updated versions of the openPICUS core and libraries. Any modifications to the core and libraries must be released under the LGPL.
- If you use the openPICUS framework on your embedded system you are asked to write on the PCB or on a visible label "powered by openPICUS".
- The source code for the openPICUS environment is covered by the GPL, which requires any modifications to be open-sourced under the same license. It does not prevent the sale of derivative software or its inclusion in commercial products. 
- Physically embedding an openPICUS board inside a commercial product does not require you to disclose or open-source any information about its design.

In all cases, the exact requirements are determined by the applicable license.
 
HOW SHOULD I CALL MY BOARDS?
Create your own name, invent a cool name! "openPICUS" is not a trademark yet but we intend to control for unofficial versions. openPICUS official boards must respect European Laws on Labour and Environment. We do not want to have openPICUS name on products made with no respect of these regulations. While unofficial products should not have "OpenPicus" or just "Picus" in their name, the description of the product in relation to the OpenPicus project and platform is acceptable. Here are a few guidelines that explain which uses we consider reasonable.
 
Not okay:

* openPICUS Xxxxxx
* Picus Xxxxxx
* Xxxxxx openPICUS
* Xxxxxx Picus
* OpenPicus Compatible Xxxxxx - use "Xxxxxx (OpenPicus-Compatible)" instead 

 
Okay:

* Xxxxxx for openPICUS - products that work with official openPICUS boards (e.g. Nests or kits)
* Xxxxxx (openPICUS-Compatible) - variations and clones which are software and hardware compatible 
* Xxxxxx powered by openPICUS - products that are running openPICUS framework

WHY PICUS?
In Roman mythology, Picus was one of the first kings of Latium, the region of Italy in which the city of Rome was founded. Italian people believed Picus was the son of Mars, the God of war. After being turned into a woodpecker by a witch, Italian tribes attributed divine qualities to the bird, connected with Picus' original skills at augury. 
The original idea of the project was born in Rome and this is our tribute to this wonderful city.

MAY I USE MICROCHIP STANDARD PROGRAMMERS?
Yes you may. If you check the pinout of the module, the last 6 signals on JP1 are the standard Microchip program interface. You can avoid the serial bootloader (loaded on modules by default), if you want to save space on Flash for your applications.
 
TECH SUPPORT
We do our best developing applications and sharing the code. We can not help one by one for free. We are available to support, to train or to develop, just ask us for a quote.
 
I USE LINUX OR MAC
At the moment the openPICUS IDE runs only on Windows platform unfortunately, but we plan to make its Linux and MAC versions.
 
WHO MAKES OPENPICUS HARDWARE?
The openPICUS hardware is manufactured in Italy by Eikon company, respecting European Laws on Labour and Environment. Each product is Rohs compliant. We welcome those companies interested to design and produce expansion boards, just contact us.