# Question about GNU license
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/question-about-gnu-license/245719
**Category:** General
**Created:** [November 15, 2022, 11:12pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/question-about-gnu-license/245719 "2022-11-15T23:12:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@MetaGator](https://meta.discourse.org/u/MetaGator)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2022, 11:12pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/question-about-gnu-license/245719/1 "2022-11-15T23:12:02Z")
Hello! I’d appreciate some input on a project I’m starting, to help me understand if it would be appropriate for me to use software licensed under GNU, such as Discourse.
I provide consulting and custom code for small businesses that want to create monetized online communities. Typically they have a Wix or Wordpress site and associated forum.
I’ve started wondering about offering to manage a Discourse forum for some of my customers, and creating custom plugins to meet their needs. I wouldn’t be sharing Discourse source code - these are low-tech customers, and are probably not even interested in installing Discourse themselves, so I would manage their hosting. I also would not be modifying Discourse source code, but I would be creating plugins. This would be paid work for for-profit businesses.
Is this an appropriate use of Discourse? Both in terms of the technicalities of the GNU license, and the spirit of the law, in terms of being a good open-source citizen. I’ve used open-source software for decades for my own personal use, donated and contributed to projects, but have never had a reason to involve it in my business life.
Thank you!
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### Author:  [@merefield](https://meta.discourse.org/u/merefield)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 8:02am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/question-about-gnu-license/245719/2 "2022-11-16T08:02:06Z")
Looking at this another way, I trust you’ve noticed the #Marketplace Category? It might be worth looking through its history to get an idea of what third party services are normal and permitted.
> [@MetaGator](#):
>
> I wouldn’t be sharing Discourse source code
This is surely irrelevant? It is openly available to anyone who browses GitHub.
FYI you might be interested in our enabling platform for third party developers:
## Monitoring your plugin
See:
> **[What is the Plugin Manager System?](https://coop.pavilion.tech/t/what-is-the-plugin-manager-system/1158?u=merefield)**
>
> The Plugin Manager system (PMS) is a status, issue and support system for Discourse plugins. It’s been developed by folks with years of experience maintaining Discourse plugins and working with users of those plugins. You can see the main...
and
[https://discourse.pluginmanager.org](https://discourse.pluginmanager.org)
## Adding Subscriptions to your plugin
> **[Add Subscriptions to your Discourse Plugin](https://coop.pavilion.tech/t/add-subscriptions-to-your-discourse-plugin/542)**
>
> You can add a paid subscriptions to your plugin by using the Subscription Server and Client Plugins. A forum administrator (i.e. the end user for your plugin subscription) just needs the Subscription Client plugin installed (in addition to your...