EMF License Compliance: Addressing EPL Licensed in Codebase

[porcelli]

Current Situation

The Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF) is currently being used in KIE Tools for BPMN Editor marshaling operations. Due to GWT requirements, the EMF codebase has been replicated within KIE Tools to enable JavaScript transpilation. This creates licensing compliance issues that need to be addressed before Apache KIE graduation.

Technical Details

• EMF is licensed under Eclipse Public License 1.0 (EPL)
• EPL is categorized as Category B license by Apache Software Foundation
• Category B licenses can only be used in binary form, not source form
• Current implementation includes EMF source code in KIE Tools
• This code is transpiled by GWT to JavaScript for the BPMN Editor
• The transpiled code is used for BPMN model marshaling operations

Compliance Issues

1. EPL source code replication violates ASF licensing policies
2. Category B licenses require binary-only usage
3. Current GWT transpilation approach requires source code access
4. This creates a direct conflict between technical requirements and license compliance

Impact

• Blocks Apache KIE graduation to TLP status
• Affects BPMN Editor functionality

Related Resources

• ASF Legal License Categories
• EPL 1.0 License Terms

Related issues

• Delete the old GWT-based DMN Editor from packages/stunner-editors on KIE Tools. #445

[porcelli]

the good news is that @tiagobento is working on a new BPMN editor that replaces the existing, and would enable completely remove the EMF codebase (alongside all editor codebase)

[tiagobento]

We also have @yesamer working on the new SceSim Editor, and @kbowers-ibm is helping a lot with the BPMN Editor too! 🚀

[yesamer]

Thank you @tiagobento for mentioning my work, but IIRC EMF impacts BPMN editor only.
Anyway, the faster we remove the entire GWT code, the better B)