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Use Understand free for open-source projects

Starting with build 1258, Understand can be used at no cost for projects whose source lives in a public git repository — no license key, account, or manual opt-in required. When active, Understand shows "Open Source" in the title bar and Help → Licensing.

Requirements

  • One public git repository per project. All of the source you're analyzing must live inside a single git repository with a public remote (e.g. a public GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket or Codeberg). If your source is spread across multiple repos, create a separate Understand project for each one. Source that isn't in a repo at all, or is in a private repo, won't qualify.
  • Continuous internet connection. Verification isn't a one-time check — Understand contacts SciTools' license server roughly every 15 minutes to confirm the license grant. Brief network hiccups are fine, but after about 45 minutes without a successful check the session ends and the project closes.
  • No other active license. If a paid or trial license is already active on the machine, Understand uses that instead.

How to use it

  1. Install Understand (build 1258 or later). See install Understand.
  2. Create or open a project inside a public open-source repository.
  3. If the repo qualifies, Understand opens normally with full functionality — watch for the "Open Source" label in the title bar.

If you point the project at source that isn't in a public repo, Understand will show a message explaining that the source doesn't qualify.

Per-project verification

Each project is verified independently against its own repository. Pointing a project at an unrelated public repo to analyze separate private code won't work — the grant only covers the source actually being analyzed.

Limitations

  • Internet required at all times. Unlike a paid license, there is no offline checkout or grace period. If you need a license that works offline, contact [email protected].
  • Single repository per project. See requirements above.
  • Public repositories only. Private repos don't qualify.
  • Geographic restrictions. This license is not available in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Russia, or China.

See also