1. Even simple scripts are automatically copyrighted
The moment you write any code - even a 5-line Bash script - it is automatically protected by copyright in most jurisdictions.
This means:
- Others cannot legally copy or redistribute it
- Unless you explicitly give them permission through a license
So if you publish code without a license, legally:
- Nobody is allowed to use it.
This often surprises people but it's how default copyright works.
2. Should you explicitly add a license? Usually yes.
Adding a license tells others:
- whether they may use your code
- whether they may modify it
- whether they must credit you
- whether commercial use is OK
- whether contributions must also be open-source
3. What if the scripts are very small or trivial?
Even trivial code is automatically protected by copyright as soon as it is written. Examples:
- A one-line shell script
- A few CSS rules
- A small helper function
- A tiny HTML app
But...
- Some extremely small or obvious snippets might not meet the threshold for copyright (so they may not be eligible for licensing). Copyright rules also vary by country.
- To avoid uncertainty and clearly communicate your intent, adding a license is the safest approach.