# Add License Header

> Add the project's canonical SPDX license header to a requested source file or to source files under a requested directory. Use when asked to add or ensure license headers on files that may not already have one.

- Skill: `sociotechnica-org/add-license-header-2` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add sociotechnica-org/add-license-header-2`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/sociotechnica-org/add-license-header-2/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: sociotechnica-org (https://skillmd.com/u/sociotechnica-org)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/sociotechnica-org/add-license-header-2

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# Add License Header

1. Determine the target files from the request:
   - For a file path, target that file.
   - For a directory, target every file beneath it whose extension matches the project's source extensions.
2. Read the first 20 lines of every target file and look for `SPDX-License-Identifier`.
3. If that string is present, skip the file. Never add a second SPDX license header.
4. Otherwise, insert these exact lines at the very top of the file, before all existing content:

   ```text
   // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
   // Copyright (c) 2026 Acme Corp
   ```

   Always put the header at the absolute beginning; never place it after a shebang, comment, or any other existing content.
5. Report the files changed and the files skipped because they already had a header.