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primer / css

Primer is GitHub's design system. This is the CSS implementation
https://primer.style/css
MIT License
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Question about primer reuse limitations #1872

Closed mikemixell closed 2 years ago

mikemixell commented 2 years ago

Hi,

thank you for creating primer. It is the most unique and appealing design system IMO. I understand that primer is open source. To what extend is it allowed to reuse Github's look and feel?

Let's say I would want to create an app that allows to manage appointments or activities - could I use a simliar look and feel for the UI like Github's profile page (profile on left side, heatmap calender on right side)? In other words, is it allowed to create a page that is as close to Github's design like Gist? I want to avoid any potential legal issues.

Thanks

gaknoll commented 2 years ago

Hi @mikemixell! I'm a Product Manager on GitHub's Primer team. Since Primer is open source, you're free to use it however you want in your projects! So long as you don't try and impersonate GitHub using our logo or branding you have nothing to worry about from a legal perspective. If you do decide to use Primer, we'd love to hear feedback on your experience using the system! 🙏🏽

mikemixell commented 2 years ago

Hi @gaknoll! Thanks for your answer. Obviously I was hoping for this kind of response. Not planning to create a Github copycat, or using the Github logo. What confused me was that primer recommends to use Github marketing icons for empty states. The Github repo in which these marketing icons were once located is no longer available (Dead link on the marting icons page) - This makes me wonder: Is it allowed to use them or not?

I'm asking this because the primer website also contains materials that are solely intended for Github employees (Presentation templates). I think it would help us outsiders to differentiate between what is open for reuse and what isn't by hiding internal materials in a brand center that requires login (similiar how IBM Carbon Design System does it)

gaknoll commented 2 years ago

Great point @mikemixell! We have actually deprecated those marketing icons which is why they are no longer available. Our documentation needs to be updated 😅 . As you also called out, that page could use improvements in general to not just be internally facing on usage and include guidelines for what to use outside of GitHub (and/or hide behind internal brand center as you suggested).

Internally we have since shifted to using Octicons for empty state icons instead of the deprecated marketing icons. Which you can absolutely use!

mikemixell commented 2 years ago

@gaknoll got it, thanks for the clarification! Closing this issue.