It’s crucial for students to grasp the essence of open source licenses, understanding that they are not just permissions to copy but guidelines for responsible use. Engaging with open-source code should involve a genuine learning process, encouraging students to comprehend and apply the principles embedded in the code they explore.

Merely having access to code doesn’t grant the right to take it, make superficial changes, or translating from a programming language to another, remove original authors, and claim the altered code as their own. While open source encourages learning through code exposure, wholesale copying with only minor alterations, especially without restructuring for object-oriented code, doesn’t constitute “creating a new code base.”

In such instances, phrases like ‘I looked at Mickey Mouse code, but I am using my own code’ are, at the very least, misleading and likely a form of plagiarism. I term this practice “code washing.” My plea: steer clear of it and adhere to ethical behavior.

The notion of “code washing” not only undermines the integrity of individual work but also compromises the collaborative spirit of open source. It’s essential to emphasize that acknowledging and respecting the original authors not only aligns with ethical standards but also fosters a culture of transparency and collaboration in the coding community.