Dn-Programming-Core-Management · Gumball2415 · Jan 11, 2026 · Jan 8, 2026 · Jan 9, 2026 · Jan 11, 2026
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
@@ -35,13 +35,10 @@ libft0cc/build
 libft0cc/build_ms
 Testing/Temporary
 
-distribute/*
-
-# ignore submodules
-Dn-help/*
-
 # this should be automatically generated at build
+distribute/*
 hlp/HTMLDefines.h
+Dn-FamiTracker.rc_status.txt
 
 # generated headers
 /Source/drivers/*.h

diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,19 +6,19 @@ Written by D.P.C.M.
 
 Version 0.5.2.9
 
-Last updated: January 07, 2026
+Last updated: January 11, 2026
 
 ---
 
-## Unreleased - 2026-01-07
+## Unreleased - 2026-01-11
 
 ### Important changes
 
 - ...
 
 ### Improvements
 
-- ...
+- Clarify NSF driver licensing (@Gumball2415 #401)
 
 ### Bug fixes
 
@@ -42,8 +42,9 @@ Last updated: January 07, 2026
 - Refactor custom build commands in `.vcxproj`s (@Gumball2415 #398)
 - Update CMake build scripts (@Gumball2415 #398)
 - Update CMake source list in `exe.cmake` (@Gumball2415 #398)
-
-
+- Update NSF driver licensing (@Gumball2415 #401)
+	- Add MIT-0 license for NSF driver license
+	- Fix `LICENSE.md` links
 
 ## Dn0.5.2 - 2025-08-18
 

diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ find_package(Python 3.10)
 
 # update version in Dn-FamiTracker.rc
 add_custom_command(
-    OUTPUT ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/Dn-FamiTracker.rc
+    OUTPUT ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/Dn-FamiTracker.rc_status.txt
     DEPENDS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/version.h
     COMMAND ${Python_EXECUTABLE} resource_version_update.py
     WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}
@@ -75,11 +75,14 @@ add_custom_command(
 # update changelog
 add_custom_command(
     OUTPUT  ${DNHELP_SRC_DIR}/changelog.htm
-    DEPENDS ${DNHELP_SRC_DIR}/changelog-shell.htm
+            ${DNHELP_SRC_DIR}/license.htm
+    DEPENDS ${DNHELP_SRC_DIR}/changelog-template.htm
+            ${DNHELP_SRC_DIR}/license-template.htm
             CHANGELOG.md
+            LICENSE.md
     WORKING_DIRECTORY ${DNHELP_SRC_DIR}
-    COMMAND call ${DNHELP_SRC_DIR}/update-changelog-htm.bat
-    COMMENT "Updating changelog.htm."
+    COMMAND call ${DNHELP_SRC_DIR}/update-htm-templates
+    COMMENT "Updating templated pages."
     VERBATIM)
 
 # builds the NSF driver

diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -12,14 +12,15 @@ To edit and/or build the source, you may use Visual Studio 2022, or alternativel
 	- Note that HTML Help Workshop is no longer supported and thus no longer available to download on Microsoft's website.
 	- [Link to archived download.](https://web.archive.org/web/20200720082840/http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/A/9/0A939EF6-E31C-430F-A3DF-DFAE7960D564/htmlhelp.exe)
 - [Pandoc](https://pandoc.org), for markdown document conversion.
-	- Currently used for HTMLHelp manual changelog compiling.
-- For NSF driver compiling:
-	- [CC65 build tools](https://cc65.github.io/), make sure `ld65` and `ca65` is available in environment path.
+	- Currently used for templated pages for the HTMLHelp manual.
+- [CC65 build tools](https://cc65.github.io/)
+	- Used for NSF driver compiling.
+	- Make sure `ld65` and `ca65` is available in environment path.
 - For miscellaneous custom build scripts:
 	- [Python 3.10+](https://www.python.org/)
 - For any IDE that supports building via CMake:
 	- CMake version 3.16+
-	- The latest MSVC build tools 
+	- The latest MSVC build tools
 		- may be installed by VS Installer or by other sources
 	- Windows 11 SDK (10.0.26100.0)
 		- may be installed through VS Installer or by other sources

diff --git a/Dn-FamiTracker.vcxproj b/Dn-FamiTracker.vcxproj
@@ -693,7 +693,6 @@
       <Message>Generating map file for help compiler.</Message>
       <Command>call $(SolutionDir)generate-helpmap.bat</Command>
       <Outputs>Dn-help\hlp\HTMLDefines.h;%(Outputs)</Outputs>
-      <AdditionalInputs>$(SolutionDir)Dn-help\hlp\changelog_shell.htm;%(AdditionalInputs)</AdditionalInputs>
       <BuildInParallel>true</BuildInParallel>
     </CustomBuild>
     <ClInclude Include="Source\ConfigEmulation.h" />
@@ -847,7 +846,8 @@
     <CustomBuild Include="version.h">
       <Command>python $(SolutionDir)resource_version_update.py</Command>
       <Message>Updating version info in resource file.</Message>
-      <Outputs>$(SolutionDir)Dn-FamiTracker.rc;%(Outputs)</Outputs>
+      <AdditionalInputs>$(SolutionDir)Dn-FamiTracker.rc;</AdditionalInputs>
+      <Outputs>$(SolutionDir)Dn-FamiTracker.rc_status.txt;%(Outputs)</Outputs>
       <BuildInParallel>true</BuildInParallel>
     </CustomBuild>
     <ClInclude Include="Source\ChannelMap.h" />

diff --git a/Dn-help b/Dn-help
diff --git a/LICENSE-MIT-0.txt b/LICENSE-MIT-0.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+MIT No Attribution
+
+Copyright 2020-2026 D.P.C.M.
+
+Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of
+this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in
+the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to
+use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies
+of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do
+so.
+
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
+SOFTWARE.
diff --git a/LICENSE.md b/LICENSE.md
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 # Licenses
 
+---
+
 The application is distributed under the
 [GPLv3+ license](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html), or any later
 version.
 
-```_
+```text
 Dn-FamiTracker - NES/Famicom sound tracker
-Copyright (C) 2020-2025 D.P.C.M.
+Copyright (C) 2020-2026 D.P.C.M.
 FamiTracker Copyright (C) 2005-2020 Jonathan Liss
 0CC-FamiTracker Copyright (C) 2014-2018 HertzDevil
 
@@ -27,7 +29,7 @@ along with this program. If not, see https://www.gnu.org/licenses/.
 ## Tracker source code and libraries
 
 The tracker source code is distributed under the
-[GPLv3+ license](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html), or any later
+[GPLv3+ license](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html), or any later
 version.
 
 - FamiTracker
@@ -40,50 +42,36 @@ version.
 	- Licensed under
 	  [GPLv2](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.en.html), or any
 	  later version.
-	- Copyright (C) 2006 Brezza, 2012-2025 Brad Smith
-	- Used under an [informal license](Source/APU/nsfplay/readme.txt).
-- VRC7/OPLL sound emulator from emu2413 v1.5.9
-	- Copyright (C) 2001-2019 Mitsutaka Okazaki
+- NSFPlay
+	- Copyright (C) 2006 Brezza, 2012-2026 Brad Smith
+	- Used under an [informal license](https://github.com/bbbradsmith/nsfplay/blob/master/readme.txt).
+- VRC7/OPLL sound emulator from [emu2413](https://github.com/digital-sound-antiques/emu2413) v1.5.9
+	- Copyright (C) 2001-2022 Mitsutaka Okazaki
 	- Licensed under the [MIT license](https://mit-license.org/).
-- FDS and N163 sound emulator from Mesen
-	- Copyright (C) 2014-2024 Sour
+- FDS and N163 sound emulator from [Mesen](https://github.com/SourMesen/Mesen2)
+	- Copyright (C) 2014-2025 Sour
 	- Licensed under
-	  [GPLv3](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html), or any
+	  [GPLv3](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html), or any
 	  later version.
-- Blip_buffer 0.4.1
+- [Blip_buffer](https://www.slack.net/~ant/libs/audio.html#Blip_Buffer) 0.4.1
 	- Copyright (C) 2003-2006 Shay Green
 	- Licensed under
 	  [LGPLv2.1](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/lgpl-2.1.html)
 	- modified by nyanpasu64
-- Free FFT and convolution (C++)
+- [Free FFT and convolution](https://www.nayuki.io/page/free-small-fft-in-multiple-languages) (C++)
 	- Copyright (C) 2017 Project Nayuki
 	- Licensed under the
 	  [MIT license](https://mit-license.org/).
-- JSON for Modern C++
+- [JSON for Modern C++](https://github.com/nlohmann/json/)
 	- Copyright (C) 2013-2024 Niels Lohmann <https://nlohmann.me>
 	- Licensed under the [MIT license](https://mit-license.org/).
-- libsamplerate
+- [libsamplerate](https://github.com/libsndfile/libsamplerate)
 	- Copyright (C) 2012-2016, Erik de Castro Lopo <[email protected]>.
 	  All rights reserved.
 	- Licensed under the
 	  [BSD-2-Clause license](https://www.freebsd.org/copyright/freebsd-license/).
 
-## NSFs, Exported music, modules, etc.
-
-The licenses mentioned for the NSF driver and the tracker source do not apply to
-exported media made with the program that does not contain executable code that
-resembles any source file, such as exported `.wav`s, `.txt`s, `.json`s, or `.csv`s.
-
-[jsr's comment on music created with FT.](http://forums.famitracker.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=122&p=741#p741)
-
-However, NSFs/ROMs contain machine code that more or less corresponds to the NSF
-driver source, and thus the software licenses may apply. More details can be
-found [in the NSF source's license](./Source/drivers/asm/LICENSE.md).
-
-This does not apply to exported assembly or binary music data, as they do not
-include the NSF driver data.
-
 ## NSF driver source code
 
-Dn-FT NSF driver changes are under GPL v2 due to 0CC-FT. More details can be
-found [in the NSF source's license](./Source/drivers/asm/LICENSE.md).
+Dn-FT NSF driver modifications are under [MIT-0](LICENSE-MIT-0.txt). More details can be found
+[in the NSF driver source's license](https://github.com/Dn-Programming-Core-Management/Dn-FamiTracker/blob/main/Source/drivers/asm/LICENSE.md).
diff --git a/Source/drivers/asm/LICENSE.md b/Source/drivers/asm/LICENSE.md
@@ -1,21 +1,30 @@
+```text
+Dn-FamiTracker NSF Driver Copyright (C) 2020-2026 D.P.C.M.
+0CC-FamiTracker NSF Driver Copyright (C) 2014-2018 HertzDevil
+FamiTracker NSF music driver Copyright (C) 2005-2015 Jonathan Liss
+```
+
 The original FT NSF driver's source code is explicitly *not* under the
 GPL.[^1][^2][^3]
 
 It is instead source-available, under no explicit license. Based on its usecase,
-and jsr's comments [^4], I presume that distribution and modification is
+and jsr's comments [^4], it is presumed that distribution and modification is
 permitted, and attribution is recommended.
 
 [^1]: <http://famitracker.com/forum/posts.php?id=787#5149>
 [^2]: <http://forums.famitracker.com/viewtopic.php?t=2638>
 [^3]: <http://famitracker.com/forum/posts.php?id=4337#44063>
 [^4]: <http://famitracker.com/forum/posts.php?id=4337#44083>
 
-0CC-FamiTracker's NSF driver code modifications is licensed under GPL v2,
-which may restrict anyone sharing compiled NSFs and binaries without sharing the
-assembly source, as they contain machine code that directly correlates to the
-NSF driver source.
+0CC-FamiTracker's modified NSF driver source comes with a
+[GPL v2](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.en.html) license
+file. Although
+[the output of the program is not covered by the GNU GPL](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.en.html#WhatCaseIsOutputGPL),
+the NSF/ROM output might be considered as an executable binary, which in theory
+may restrict anyone sharing compiled NSFs and binaries without sharing the
+assembly source, according to section 3.
 
-0CC-FT NSF driver modifications are under GPL v2.
+Dn-FamiTracker's modifications are under [MIT-0](../../../LICENSE-MIT-0.txt).
 
-Dn-FT NSF driver modifications are under the same license as 0CC-FT NSF driver
-modifications.
+Dn-FamiTracker NSF driver source as a whole is effectively under the
+[GPL v2](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.en.html) license.
diff --git a/resource_version_update.py b/resource_version_update.py
@@ -57,4 +57,12 @@ def overwrite_rc(key_str: str, val_str: str):
 )
 
 
-print(f"Resource versions updated as {ver_api}.{ver_maj}.{ver_min}.{ver_bld}")
+print(f"Resource versions updated as {ver_api}.{ver_maj}.{ver_min}.{ver_bld}")
+
+# TODO: Copy Dn-FamiTracker.rc to a temp file first before executing this
+# annoying; Visual Studio Custom build requires that we have an output
+# but during rebuilding or cleaning, it deletes that output
+# we can't just delete Dn-FamiTracker.rc!
+# so instead, we indicate that this is the output it can scapegoat
+with open("Dn-FamiTracker.rc_status.txt", mode="w") as output:
+    output.write("all good!")
+1 −0		.gitignore
+19 −7		CHANGELOG.md
+0 −0		LICENSE-GPLv3.txt
+2 −2		README.md
+103 −99		hlp/2a03.htm
+15 −1		hlp/Dn-FamiTracker.hhc
+152 −139		hlp/Dn-FamiTracker.hhk
+145 −126		hlp/Dn-FamiTracker.hhp
+1 −4		hlp/changelog-template.htm
+1 −1		hlp/dpcm_editor.htm
+20 −15		hlp/dpcm_import.htm
+154 −53		hlp/effect_list.htm
+6 −3		hlp/fds.htm
+10 −0		hlp/generate-chm.bat
+7 −6		hlp/hlp.vcxproj
+1 −1		hlp/hlp.vcxproj.filters
+ −		hlp/img/chip_2A03.png
+ −		hlp/img/chip_2A07.png
+ −		hlp/img/chip_FDS.png
+ −		hlp/img/chip_MMC5.PNG
+ −		hlp/img/chip_MMC5.png
+ −		hlp/img/chip_N163.png
+ −		hlp/img/chip_S5B.png
+ −		hlp/img/chip_VRC6.PNG
+ −		hlp/img/chip_VRC6.png
+ −		hlp/img/chip_VRC7.png
+37 −0		hlp/license-template.htm
+29 −18		hlp/main_index.htm
+14 −6		hlp/markdown.css
+1 −1		hlp/menu_help.htm
+9 −5		hlp/mmc5.htm
+15 −8		hlp/n163.htm
+27 −23		hlp/nsf_export.htm
+60 −31		hlp/pattern_editor.htm
+20 −16		hlp/properties.htm
+0 −124		hlp/sound.htm
+29 −29		hlp/sound_overview.htm
+1 −1		hlp/style.css
+138 −120		hlp/sunsoft.htm
+0 −2		hlp/update-changelog-htm.bat
+12 −0		hlp/update-htm-templates.bat
+7 −4		hlp/vrc6.htm
+177 −164		hlp/vrc7.htm
+20 −0		htm-patcher.py