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Turn your notes into a free mind map you can explore

Upload a PDF, DOCX, or photo of your notes and get an editable mind map you can explore branch by branch. The free plan includes 3 generations a month.

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Drop files here or browsePDF, DOCX, PPTX, text or photos of your notes · several files with Plus

Free · First set needs no signup · Creates mind maps in seconds

How a mind map helps with open source material

A course on open source licensing often arrives as a dense PDF or a page of scrawled notes, and a free mind map can turn that into branches you can scan in minutes. DeckOwl builds the map from your own material, so the categories match your reading rather than a generic template.

Start from the Open Source Definition and branch out to license families.
Put the conditions of each license, such as attribution or source sharing, under its node.
Add a branch for real projects so you can connect licenses to examples you recognize.
Edit the map after your first pass so it matches what your instructor emphasized.

Example open source license mind map branches

Permissive licensesMIT · BSD · Apache 2.0 · Allow reuse with attribution and a license notice

Copyleft licensesGPL · AGPL · Derivative works must stay open · Source must be shared with users

Open Source DefinitionPublished by the Open Source Initiative · Free redistribution · Source code must be available · No discrimination against fields of endeavor

Forking a projectCopying a repository to start a separate version · Allowed under the project license · Common after disagreements over direction · Changes can be proposed back upstream

Open source vs free softwareFree Software Foundation stresses user freedom · Open Source Initiative stresses practical development benefits · Many licenses meet both definitions

Generate the full set

Built from your material

Upload PDFs, DOCX, PPTX, plain text, or photos of pages. The map follows the structure of your own notes.

Editable branches

Rename, move, or delete nodes so the map matches how your course organizes the topic.

Explore at your pace

Expand and collapse branches to drill into details without losing the big picture.

How it works

Upload your notes

Add a PDF, a Word file, slides, or a photo of handwritten pages on your open source topic.

Generate the map

DeckOwl reads the text and arranges the main ideas into a branching mind map.

Edit and explore

Adjust the branches, then expand each one to review the sub-points before a quiz.

Open source topics mix definitions, license types, and historical context, which makes them easy to memorize in fragments and hard to connect. A mind map keeps the relationships visible, such as how permissive and copyleft licenses differ in their conditions.

DeckOwl is a hosted AI study tool and is not itself an open source project. The free plan lets you generate maps and study in the browser, while exports are part of the paid Plus plan.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between permissive and copyleft open source licenses?

Permissive licenses such as MIT and Apache 2.0 let people reuse code in closed projects as long as they keep the license notice. Copyleft licenses such as GPL require derivative works to be released under the same terms.

What should a mind map on open source licensing include?

Start with the Open Source Definition, then branch into permissive and copyleft license families. Under each family, list example licenses and their main conditions, since those comparisons are common exam questions.

Is DeckOwl itself open source?

No. DeckOwl is a hosted AI study tool, and the free plan includes 3 generations a month with studying in the browser.

Do I need to pay to export my mind map?

Exports are part of the paid Plus plan, which costs $39 a year or $7.99 a month. Students get 40% off with a school email, and no credit card is needed to start on the free plan.

Generate free mind maps

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.