How licensing works
Your license is a single signed file, codedelta.lic. CodeDelta verifies it
offline — there's no license server to contact, no internet connection required, and
your source code and results never leave your machine. You don't open or edit the file; CodeDelta
reads it automatically.
codedelta.lic — it's a signed file (the contents look
like code/JSON, with { } braces; that's normal). Any change breaks the signature. Just
save and use it exactly as supplied.License types
| Type | What it allows | Limited by |
|---|---|---|
| Trial | Full functionality, for evaluation | an expiry date (e.g. 30 days) |
| Single-user (desktop) | One named machine | the machine's hostname + expiry |
| Corporate | Unlimited machines & users in your organisation | an expiry date only |
| GitHub CI | Runs in your GitHub organisation's CI, across all its repos | your GitHub organisation + expiry |
Every type unlocks the complete product — there are no feature or project-size restrictions. The only limits are the expiry date and, where applicable, the machine or GitHub organisation it's tied to.
Install on a desktop
CodeDelta looks for codedelta.lic in ~/.codedelta/ (recommended), next to
the program, or the folder you run it from. The simplest method — macOS / Linux Terminal:
Or let CodeDelta install it for you: codedelta --activate /path/to/codedelta.lic —
it validates the license and copies it into ~/.codedelta/.
Install in GitHub Actions (CI)
If you run CodeDelta as a GitHub Action, the license is stored as a GitHub secret instead of a file on disk:
- Turn the license file into one line of text (this is just encoding, not encryption — it makes
the file paste cleanly):
base64 -i codedelta.lic | pbcopy # macOS - copies to clipboard base64 -w0 codedelta.lic # Linux - then copy the printed line
- On GitHub: Settings → Secrets and variables → Actions → New secret. Use an organisation secret to cover every repo at once, or a repository secret for just one repo.
- Name it
CODEDELTA_LICENSEand paste the line. Save.
The CodeDelta Action reads CODEDELTA_LICENSE automatically on every run — no file to
place, nothing else to configure.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I put my license on a desktop?
In ~/.codedelta/ (see above). CodeDelta finds it automatically the next time you run
an analysis.
Can one license cover our whole company?
Yes — a Corporate license is not machine-locked and works for unlimited users in your organisation. In GitHub CI, store it once as an organisation secret and every repo's pipeline uses it.
Is my license locked to one machine?
Only a Single-user license is — it's tied to one computer's hostname. Corporate, trial, and GitHub-CI licenses are not machine-locked.
How does a GitHub-CI license stop being shared?
A GitHub-CI license is tied to your GitHub organisation. It runs only under your own account, so a copied license won't work in anyone else's organisation. Nothing for you to configure — it just works inside yours.
Will it phone home or send my code anywhere?
No. Verification is entirely offline. CodeDelta never transmits your license, your source code, or any usage information.
"No CodeDelta license found."
CodeDelta couldn't locate codedelta.lic. Confirm it's in place:
ls ~/.codedelta/codedelta.lic. If it isn't, re-copy it (see "Install on a desktop").
In CI, check the CODEDELTA_LICENSE secret exists and is named exactly.
"License expired on …" — how do I renew?
Your license term has ended. Contact us for a renewal — you'll
receive a new codedelta.lic that replaces the old one the same way. We'll remind you
before expiry; an expired license stops the scan until the renewed file is in place.
"License signature is invalid (forged or altered)."
The file has been modified or corrupted. Don't edit codedelta.lic — re-copy the
original we sent. If you no longer have it, ask us for a fresh copy.
"License is locked to host '…', but this machine is '…'."
A single-user license is for a different machine name. If you've renamed your computer or moved machines, contact us to re-issue it for the new name.
It works on the command line but not the desktop app (or vice versa).
Both use the same license in the same locations. Make sure you're running both from your normal
user account so each can see ~/.codedelta/.
How do I get a license in the first place?
Try CodeDelta and we'll send a trial or purchased license, along with this guide.
Get the full guide & the legal terms
Keep a copy of these instructions, or read the license agreement.