# IDLE

> Apple Lisa emulator

**Wikidata**: [Q105400369](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105400369)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/idle

## Summary
IDLE is a free software emulator designed to simulate the Apple Lisa computer. It allows users to run, study, and modify the software under the permissive terms of the 2-clause BSD License. The project is accessible to English speakers via its official SourceForge repository.

## Key Facts
- **Instance Of:** Emulator, Free Software
- **Simulates:** Apple Lisa
- **License:** 2-clause BSD License
- **Copyright Status:** Copyrighted
- **Website:** http://idle-lisa-emu.sourceforge.net/
- **Language:** English
- **Distribution Rights:** Users are permitted to freely run, study, change, and distribute the software and its modified versions.

## FAQs
### Q: What computer system does IDLE emulate?
A: IDLE is an emulator specifically created to simulate the hardware and software environment of the Apple Lisa.

### Q: Under what license is IDLE distributed?
A: IDLE is distributed as free software under the 2-clause BSD License, which allows users to modify and redistribute the code.

### Q: Is IDLE considered public domain software?
A: No. While it is free software that allows for modification and distribution, the emulator retains a copyrighted status.

## Why It Matters
IDLE serves as a critical preservation tool for the Apple Lisa, a historically significant computer platform. By simulating the Lisa environment, the software enables historians, hobbyists, and developers to interact with legacy software and hardware architecture that might otherwise be inaccessible due to the scarcity of functioning original machines.

As a piece of free software released under the 2-clause BSD License, IDLE ensures that the method of preserving this technology remains transparent and adaptable. The licensing terms grant users the explicit right to study and change the code, which prevents the emulation logic from becoming "abandonware" and allows the community to port the emulator to new operating systems or fix bugs as modern computing environments evolve. This openness fosters educational opportunities regarding early graphical user interface history and computer architecture.

## Notable For
- **Specific Emulation Target:** Dedicated exclusively to simulating the Apple Lisa.
- **Permissive Licensing:** Utilizes the 2-clause BSD License, which offers broad freedoms for modification and redistribution compared to more restrictive copyleft licenses.
- **Free Software Classification:** Fully classified as free software, ensuring no cost barriers to usage or source code access.
- **SourceForge Presence:** Hosted on SourceForge, a longstanding repository for open-source and free software development.

## Body
### Technical Classification
IDLE is technically classified as both an emulator and free software. Its primary function is to replicate the operational environment of the Apple Lisa computer on non-native hardware. The software falls under the class of free software, defined by the user's liberty to efficiently run, study, change, and distribute the program and any modified versions.

### Licensing and Copyright
The software is distributed under the **2-clause BSD License**. This is a permissive free software license that places minimal restrictions on how the software can be used, modified, and redistributed. Despite being "free," the software maintains a **copyrighted** status, meaning the original terms of the license must be adhered to during redistribution.

### Availability
IDLE is maintained and hosted on the SourceForge platform. The official website for the project is located at `http://idle-lisa-emu.sourceforge.net/`. The primary language utilized for the website and documentation is English.

## References

1. [Source](https://sourceforge.net/p/idle-lisa-emu/code/HEAD/tree/doc/licence.txt)