How to Comply With the Snowflake Open Source License in PostgreSQL

What does the Snowflake open source license allow?

The license is Apache 2.0, letting you use Snowflake-authored libraries in proprietary or open projects, provided you keep the copyright header and NOTICE file intact.

When must I reference the license in SQL?

Any time you copy Snowflake-released SQL, functions, or sample data into your own repository you must retain the full license text or a compliant header at the top of each file.

How do I add a license header to PostgreSQL scripts?

Place the header in a block comment before any SQL statements so editors and CI tools can detect it automatically.

Step-by-step syntax

Copy the template below, replace placeholders, and commit the file.

/*
Snowflake Open Source License Header
Copyright (c) <YEAR> <YOUR COMPANY>

Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
You may obtain a copy of the License at

https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
*/


How can I verify compliance automatically?

Use a pre-commit hook or CI step that scans *.sql for the words “Apache License, Version 2.0”. Fail the build if any file is missing the header.

Example: licensed query in an ecommerce database

/*
Snowflake Open Source License Header — 2024 DataNova Inc.
Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0
*/

SELECT c.id,
c.name,
o.order_date,
o.total_amount
FROM Customers AS c
JOIN Orders AS o ON o.customer_id = c.id
WHERE o.order_date >= CURRENT_DATE - INTERVAL '30 days';


Best practices for teams

Keep a central LICENSE file, add a NOTICE file listing third-party dependencies, and educate reviewers to reject pull requests that strip headers.

Common mistakes and fixes

Omitting the full header. Always paste the entire block comment, not a shortened version.

Altering license terms. Never delete clauses—add your own text below the original if needed.

Key takeaways

Retain headers, automate checks, and you can safely blend Snowflake code with PostgreSQL workloads.