Anyone who has applied for a software copyright should understand the hassle.
The project is finished, the features are working, but what truly holds you back isn't the code or the launch, but a pile of software copyright application materials. You need to fill out the application form, write the manual, organize the source code, and the format cannot be messed up. Especially the source code document, the first 30 pages and the last 30 pages, the number of lines per page must be neat. If anything is slightly wrong, it might be returned for revision.
This kind of thing, if you say it's difficult, it's not that difficult; if you say it's simple, it can really wear a person down to the point of losing their temper.
You have to copy code page by page, delete irrelevant content, adjust headers and footers, change line spacing, and check page numbers. Working until midnight, and Word freezes, and you freeze too. What's even more outrageous is that after working for two or three days, you find out the format is wrong, and your blood pressure just shoots up.
A while ago, I saw an open-source project called chinese-copyright-application-skill, authored by @na57. This project is quite appealing to developers, as it specifically addresses the hassle of organizing software copyright application materials.
It's not just a simple script that concatenates a few text snippets, but a set of tools built around the software copyright application process. You give it your code project, and it analyzes the project structure, identifies the project type, and then generates the commonly used application materials for software copyright. Under normal circumstances, a basic version can be produced in a few minutes, and then you can review, add information, and make minor format adjustments.
The most valuable aspect of this is not the word "AI," but that it eliminates repetitive labor.
For example, basic information in the application form, such as software name, version number, development completion date, technical features, and functional description, can be pre-organized by the tool based on the project content. For information about the copyright holder, which involves personal or company data, you still need to fill it in yourself, as this cannot be written carelessly.
The source code document is even more convenient. The most painful part used to be compiling the first and last 60 pages of code. Manual copying is prone to errors and can easily include unnecessary files. This tool scans project files, tries to select core code, filters out comments, blank lines, and some unimportant content, and then organizes it in the common format for software copyright materials. When there's too much code, it automatically extracts the beginning and end parts, saving you the trouble of searching through a pile of files.
User manuals can also be generated. It combines the project type and README content to assemble information such as software introduction, functional description, operating environment, and operating steps. If your README is already well-written, the generated user manual will be much smoother and can basically be used with minor modifications.
The design specification is also quite useful. Many developers can write code, but when asked to write about software architecture, module descriptions, and interface design, they start to get headaches. This project generates a technical description based on the code structure. While it cannot guarantee complete accuracy with your actual business details, it at least prevents you from staring at a blank document.
The usage is also not complicated.
If you prefer the command line, simply clone the project:
git clone https://github.com/na57/chinese-copyright-application-skill.git
cd chinese-copyright-application-skill
Then run the script:
python3 scripts/generate_copyright_docs.py <your project path> [output directory]
For example, if your project is in ~/projects/my-app and you want to directly generate copyright materials, you can write it like this:
python3 scripts/generate_copyright_docs.py ~/projects/my-app
If you want to output to a folder on your desktop, you can also add the path:
python3 scripts/generate_copyright_docs.py ~/projects/my-app ~/Desktop/copyright_materials
After running, several Markdown files will generally be generated, such as application forms, source code documentation, user manuals, and design specifications. You can continue to edit them after opening, or convert them to Word or PDF.
Don't be lazy here; be sure to review them yourself after generation. Software name, rights holder information, version number, completion date, and publication status are areas that cannot be filled in arbitrarily. The tool can save you time, but it cannot confirm legal information for you.
If you usually use Trae IDE, you can also import this Skill to use. After importing, directly let it help you generate copyright materials. It will organize the documents for you based on the project situation and allow you to confirm key information such as the software name and version number. This method is more convenient for those who don't like typing commands.
The import method is also simple: in Trae's Skill management, select "Import Local Skill," select the SKILL.md file in the project, and restart the IDE to start using it.
However, there is a realistic issue that needs to be clarified: the effectiveness of the tool's generation depends on your project itself.
README is crucial. Many projects have very casual READMEs, with only a project description, or even nothing at all. In that case, the tool can extract very little information, and the generated user manual will certainly be dry. If you clearly write the project introduction, functional modules, operating methods, and environment dependencies in advance, the generation quality will be significantly improved.
Directory structure should not be too messy. If the main code is placed in common directories like src, lib, or app, it will be recognized more reliably. If test files, temporary code, and build artifacts are all mixed together, the tool may run, but the documentation quality may not be good.
The generated output is Markdown, which usually needs to be converted to Word or PDF before submission. If you want to save trouble, you can use Pandoc:
pandoc 软件著作权登记申请表.md -o 申请表.docx
It is recommended to convert source code documentation to PDF for more stable formatting. For copyright materials, sometimes it's not the content that's lacking, but small formatting issues that cause a lot of trouble, so it's best to check the header, footer, page numbers, and line spacing before submission.
This project is more suitable for independent developers, small teams, and outsourcing teams that frequently deliver projects.
Independent developers who have developed mini-programs, plugins, management systems, or SaaS tools and want to protect them with copyright but don't want to spend days organizing materials will find it very comfortable to run an initial version with this tool.
Small teams often have many projects and few people. If all copyright materials are done manually, it consumes a lot of manpower. By letting the tool generate a basic version first, and then having the person in charge review and modify it, the efficiency will be much higher.
Outsourcing teams can also use it. When clients temporarily request copyright materials, they won't have to start from scratch to compile documents; at least they can build the framework of the application materials.
Of course, it's not a magic bullet or a tool you can use without thinking. Software copyright applications still need to be based on actual requirements, and the generated documents are more like a good quality first draft. Especially for content involving ownership, software name, and development time, you must double-check it yourself and not be lazy. This project is open-source, uses the MIT license, and is easy to modify. If you frequently use Go, Rust, or Java, or if your company's internal project structure is relatively fixed, you can also extend the parsing logic yourself to make it better suited to your project. Repository address: https://github.com/na57/chinese-copyright-application-skill Ultimately, preparing software copyright application materials is not a high-level task, but it is very time-consuming. In the past, developers had to waste time copying code, adjusting formats, and compiling manuals. Now that there are tools that can handle the grunt work first, it's definitely worth a try.
