Open weights — pick the model, then clear the license

This is the CHOICE layer. Given a task, a box, and a shipping constraint, it tells you which open model to reach for and whether the license lets you ship it. It does not download, run, serve, or fine-tune anything — it feeds the skills that do (see Related skills).

The one rule (read before you name a model)

Model names and their licenses change monthly. Never state a license from memory — open the model card and confirm it, every time. This file was authored against cards live in mid-2026; by the time you read it, versions have shipped and terms have moved. So:

• Treat every specific version/license line below as [verify the card], not as settled fact.
• State the license class (OSI-open vs custom-community vs restricted), then send the reader to the actual LICENSE / terms page for the exact model + size they intend to ship.
• The decision framework and the class taxonomy are the durable parts. The version list is the perishable part. Weight your trust accordingly.