How to use the command 'fossa' (with examples)

The ‘fossa’ command is a CLI tool for the Fossa service, which allows users to generate real-time license audits, vulnerability scans, and reports about dependencies licenses. It can be used to automate and streamline the process of managing open source dependencies and ensuring license compliance.

Use case 1: Initialize a .fossa.yml configuration file

Code:

fossa init

Motivation: Initializing a .fossa.yml configuration file is the first step in setting up and configuring the Fossa service. This file serves as a blueprint for Fossa’s analysis and reporting processes, allowing users to define settings and preferences for their projects.

Explanation: The command fossa init creates a .fossa.yml file in the current directory. This file will be used to configure various aspects of Fossa’s behavior, such as the inclusion and exclusion of certain files or directories, the license policies to enforce, and the reporting format.

Example output:

[FOSSA] Initialized FOSSA configuration in .fossa.yml

Use case 2: Run a default project build

Code:

fossa build

Motivation: Building a project is an essential step in the software development lifecycle. By running a default project build with the Fossa command, users can automatically analyze their project’s dependencies and generate accurate license and vulnerability reports.

Explanation: The command fossa build triggers a build process for the project, which includes fetching and installing the required dependencies. During this process, the Fossa service automatically analyzes the dependencies and performs license scans and vulnerability assessments.

Example output:

[FOSSA] Running build for project: example-project
[FOSSA] Building project using default build system...
[FOSSA] Successfully built project: example-project

Use case 3: Analyze built dependencies

Code:

fossa analyze

Motivation: Analyzing the built dependencies of a project is crucial for understanding its license obligations and potential security risks. With the fossa analyze command, users can obtain detailed insights into the licenses and vulnerabilities associated with their project’s dependencies.

Explanation: The command fossa analyze triggers a dependency analysis process, where the Fossa service examines the built dependencies of the project. It identifies and evaluates the licenses of these dependencies, checking for any license conflicts or violations. Additionally, it performs vulnerability scans to identify potential security issues.

Example output:

[FOSSA] Analyzing built dependencies for project: example-project
[FOSSA] Found 50 dependencies
[FOSSA] Successfully analyzed dependencies

Use case 4: Generate reports

Code:

fossa report

Motivation: Generating reports is essential for providing comprehensive information about a project’s license compliance and vulnerability status. By using the fossa report command, users can obtain detailed reports that can be easily shared with stakeholders or integrated into their project’s documentation.

Explanation: The command fossa report generates reports based on the analysis performed by the Fossa service. Users can customize the format and contents of the reports through the .fossa.yml configuration file. The reports typically include information such as dependency licenses, any identified license violations or conflicts, and vulnerability findings.

Example output:

[FOSSA] Generating report for project: example-project
[FOSSA] Report generated successfully: report.pdf

Use case 5: Test current revision against the FOSSA scan status and exit with errors if issues are found

Code:

fossa test

Motivation: Testing the current revision of a project against the FOSSA scan status is important to ensure that the project complies with the defined license policies and is free from known vulnerabilities. The fossa test command allows users to efficiently perform this validation and identify any issues that require attention.

Explanation: The command fossa test compares the current revision of the project against the FOSSA scan status. It checks for any license violations or conflicts, as well as any known vulnerabilities found during the analysis process. If any issues are detected, the command exits with an error, indicating that further action is required.

Example output:

[FOSSA] Testing current revision for project: example-project
[FOSSA] All tests passed. No issues found.

Conclusion:

The ‘fossa’ command provides a comprehensive set of functionalities for managing open source dependencies and ensuring license compliance. By leveraging its capabilities, users can easily generate real-time license audits, vulnerability scans, and detailed reports about their project’s dependency licenses. The command can be used to initialize project configurations, perform builds, analyze dependencies, generate reports, and validate projects against scan statuses. These use cases empower developers to effectively manage open source components and mitigate potential risks associated with licensing and security vulnerabilities.