The Linux Foundation has released a new software tool, FOSS Bar Code Tracker that aims to simplify the way open source components are tracked and reported by using an auto-generated, custom QR code for each product.
The FOSS Bar Code Tracker is released as an open source project under the MIT license which enables product development teams to create their own FOSS Bill of Materials to ensure compliance.
It also helps the product development teams in identifying Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) components included in each product and updating, sharing that critical information throughout the supply chain for compliance purposes.
The QR code contains information on the FOSS stack contained in a product, the company said.
FOSS Bar Code Tracker provides the mechanism to load the standard file and generate the desired QR code for the companies that are adopting SPDX, which provides a standardised way of defining license information across vendors in the supply chain, or other standard formats for open source license components.
Under its Open Compliance Program, the new tool generates a one dimensional bar code, a QR code with data, or a QR code as hot link, making essential product’s compliance information available.
The Linux Foundation’s Open Compliance Program includes a set of tools, training curricula, a self-assessment checklist and a compliance directory that connects FOSS developers with compliance officers.
It also includes SPDX, which provides a standard record of licensing and copyright information for all runtime dependent files contained in a software package.
The new software tool offers compliance record manipulation, supports 1D barcode and QR codes, and includes an advanced system configuration to configure company information, compliance contact information, front-end websites. It also includes a license panel to manage licenses.
The Linux Foundation executive director Jim Zemlin said, "The new FOSS Bar Code Scanner will drastically reduce the resources needed to track and report information about the software included in every product and instill even more confidence in the companies using Linux and open source software to compete in today’s mobile and consumer electronics markets."
