The blog post proposes a system where open-source projects could generate and sell "SBOM fragments," detailed component lists of their software. This would provide a revenue stream for maintainers while simplifying SBOM generation for downstream commercial users. Instead of each company individually generating SBOMs for incorporated open-source components, they could purchase pre-verified fragments and combine them, significantly reducing the overhead of SBOM compliance. This marketplace of SBOM fragments could be facilitated by package registries like npm or PyPI, potentially using cryptographic signatures to ensure authenticity and integrity.
Thomas Hühn's blog post, "Open Source projects could sell SBoM fragments," explores a potential novel funding mechanism for open-source software projects: the sale of Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) fragments. Hühn posits that while generating and maintaining a complete, up-to-date SBOM for a complex software project can be a resource-intensive undertaking, smaller, more manageable pieces of the SBOM, which he terms "SBOM fragments," could be valuable commodities for commercial entities. These fragments would represent the specific dependencies used by a particular company's product or service derived from the open-source project.
The core argument revolves around the asymmetry of effort and benefit between open-source maintainers and commercial users. Open-source projects often bear the brunt of the work involved in creating and maintaining comprehensive SBOMs, while downstream commercial users reap significant benefits in terms of security analysis, license compliance, and supply chain management. Selling SBOM fragments, Hühn suggests, could offer a way to redress this imbalance by providing a revenue stream directly to the open-source projects that generate this valuable data.
Hühn elaborates on the concept of "SBOM tailoring," where a commercial entity could request a specifically tailored SBOM fragment that only includes the components relevant to their usage of the open-source project. This tailoring process would involve identifying the specific version, configuration, and dependencies incorporated into the company's product. This targeted approach would provide companies with precisely the information they need, minimizing extraneous data and simplifying their internal processes.
The blog post acknowledges the potential challenges and considerations surrounding this proposed model. It discusses the need for clear licensing and usage agreements for these SBOM fragments to ensure proper attribution and prevent misuse. It also touches upon the practical aspects of implementing such a system, including the development of standardized formats for SBOM fragments and the establishment of platforms or marketplaces for facilitating transactions. Finally, Hühn suggests this approach could incentivize better SBOM generation practices within open-source projects, leading to improved software supply chain security overall. He concludes by inviting discussion and feedback on the viability and potential implications of this novel funding mechanism.
Summary of Comments ( 32 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43080378
Hacker News users discussed the practicality and implications of selling SBOM fragments, as proposed in the linked article. Some expressed skepticism about the market for such fragments, questioning who would buy them and how their value would be determined. Others debated the effectiveness of SBOMs in general for security, pointing out the difficulty of keeping them up-to-date and the potential for false negatives. The potential for abuse and creation of a "SBOM market" that doesn't actually improve security was also a concern. A few commenters saw potential benefits, suggesting SBOM fragments could be useful for specialized auditing or due diligence, but overall the sentiment leaned towards skepticism about the proposed business model. The discussion also touched on the challenges of SBOM generation and maintenance, especially for volunteer-driven open-source projects.
The Hacker News post titled "Open Source projects could sell SBoM fragments," linking to an article on thomas-huehn.com, has generated a modest discussion with several insightful comments. The core idea of selling Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) fragments, essentially detailed component lists for open-source software, is met with a mix of skepticism and cautious optimism.
Several commenters raise concerns about the practicality and potential downsides of this proposed model. One user points out that the value proposition for consumers of these SBOM fragments is unclear, especially given the existing availability of free and open-source SBOM generation tools. They question what additional benefit a paid fragment would offer that justifies the cost.
Another commenter expresses skepticism about the potential market size for such a product. They argue that most users needing SBOMs are likely already generating them themselves, or using freely available tools. This raises doubts about the financial viability of selling fragments, particularly for smaller open-source projects.
The legal implications of selling SBOM fragments are also discussed. One commenter highlights the potential legal risks associated with selling incomplete or inaccurate SBOMs, especially if they are used for compliance purposes. They suggest that the liability concerns could outweigh the potential benefits for open-source maintainers.
A more optimistic perspective is offered by a user who sees potential value in curated and high-quality SBOM fragments, especially for complex projects. They argue that while generating basic SBOMs is relatively straightforward, creating truly comprehensive and accurate ones can be challenging. A commercial offering could provide this higher level of quality and potentially save users time and resources.
The discussion also touches on the challenges of maintaining and updating these SBOM fragments. One commenter points out the dynamic nature of open-source projects, with frequent updates and changes. Keeping the SBOM fragments synchronized with these changes would require significant effort and resources, raising questions about the long-term sustainability of this model.
Overall, the comments on Hacker News express a cautious perspective on the idea of selling SBOM fragments. While some acknowledge the potential value for specific use cases, the prevailing sentiment centers around the practical challenges, uncertain market demand, and potential legal risks. The discussion highlights the need for a clearer understanding of the value proposition and a careful consideration of the implementation details before this model can become viable.