Open Source Management Tackled by Protecode

Just because software is open source, doesn’t mean you don’t need a license to operate it. There is an array of open source licenses that must be followed to the letter, just like commercial software equivalents.

Protecode makes it its business to make managing all various and sundry open source licenses easier.

And the company has a new tool in the space, Protecode Compact, a smaller version of the far larger Protecode System 4. The Compact version is easier to install, using just one click to get it onto a Windows machine. And it should be easier, as it is single-seat solution that works on a standalone basis. As you might imagine, the version is aimed at smaller technology-oriented shops.

Like its big brother, Protecode Compact scans all the code in a particular shop, and creates an inventory, or what Protecode calls a software bill of materials, the details both third party and open source tools. The tool also “reports on security vulnerabilities, encryption content, license compatibilities and license obligations,” Protecode said.

One open source user leans on Protecode to stay in license compliance. “Open source software allows our team to deliver feature-rich quality solutions quickly, but we need to ensure that we use third party software responsibly and manage its obligations. Protecode Compact, with its deep-scanning capability and unlimited-analysis commercial model, allows us to make code attributes management part of our product life cycle. We are very impressed with the existing capabilities and have fully integrated the use of Protecode Compact in our product release cycles,” said Paulo Marques, CTO of FeedZai, a software company specializing in real-time fraud detection.

The new software comes with no limit on the amount of software the user scans, and is licensed yearly. And the annual fee includes training, support, setup, and installation.

“We are aware of the demand from small technology organizations that require the same accuracy, completeness and usability as larger enterprises, but do not need the multi-user, multi-site scalability of multi-site corporations,” argued Normand Glaude, COO of Protecode. “Protecode Compact ensures that small organizations or individual departments can gain access to state-of-the-art scanning and license management solutions within their software development and delivery process.”