Apache RAT vs Check License Compliance
Apache RAT
creadur.apache.orgCheck License Compliance
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Apache RAT | Check License Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Open Source License Compliance Software | 8.5 (#3) | 8.0 (#9) |
| Configuration | Command-line options support file inclusion and exclusion, license approval lists, and report output styles including missing-header and unapproved-license reports. | Configuration can be supplied in a YAML file, through action inputs, or both, and supports selecting or excluding dependencies and files. |
| Purpose | Apache RAT audits software distributions, with a focus on license headers. | Checks repository dependencies against allowed, forbidden, and warning license policies. |
Plans
In their own words
Apache RAT
Apache RAT is a free, open-source release-audit tool for checking software distributions, with particular attention to license headers. Version 0.18 provides a command-line client, an Ant task library, and a Maven plugin. You can include or exclude files using patterns, collections, pattern files, and file-size limits; apply approved-license lists; and produce plain, XML, missing-header, or unapproved-license reports. The Maven plugin can write target/rat.txt or add a report to a generated site. RAT can add Apache-2.0 headers and copyright notices to files allowed by configuration. XML license definitions are supported, and experienced users can extend matchers, formats, reports, and interfaces. It runs on Linux and is intended for self-hosted, on-premise use. Building requires Java 17, with Maven 3.9.13 or later recommended. Reports need interpretation and project-specific tuning, and heuristics can miss issues.
Check License Compliance
Check License Compliance has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.