Apache RAT vs Licensable
Apache RAT
creadur.apache.orgLicensable
licensable.ioSide by side
| Figure | Apache RAT | Licensable |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Open Source License Compliance Software | 8.5 (#3) | 7.5 (#21) |
| Limitations | RAT highlights possible issues, its reports require interpretation, it may need tuning, and its heuristics may miss issues. | Licensable says its results are best effort, may not be fully correct or exhaustive, and are not legal advice. |
| Purpose | Apache RAT audits software distributions, with a focus on license headers. | Licensable provides open-source license insights and compliance reporting for GitHub repositories. |
| Support | The project invites users to contribute patches, report bugs, and talk to the community. | The terms list [email protected] for questions or feedback. |
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.
Licensable
Licensable has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.