Notation vs The Update Framework
Notation
notaryproject.devThe Update Framework
theupdateframework.ioSide by side
| Figure | Notation | The Update Framework |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 0 |
| Spec score · Code Signing Software | 7.8 (#11) | 6.7 (#26) |
| Integrations | The project README links to signing workflows using Azure Key Vault and AWS Signer. | The official getting-started page lists python-tuf, go-tuf, tuf-js, and rust-tuf as reference implementations, and php-tuf and AWS Labs’ tough as third-party implementations. |
| Intended users | The README describes Notation as usable by developers and CI/CD pipelines to produce portable signatures and store them with signed artifacts in OCI-compliant registries. | The framework is intended for software update systems such as application updaters, programming language library package managers, and operating system package managers. |
| Purpose | Notation is a command-line tool for signing and verifying artifacts in OCI registries. | TUF is a framework for securing new and existing software update systems, designed to protect against repository and signing key compromise. |
| Security audits | The specifications repository lists a 2023 ADA Logics security audit covering Notation and related Go libraries. | The official security audits page lists public reports dated 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2024, covering TUF and several related implementations or projects. |
Plans
In their own words
Notation
Notation is a command-line tool for signing and verifying container images and other artifacts in OCI registries, including software bills of materials. It implements the Notary Project specifications, which are intended to help secure software supply chains. Its signatures can move between OCI registries and be validated in connected, intermittently connected, or disconnected environments without additional server infrastructure. The specifications define signature envelopes using COSE or JWS. Notation can integrate with existing key management systems through a plugin model, with instructions for Azure Key Vault and AWS Signer. Developers and CI/CD pipelines can create signatures and store them alongside signed artifacts. The project provides a quick start for signing and validating a container image. Notation runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows and is free under the Apache 2.0 license. Cloud signing, trusted timestamping, and CI/CD signing are listed capabilities; a certificate is not provided. The specifications repository lists a 2023 security audit, and the project overview describes continuous fuzz testing across three repositories.
The Update Framework
The Update Framework has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.