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open source software ecosystem pollution is a problem for everyone

💨 tl;dr

The Great npm Garbage Patch reveals a huge spam problem in the npm ecosystem, with 21-25% of new packages being spam. This influx complicates security and trust, as many packages are nonsensical and clutter the space. While npm is trying to tackle this, the spam issue is growing faster than the takedown efforts.

💡 Key Ideas

• The Great npm Garbage Patch highlights the influx of spam packages tied to the T protocol, which incentivizes developers with cryptocurrency, leading to inflated contribution metrics.
• About 21% to 25% of new npm packages were identified as spam, with figures rising dramatically, indicating a severe spam problem in the ecosystem.
• The spam packages often have nonsensical names and dependencies, making it difficult to trust or identify genuine packages, complicating security assessments.
• Package squatting remains a persistent issue, where users claim valuable names without utilizing them, adding to the clutter.
• Although current spam packages haven't introduced malware, they create a noisy environment that hinders the identification of actual security threats.
• The T protocol's spam issues have prompted npm to take action, but the takedown rate is lagging behind new spam publications.
• Other package managers, like RubyGems, also face similar spam challenges, with efforts to address the problem proving slow and ineffective.

🎓 Lessons Learnt

• Open Source Contributions Should Be Valued: It's crucial to recognize and compensate open source maintainers, as they are fundamental to the ecosystem.

• Cryptocurrency is Not the Answer: Using cryptocurrency to reward open source contributions misses the mark; the real issue is cultural, not technological.

• Beware of Spam Indicators: A t.yaml file in a package is a major red flag, indicating potential spam or untrustworthiness.

• High Volume of New Packages May Signal Spam: The sheer number of new packages can often indicate spam; for instance, over 48,000 packages published in a single day points to this issue.

• Assume Ignorance Over Malice: When encountering suspicious actions in the ecosystem, it's generally better to assume ignorance rather than malicious intent.

• Garbage Packages Complicate the Ecosystem: The presence of low-quality or spam packages can skew AI outputs and make it hard for developers to find legitimate packages.

• Understand the Risks of Transitive Dependencies: Complex supply chains can introduce unwanted packages, increasing security risks unknowingly.

• Improve Dependency Reporting in npm: Current dependency listings can mislead users; clearer reporting is needed to navigate the ecosystem safely.

• Stay Informed on Spam Prevention: Regularly update your knowledge on spam detection methods to combat evolving spam tactics effectively.

• Research Security Issues Actively: Engage with reliable resources to better understand and defend against security threats in software development.

🌚 Conclusion

To improve the open source ecosystem, we need to value contributions properly, ditch ineffective crypto rewards, and stay vigilant against spam. Clearer dependency reporting and active research on security are essential to navigate this noisy environment.

In-Depth

All Key Ideas

The Great npm Garbage Patch

• The great npm garbage patch refers to the increase of spam packages in npm linked to the T protocol, which aims to pay software developers in cryptocurrency for open-source contributions.
• In Q2, approximately one in four new npm packages were associated with this T protocol, most having no real value beyond artificially inflating contributions.
• There's skepticism about enforcing open-source contributions through cryptocurrency, as it contradicts the essence of open-source.
• The culture of not compensating open-source maintainers is a significant issue, with businesses profiting from their work without providing adequate payment.
• The T protocol incentivizes developers to exaggerate their contributions using a ranking system that mirrors past SEO spam tactics.
• The problem of spam packages in npm is likened to environmental pollution, with a massive amount of worthless packages accumulating over time.

Spam Packages in the npm Ecosystem

• The source ecosystem has suffered the worst from spam packages with hallmarks like gibberish names and implausible dependencies.
• The presence of a 't.yaml' file in a package is a red flag for trustworthiness.
• From February 2024, npm package publications surged from a few thousand to over 48,000 in one day, indicating a spam problem.
• A sample analysis showed that between 21% and 25% of npm packages in Q2 were spam, totaling over half a million packages.
• The investigation found that 68% to 75% of new packages from February onward were spam, amounting to between 63,000 and 670,000 spam packages.
• The creator of Homebrew is criticized for contributing to the spam problem on npm.
• There are currently no known security issues linked to these spam packages; they are primarily nonsensical publications.

Npm Package Management Issues

• Npm has a longstanding problem with package squatting, where users reserve valuable package names without using them.
• Recent spam campaigns have not directly introduced malware, but they create a noisy environment that complicates identifying genuine threats.
• The presence of spam packages hinders the open source ecosystem's ability to assess package safety effectively.
• Transitive dependencies can introduce unexpected packages, causing potential security risks despite a developer's intentions.
• Npm's handling and display of package dependencies can mislead users, making it harder to trust the safety of installations.

Spam Issues in Package Management

• Participants in the T protocol have their remuneration reduced due to spamming and scamming in the system.
• npm has been tasked with taking down spammers, but the takedown rate is insufficient compared to the rate of new publications.
• The spam issue is not exclusive to npm; for instance, a user published nearly 1,800 spam packages on RubyGems.
• The RubyGems project may have taken multiple hours to address the spam due to Ruby's single-threaded nature.
• PHM is actively researching ways to detect spam as scammers adapt their tactics.

All Lessons Learnt

Open Source Contributions and Cultural Recognition

• Open Source Contributions Should Be Valued: There needs to be a cultural shift in recognizing and compensating open source maintainers for their work. Companies relying on open source should feel the pressure to support those who contribute significantly.
• Cryptocurrency is Not the Solution: Attempting to solve the problem of compensating open source devs through cryptocurrency is misguided. The real issue lies in the culture around open source rather than in the technology itself.
• Beware of Incentive Structures: The T protocol’s structure can lead to inflated contributions and spam packages, similar to past SEO tactics. This highlights the need for careful consideration of how contributions are measured and rewarded in open source.
• Engineering Can't Solve Cultural Problems: Engineering solutions alone won't address the underlying cultural issues in open source. A cultural approach is necessary to foster proper support and recognition for contributors.

Best Practices for Evaluating npm Packages

• Don’t trust packages with a t.yaml file. If you see a t.yaml in a package, it’s a red flag indicating potential spam or untrustworthiness.
• Be wary of the sheer volume of new npm packages. The explosion of package publications can indicate spam; for example, over 48,000 packages were published in one day.
• Recognize the prevalence of spam packages. In a sample of new packages, 68-75% were identified as spam, highlighting a significant issue within the npm ecosystem.
• Assume stupidity, not malice, in questionable cases. When encountering problematic actions in the ecosystem, it's better to consider ignorance rather than malicious intent.
• Understand that spam packages may not always pose security threats. While spam is rampant, there’s no known security issue linked to these packages, just a lot of nonsense being published.

Issues in the npm Ecosystem

• Squatting is a long-standing issue in the npm ecosystem. Many valuable package names are reserved by users who aren't actively using them, making it harder for developers to find and use legitimate packages.
• Garbage packages can skew AI models. The influx of low-quality packages can lead to AI models producing unreliable outputs due to the principle of 'garbage in, garbage out.'
• Complex supply chains increase risk. Transitive dependencies can bring in unwanted packages, which developers may not be aware of, posing significant security risks.
• npm needs to improve dependency reporting. The way npm displays dependencies can mislead users, highlighting a need for better clarity and accuracy in how dependencies are listed.
• Open source ecosystem pollution affects everyone. The proliferation of spam packages complicates the ability of users to find safe packages, creating a broader issue within the open source community.

Spam Prevention Tips

• Don't install spam packages: Be cautious about what you install in your projects. Spam packages can clutter systems and cause issues for users and developers.
• Stay updated on spam detection methods: Regularly check for updates on spam detection techniques, as spammers will continually adapt their tactics.
• Actively research security issues: Engage with resources and research from credible sources to enhance your understanding and defenses against security threats in software development.