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by g15jv2dp 740 days ago
Why would I need to install go to run this tool? I thought one advantage of go was that devs could just distribute a single binary file that works...
3 comments

Because it's a security tool so trusting a binary upfront defeats the purpose. With source you at least have the option to inspect what it really does.
does the stated purpose of the tool influence whether or not you can trust it?
I think that question is a little backwards.

Certain tools are more likely to be used by people working in spaces where they should/must be less trusting.

If there was a tool (there is) to scan my platform deployment against some NCSC/NSA guidance for platform security, and I wanted to use it, I'm likely operating in a space that should consider being cautious about running random tools I find on the internet.

right, but in that scenario I'd assume you'd also want to take a look at your ostensibly unrelated tools
If you're trying to improve the security of your product by running random binaries from the Internet you're going to have a bad time
That's how most people run compilers
This is argumentum ad absurdum - there is a reason why trusting your kernel and compiler is a reasonable compromise, even though there might be security issues in them, but random pieces of software downloaded from the Internet is not.
Wait ... you download random compilers from the internet? Or are you asserting equivalence between getting go from Google or Xcode from Apple and an random home brew install?
also if you're not trying to improve the security of your product by running random binaries from the internet. I'm concerned at the inability to separate the concepts of "what it does" and "what it says it does".

The idea that whether or not it needs scrutiny is impacted by your goals with the software is... creative

Uh? OP just released a docker image and wants to release a homebrew thingy. Even assuming that was you say is somehow sensible, it's not the reason, no. You're just grasping at straws.
I'd love to have it on homebrew but my PR is denied so I'll have to create my own brew tap or convince them to accept it.

I'll also create a docker image.

I just didn't expect this much popularity so the repo isn't 100% ready te be honest

The docker image is nothing more than “FROM scratch” and then copying in the statically linked binary. If there are 0 other dependencies, I think it would be equally easy to distribute the binary through GitHub releases. There is no need for brew.

If people want to run it isolated, the docker image is of course still a nice to have and docker hub is a convenient distribution mechanism. At the same time, an equivalent image can equally easily be created by the consumer.

Personally, due to trust, I would anyway still build it from source and run in a container, to be on the safe side.

Making a tap is super easy, you just upload a file with 5 LoC to github. I wouldn’t even bother with brew core.
Oh ok I'll try then
The docker container is now ready to use and documented on the home page
Just awaiting the Kubernetes setup/Helm charts now and soon almost anyone can use it!
The docker container... For a simple CLI tool... What?!