# Install fossa with Homebrew Cask

Zero-configuration polyglot dependency analysis tool. Version 3.17.15 via Homebrew Cask; verified 2026-07-27. Also installable with scoop: scoop install main/fossa.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install cask:fossa
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew Cask (100%):

```sh
brew install --cask fossa
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew cask metadata

## Package facts

- **Package key:** cask:fossa
- **Package manager:** Homebrew Cask
- **Version:** 3.17.15
- **Source summary:** Zero-configuration polyglot dependency analysis tool
- **Homepage:** <https://fossa.com/>
- **Last updated:** 2026-07-27T19:19:48Z
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00

## Executables

- fossa (binary)
- fossa (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 3.17.15
## Project history and usage

FOSSA CLI is the command-line client for FOSSA's dependency analysis, license compliance, security scanning, attribution, and SBOM-oriented workflows. It is packaged as the `fossa` executable and distributed for local developer use and CI automation.

### Project history

The public `fossas/fossa-cli` repository was created in 2018. The README describes the tool as zero-configuration, polyglot dependency analysis that detects dependencies in a codebase or build and uploads analysis results to the FOSSA web application.

The repository documentation grew into a user manual covering integration walkthroughs, analysis targets, vendored dependencies, manual dependencies, container scanning, SBOM analysis, debugging, and command references.

### Adoption history

The README documents installation by shell script, PowerShell, GitHub Releases, Scoop, and a Homebrew cask, with the cask updated automatically. It also displays a downloads badge in the millions, indicating broad binary distribution through GitHub Releases.

### How it is used

A typical workflow is to install `fossa`, set `FOSSA_API_KEY`, run `fossa analyze` in a project directory, review results in the FOSSA web application, and optionally gate CI with `fossa test` or integrate with GitHub status checks.

### Why package nerds care

FOSSA CLI is representative of compliance tooling becoming a package-manager-aware developer tool. Its value comes from recognizing many language ecosystems and build tools, combining static and dynamic dependency strategies, and turning local package metadata into organization-level license and vulnerability reports.

### Timeline

- 2018: The public `fossas/fossa-cli` repository was created.
- 2023: FOSSA's hosted docs version metadata records the current docs line as created in July 2023.
- 2026: v3.17.11 was published on GitHub Releases.

### Related projects

- FOSSA CLI is related to the FOSSA web application, FOSSA API keys, GitHub status integrations, SBOM workflows, container scanners, and the package managers and build systems it analyzes across JavaScript, Python, Go, Java, .NET, Rust, Haskell, Fortran, and other ecosystems.

### Sources

- <https://api.github.com/repos/fossas/fossa-cli>
- <https://api.github.com/repos/fossas/fossa-cli/releases>
- <https://docs.fossa.com/docs/introduction>
- <https://github.com/fossas/fossa-cli>
- <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/fossas/fossa-cli/master/README.md>
- <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/fossas/fossa-cli/master/docs/README.md>
- <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/fossas/fossa-cli/master/docs/references/strategies/README.md>


## Security Notes

No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for fossa. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.



## Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.


## Configuration files

- Unix: .fossa.yml
## Other Package-Manager Records

- Scoop - main/fossa: normalized package name match | Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/fossa.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- winget - FOSSA.FOSSA-cli: normalized package name match | Windows Package Manager source index: FOSSA.FOSSA-cli from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix


## Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/fossa.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/fossa.yml)


## Sources

- pkg.so package database
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation
- external package-manager database matches
- cross-ecosystem install command graph