QR.js Library Inactive: GitHub Takeover Causes Confusion
The 'qr.js' library, once popular for generating QR codes, has been inactive since 2013. Its original GitHub repository has been taken over, leading to confusion among users.
The 'qr.js' library, last updated in March 2013, is no longer maintained. Its npm page still points to the old, now taken-over GitHub repository. This situation, known as 'repo jacking', occurred after the original maintainer changed their GitHub username. Despite this, the original 'qr.js' version 0.0.0 on NPM is currently considered safe.
Over 203 packages still depend on 'qr.js' via npm. Users are advised to remove references to the old GitHub repository and replace them with the newer path to the official repo. Although not a case of hijacking, users should consider exploring alternative libraries or including 'qr.js' code directly within their applications. The risk of malicious versions being published in the future is low, and Sonatype's Repository Firewall offers protection.
The 'qr.js' library's inactive status and 'repo jacking' incident have raised concerns. Users should update their references and consider alternatives. While the original version is currently safe, vigilance is key to prevent potential future issues.
