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Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 11 views

Introduction

The get_version function in the cve-bin-tool has undergone a significant change in recent times. Initially, it was designed to return a single version of a library. However, with the introduction of the new code in #4911, the function now returns multiple versions of the same library if more than one is found. Unfortunately, the documentation was not updated accordingly, and the function name was changed from get_version() to get_versions(). This article aims to rectify this issue by ensuring that the function name is correct across the documentation.

Background

The cve-bin-tool is an open-source project that provides a set of tools for working with CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures). The project is maintained by a community of contributors who work together to ensure that the tool is up-to-date and accurate. As part of this effort, the project uses a variety of documentation tools to provide information to users.

The Issue

The issue at hand is that the documentation for the get_version function was not updated correctly after the code change in #4911. As a result, the function name is still listed as get_version() in the documentation, even though it has been changed to get_versions(). This can cause confusion for users who are trying to understand how to use the function.

Solution

To resolve this issue, we need to update the documentation to reflect the correct function name. This can be done by searching for all instances of get_version() in the documentation and replacing them with get_versions(). This is a relatively simple task that can be accomplished using a search-and-replace tool.

Tips for New Contributors

If you are new to contributing to the cve-bin-tool project, here are some tips to help you get started:

Read the contributor documentation: The cve-bin-tool project has a comprehensive contributor documentation that provides information on how to contribute to the project. You can find this documentation at cve-bin-tool's contributor docs.
Use the checklist for a great pull request: If you have contributed to open-source projects before but not this one, you might want to check out the checklist for a great pull request. This can be found at cve-bin-tool's contributor docs.
Use conventional commit messages: The cve-bin-tool project uses conventional commit messages, which are a style of commit message that follows a specific format. You can find more information on this at https://www.conventionalcommits.org/.
Use a good pull request title: A good pull request title should clearly indicate what the pull request is about. In this case, a good title for this pull request could be "docs: get_version -> get_versions".

Claiming Issues

If you are interested in working on this issue, here are some tips on how to claim it:

You don't need to have an issue assigned to you: You can start working on an issue without having it assigned to you. To claim an issue, either make a linked pull request or comment on the issue saying you'll be working on it.
Assume it is claimed if someone else has already commented or opened a pull request: If someone else has already commented or opened a pull request, assume that the issue is claimed and find another issue to work on.
Ask if the claimant is still working on it if it's been more than 1 week without progress: If it's been more than 1 week without progress, you can ask in a comment if the claimant is still working on it before claiming it yourself. Give them at least 3 days to respond before assuming they have moved on.

Conclusion

Q&A: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the issue with the get_version function? A: The issue is that the function name was changed from get_version() to get_versions() in the code, but the documentation was not updated accordingly.

Q: Why is this a problem? A: This is a problem because the documentation is not accurate, which can cause confusion for users who are trying to understand how to use the function.

Q: How can I help fix this issue? A: You can help fix this issue by updating the documentation to reflect the correct function name. This can be done by searching for all instances of get_version() in the documentation and replacing them with get_versions().

Q: What are the steps to update the documentation? A: The steps to update the documentation are as follows:

Search for all instances of get_version(): Use a search-and-replace tool to find all instances of get_version() in the documentation.
Replace get_version() with get_versions(): Replace all instances of get_version() with get_versions().
Verify the changes: Verify that the changes have been made correctly and that the documentation is now accurate.

Q: What are some tips for new contributors? A: Here are some tips for new contributors:

Read the contributor documentation: The cve-bin-tool project has a comprehensive contributor documentation that provides information on how to contribute to the project. You can find this documentation at cve-bin-tool's contributor docs.
Use the checklist for a great pull request: If you have contributed to open-source projects before but not this one, you might want to check out the checklist for a great pull request. This can be found at cve-bin-tool's contributor docs.
Use conventional commit messages: The cve-bin-tool project uses conventional commit messages, which are a style of commit message that follows a specific format. You can find more information on this at https://www.conventionalcommits.org/.
Use a good pull request title: A good pull request title should clearly indicate what the pull request is about. In this case, a good title for this pull request could be "docs: get_version -> get_versions".

Q: How do I claim an issue? A: To claim an issue, either make a linked pull request or comment on the issue saying you'll be working on it. If someone else has already commented or opened a pull request, assume that the issue is claimed and find another issue to work on.

Q: What if I'm not sure if an issue is claimed? A: If you're not sure if an issue is claimed, you can ask in a comment if the claimant is still working on it before claiming it yourself. Give them at least 3 days to respond before assuming they have moved on.

Q: How do I make sure my pull request is accepted? A: To make sure your pull request is accepted, follow these steps:

Make sure your pull request is well-documented: Provide clear and concise documentation for your changes.
Use a good pull request title: A good pull request title should clearly indicate what the pull request is about.
Use conventional commit messages: Use conventional commit messages to describe your changes.
Test your changes: Test your changes to make sure they work as expected.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the get_version function in the cve-bin-tool has undergone a significant change, and the documentation needs to be updated accordingly. This article has provided a solution to this issue by suggesting that the function name be changed from get_version() to get_versions(). Additionally, it has provided tips for new contributors on how to claim issues and work on the project.