# Open source

Explore Liran Tal’s open-source work: security tools, Node.js core contributions, OWASP projects, developer resources, and the evidence behind their impact.

Canonical: https://lirantal.com/open-source

I build tools, contribute fixes upstream, and turn security lessons into resources other developers can use. The work spans Node.js, software supply chains, terminal applications, network infrastructure, and now AI agents.

[Explore projects & resources](/open-source/projects)[See ecosystem contributions](/open-source/contributions)

Merged PRs outside my namespace

850

Repositories those PRs reached

193

On GitHub since

2010

GitHub snapshot: November 6, 2026. [Data sources](/open-source/impact#sources)

GitRanks places my profile in the **top 0.1% worldwide** for owned-repository stars, contributor reach, and followers. In its language rankings, I’m **#1 in Israel for JavaScript and PHP**.

GitRanks snapshot: November 6, 2026. [Explore the rankings & methodology](/open-source/impact#gitranks).

## Node.js child\_process hardening

Earlier prototype-pollution hardening had missed some `child_process` paths. I contributed a regression test and a fix to make that behavior consistent.

The pull request was merged on July 21, 2024.

[Read Node.js PR #53781](https://github.com/nodejs/node/pull/53781)

[More about this contribution](/open-source/contributions#nodejs-core)

## Open-source areas

### [Projects & resources](/open-source/projects)

Security defenses, developer tools, and community guides. What each project does, my involvement, and where to get started.

### [Ecosystem contributions](/open-source/contributions)

Selected changes to Node.js, OWASP, CNCF, Fastify, Yarn, and more, with links to the actual work.

### [Impact & rankings](/open-source/impact)

Package adoption, repository interest, contribution breadth, and GitRanks. Different measures, with their dates and limits.

## Featured projects & resources

### [npq](/open-source/projects#npq)

Check package health and security signals before installing npm dependencies.

GitHub stars

[1,795](https://api.github.com/repos/lirantal/npq "GitHub stars · captured November 7, 2026")

monthly npm downloads

[29,394](https://registry.npmjs.org/-/v1/search?text=npq&size=1 "npm monthly downloads · source updated November 7, 2026")

### [dockly](/open-source/projects#dockly)

Manage Docker containers, images, networks, and services from an interactive terminal interface.

GitHub stars

[4,037](https://api.github.com/repos/lirantal/dockly "GitHub stars · captured November 7, 2026")

monthly npm downloads

[896](https://registry.npmjs.org/-/v1/search?text=dockly&size=1 "npm monthly downloads · source updated November 4, 2026")

### [Node.js CLI Apps Best Practices](/open-source/projects#nodejs-cli-apps-best-practices)

A shared reference for making command-line applications more reliable and easier to use.

GitHub stars

[4,144](https://api.github.com/repos/lirantal/nodejs-cli-apps-best-practices "GitHub stars · captured November 7, 2026")

Project metrics captured November 7, 2026. [Sources & definitions](/open-source/impact#project-metrics)

## Open-source leadership & recognition

[Recognition & community stories](/recognitions)

My work includes historical membership in the Node.js Ecosystem Security Working Group, co-leadership of OWASP NodeGoat, and leadership of OWASP’s CWE tooling.

I received GitHub Star recognition in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and the OpenJS Foundation’s Security Pathfinder award in 2022.

[Security research & disclosures](/research)[Talks & workshops](/speaking)[My GitHub profile](https://github.com/lirantal)

## An open invitation to contribute

Join my open-source projects: try a tool, improve a guide, or help shape what comes next.

[Find a project](/open-source/projects)