Add file catalogers to selection configuration (#3505)

* add file catalogers to selection configuration

Signed-off-by: Alex Goodman <wagoodman@users.noreply.github.com>

* fix typos

Signed-off-by: Alex Goodman <wagoodman@users.noreply.github.com>

* warn when there is conflicting file cataloging configuration

Signed-off-by: Alex Goodman <wagoodman@users.noreply.github.com>

* allow for explicit removal of all package and file tasks

Signed-off-by: Alex Goodman <wagoodman@users.noreply.github.com>

* address PR feedback

Signed-off-by: Alex Goodman <wagoodman@users.noreply.github.com>

---------

Signed-off-by: Alex Goodman <wagoodman@users.noreply.github.com>

cmd/syft/internal/clio_setup_config.go

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/anchore/clio"
 	"github.com/anchore/stereoscope"
-	ui2 "github.com/anchore/syft/cmd/syft/cli/ui"
+	handler "github.com/anchore/syft/cmd/syft/cli/ui"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/cmd/syft/internal/ui"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/internal/bus"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/internal/log"
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func AppClioSetupConfig(id clio.Identification, out io.Writer) *clio.SetupConfig
 
 				return clio.NewUICollection(
 					ui.New(out, cfg.Log.Quiet,
-						ui2.New(ui2.DefaultHandlerConfig()),
+						handler.New(handler.DefaultHandlerConfig()),
 					),
 					noUI,
 				), nil

cmd/syft/internal/commands/cataloger_list.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package commands
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -14,7 +15,15 @@ import (
 	"github.com/anchore/clio"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/internal/bus"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/internal/task"
-	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging/pkgcataloging"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging"
+)
+
+var (
+	activelyAddedStyle     = lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("10")) // hi green
+	deselectedStyle        = lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("8"))  // dark grey
+	activelyRemovedStyle   = lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("9"))  // high red
+	defaultStyle           = lipgloss.NewStyle().Underline(true)
+	deselectedDefaultStyle = lipgloss.NewStyle().Inherit(deselectedStyle).Underline(true)
 )
 
 type catalogerListOptions struct {
@@ -46,6 +55,7 @@ func CatalogerList(app clio.Application) *cobra.Command {
 	return app.SetupCommand(&cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "list [OPTIONS]",
 		Short:   "List available catalogers",
+		PreRunE: disableUI(app, os.Stdout),
 		RunE: func(_ *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
 			return runCatalogerList(opts)
 		},
@@ -53,13 +63,19 @@ func CatalogerList(app clio.Application) *cobra.Command {
 }
 
 func runCatalogerList(opts *catalogerListOptions) error {
-	factories := task.DefaultPackageTaskFactories()
+	pkgTaskFactories := task.DefaultPackageTaskFactories()
-	allTasks, err := factories.Tasks(task.DefaultCatalogingFactoryConfig())
+	fileTaskFactories := task.DefaultFileTaskFactories()
+	allPkgTasks, err := pkgTaskFactories.Tasks(task.DefaultCatalogingFactoryConfig())
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("unable to create cataloger tasks: %w", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to create pkg cataloger tasks: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	report, err := catalogerListReport(opts, allTasks)
+	allFileTasks, err := fileTaskFactories.Tasks(task.DefaultCatalogingFactoryConfig())
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to create file cataloger tasks: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	report, err := catalogerListReport(opts, [][]task.Task{allPkgTasks, allFileTasks})
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unable to generate cataloger list report: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -69,9 +85,10 @@ func runCatalogerList(opts *catalogerListOptions) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func catalogerListReport(opts *catalogerListOptions, allTasks []task.Task) (string, error) {
+func catalogerListReport(opts *catalogerListOptions, allTaskGroups [][]task.Task) (string, error) {
-	selectedTasks, selectionEvidence, err := task.Select(allTasks,
+	selectedTaskGroups, selectionEvidence, err := task.SelectInGroups(
-		pkgcataloging.NewSelectionRequest().
+		allTaskGroups,
+		cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().
 			WithDefaults(opts.DefaultCatalogers...).
 			WithExpression(opts.SelectCatalogers...),
 	)
@@ -82,12 +99,12 @@ func catalogerListReport(opts *catalogerListOptions, allTasks []task.Task) (stri
 
 	switch opts.Output {
 	case "json":
-		report, err = renderCatalogerListJSON(selectedTasks, selectionEvidence, opts.DefaultCatalogers, opts.SelectCatalogers)
+		report, err = renderCatalogerListJSON(flattenTaskGroups(selectedTaskGroups), selectionEvidence, opts.DefaultCatalogers, opts.SelectCatalogers)
 	case "table", "":
 		if opts.ShowHidden {
-			report = renderCatalogerListTable(allTasks, selectionEvidence, opts.DefaultCatalogers, opts.SelectCatalogers)
+			report = renderCatalogerListTables(allTaskGroups, selectionEvidence)
 		} else {
-			report = renderCatalogerListTable(selectedTasks, selectionEvidence, opts.DefaultCatalogers, opts.SelectCatalogers)
+			report = renderCatalogerListTables(selectedTaskGroups, selectionEvidence)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -98,6 +115,14 @@ func catalogerListReport(opts *catalogerListOptions, allTasks []task.Task) (stri
 	return report, nil
 }
 
+func flattenTaskGroups(taskGroups [][]task.Task) []task.Task {
+	var allTasks []task.Task
+	for _, tasks := range taskGroups {
+		allTasks = append(allTasks, tasks...)
+	}
+	return allTasks
+}
+
 func renderCatalogerListJSON(tasks []task.Task, selection task.Selection, defaultSelections, selections []string) (string, error) {
 	type node struct {
 		Name string   `json:"name"`
@@ -109,7 +134,12 @@ func renderCatalogerListJSON(tasks []task.Task, selection task.Selection, defaul
 	nodesByName := make(map[string]node)
 
 	for name := range tagsByName {
-		tagsSelected := selection.TokensByTask[name].SelectedOn.List()
+		tokensByTask, ok := selection.TokensByTask[name]
+
+		var tagsSelected []string
+		if ok {
+			tagsSelected = tokensByTask.SelectedOn.List()
+		}
 
 		if len(tagsSelected) == 1 && tagsSelected[0] == "all" {
 			tagsSelected = tagsByName[name]
@@ -153,10 +183,56 @@ func renderCatalogerListJSON(tasks []task.Task, selection task.Selection, defaul
 	return string(by), err
 }
 
-func renderCatalogerListTable(tasks []task.Task, selection task.Selection, defaultSelections, selections []string) string {
+func renderCatalogerListTables(taskGroups [][]task.Task, selection task.Selection) string {
+	pkgCatalogerTable := renderCatalogerListTable(taskGroups[0], selection, "Package Cataloger")
+	fileCatalogerTable := renderCatalogerListTable(taskGroups[1], selection, "File Cataloger")
+
+	report := fileCatalogerTable + "\n" + pkgCatalogerTable + "\n"
+
+	hasAdditions := len(selection.Request.AddNames) > 0
+	hasDefaults := len(selection.Request.DefaultNamesOrTags) > 0
+	hasRemovals := len(selection.Request.RemoveNamesOrTags) > 0
+	hasSubSelections := len(selection.Request.SubSelectTags) > 0
+	expressions := len(selection.Request.SubSelectTags) + len(selection.Request.AddNames) + len(selection.Request.RemoveNamesOrTags)
+
+	var header string
+
+	header += fmt.Sprintf("Default selections: %d\n", len(selection.Request.DefaultNamesOrTags))
+	if hasDefaults {
+		for _, expr := range selection.Request.DefaultNamesOrTags {
+			header += fmt.Sprintf("  • '%s'\n", expr)
+		}
+	}
+
+	header += fmt.Sprintf("Selection expressions: %d\n", expressions)
+
+	if hasSubSelections {
+		for _, n := range selection.Request.SubSelectTags {
+			header += fmt.Sprintf("  • '%s' (intersect)\n", n)
+		}
+	}
+	if hasRemovals {
+		for _, n := range selection.Request.RemoveNamesOrTags {
+			header += fmt.Sprintf("  • '-%s' (remove)\n", n)
+		}
+	}
+	if hasAdditions {
+		for _, n := range selection.Request.AddNames {
+			header += fmt.Sprintf("  • '+%s' (add)\n", n)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return header + report
+}
+
+func renderCatalogerListTable(tasks []task.Task, selection task.Selection, kindTitle string) string {
+	if len(tasks) == 0 {
+		return activelyRemovedStyle.Render(fmt.Sprintf("No %ss selected", strings.ToLower(kindTitle)))
+	}
+
 	t := table.NewWriter()
 	t.SetStyle(table.StyleLight)
-	t.AppendHeader(table.Row{"Cataloger", "Tags"})
+	t.AppendHeader(table.Row{kindTitle, "Tags"})
 
 	names, tagsByName := extractTaskInfo(tasks)
 
@@ -172,27 +248,12 @@ func renderCatalogerListTable(tasks []task.Task, selection task.Selection, defau
 
 	report := t.Render()
 
-	if len(selections) > 0 {
-		header := "Selected by expressions:\n"
-		for _, expr := range selections {
-			header += fmt.Sprintf("  - %q\n", expr)
-		}
-		report = header + report
-	}
-
-	if len(defaultSelections) > 0 {
-		header := "Default selections:\n"
-		for _, expr := range defaultSelections {
-			header += fmt.Sprintf("  - %q\n", expr)
-		}
-		report = header + report
-	}
-
 	return report
 }
 
 func formatRow(name string, tags []string, selection task.Selection) table.Row {
 	isIncluded := selection.Result.Has(name)
+	defaults := strset.New(selection.Request.DefaultNamesOrTags...)
 	var selections *task.TokenSelection
 	if s, exists := selection.TokensByTask[name]; exists {
 		selections = &s
@@ -200,35 +261,32 @@ func formatRow(name string, tags []string, selection task.Selection) table.Row {
 
 	var formattedTags []string
 	for _, tag := range tags {
-		formattedTags = append(formattedTags, formatToken(tag, selections, isIncluded))
+		formattedTags = append(formattedTags, formatToken(tag, selections, isIncluded, defaults))
 	}
 
 	var tagStr string
 	if isIncluded {
 		tagStr = strings.Join(formattedTags, ", ")
 	} else {
-		tagStr = strings.Join(formattedTags, grey.Render(", "))
+		tagStr = strings.Join(formattedTags, deselectedStyle.Render(", "))
 	}
 
 	// TODO: selection should keep warnings (non-selections) in struct
 
 	return table.Row{
-		formatToken(name, selections, isIncluded),
+		formatToken(name, selections, isIncluded, defaults),
 		tagStr,
 	}
 }
 
-var (
+func formatToken(token string, selection *task.TokenSelection, included bool, defaults *strset.Set) string {
-	green = lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("10")) // hi green
-	grey  = lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("8"))  // dark grey
-	red   = lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("9"))  // high red
-)
-
-func formatToken(token string, selection *task.TokenSelection, included bool) string {
 	if included && selection != nil {
 		// format all tokens in selection in green
 		if selection.SelectedOn.Has(token) {
-			return green.Render(token)
+			if defaults.Has(token) {
+				return defaultStyle.Render(token)
+			}
+			return activelyAddedStyle.Render(token)
 		}
 
 		return token
@@ -236,10 +294,12 @@ func formatToken(token string, selection *task.TokenSelection, included bool) st
 
 	// format all tokens in selection in red, all others in grey
 	if selection != nil && selection.DeselectedOn.Has(token) {
-		return red.Render(token)
+		return activelyRemovedStyle.Render(token)
 	}
-
+	if defaults.Has(token) {
-	return grey.Render(token)
+		return deselectedDefaultStyle.Render(token)
+	}
+	return deselectedStyle.Render(token)
 }
 
 func extractTaskInfo(tasks []task.Task) ([]string, map[string][]string) {

cmd/syft/internal/commands/cataloger_list_test.go

@@ -40,8 +40,9 @@ func (d dummyTask) Execute(_ context.Context, _ file.Resolver, _ sbomsync.Builde
 	panic("implement me")
 }
 
-func testTasks() []task.Task {
+func testTasks() [][]task.Task {
-	return []task.Task{
+	return [][]task.Task{
+		{
 			dummyTask{
 				name:      "task1",
 				selectors: []string{"image", "a", "b", "1"},
@@ -58,6 +59,17 @@ func testTasks() []task.Task {
 				name:      "task4",
 				selectors: []string{"directory", "d", "e", "4"},
 			},
+		},
+		{
+			dummyTask{
+				name:      "file-task1",
+				selectors: []string{"file", "ft", "ft-1-b"},
+			},
+			dummyTask{
+				name:      "file-task2",
+				selectors: []string{"file", "ft", "ft-2-b"},
+			},
+		},
 	}
 }
 
@@ -76,16 +88,23 @@ func Test_catalogerListReport(t *testing.T) {
 				return c
 			}(),
 			want: `
-Default selections:
+Default selections: 1
-  - "all"
+  • 'all'
-┌───────────┬────────────────────┐
+Selection expressions: 0
-│ CATALOGER │ TAGS               │
+┌────────────────┬──────────────────┐
-├───────────┼────────────────────┤
+│ FILE CATALOGER │ TAGS             │
+├────────────────┼──────────────────┤
+│ file-task1     │ file, ft, ft-1-b │
+│ file-task2     │ file, ft, ft-2-b │
+└────────────────┴──────────────────┘
+┌───────────────────┬────────────────────┐
+│ PACKAGE CATALOGER │ TAGS               │
+├───────────────────┼────────────────────┤
 │ task1             │ 1, a, b, image     │
 │ task2             │ 2, b, c, image     │
 │ task3             │ 3, c, d, directory │
 │ task4             │ 4, d, directory, e │
-└───────────┴────────────────────┘
+└───────────────────┴────────────────────┘
 `,
 		},
 		{
@@ -96,7 +115,7 @@ Default selections:
 				return c
 			}(),
 			want: `
-{"default":["all"],"selection":[],"catalogers":[{"name":"task1","tags":["1","a","b","image"]},{"name":"task2","tags":["2","b","c","image"]},{"name":"task3","tags":["3","c","d","directory"]},{"name":"task4","tags":["4","d","directory","e"]}]}
+{"default":["all"],"selection":[],"catalogers":[{"name":"file-task1","tags":["file","ft","ft-1-b"]},{"name":"file-task2","tags":["file","ft","ft-2-b"]},{"name":"task1","tags":["1","a","b","image"]},{"name":"task2","tags":["2","b","c","image"]},{"name":"task3","tags":["3","c","d","directory"]},{"name":"task4","tags":["4","d","directory","e"]}]}
 `,
 		},
 		{
@@ -105,19 +124,27 @@ Default selections:
 				c := defaultCatalogerListOptions()
 				c.Output = "table"
 				c.DefaultCatalogers = []string{
-					"image",
+					"image", // note: for backwards compatibility file will automatically be added
 				}
 				return c
 			}(),
 			want: `
-Default selections:
+Default selections: 2
-  - "image"
+  • 'image'
-┌───────────┬────────────────┐
+  • 'file'
-│ CATALOGER │ TAGS           │
+Selection expressions: 0
-├───────────┼────────────────┤
+┌────────────────┬──────────────────┐
+│ FILE CATALOGER │ TAGS             │
+├────────────────┼──────────────────┤
+│ file-task1     │ file, ft, ft-1-b │
+│ file-task2     │ file, ft, ft-2-b │
+└────────────────┴──────────────────┘
+┌───────────────────┬────────────────┐
+│ PACKAGE CATALOGER │ TAGS           │
+├───────────────────┼────────────────┤
 │ task1             │ 1, a, b, image │
 │ task2             │ 2, b, c, image │
-└───────────┴────────────────┘
+└───────────────────┴────────────────┘
 `,
 		},
 		{
@@ -131,7 +158,7 @@ Default selections:
 				return c
 			}(),
 			want: `
-{"default":["image"],"selection":[],"catalogers":[{"name":"task1","tags":["image"]},{"name":"task2","tags":["image"]}]}
+{"default":["image"],"selection":[],"catalogers":[{"name":"file-task1","tags":["file"]},{"name":"file-task2","tags":["file"]},{"name":"task1","tags":["image"]},{"name":"task2","tags":["image"]}]}
 `,
 		},
 		{
@@ -147,23 +174,32 @@ Default selections:
 					"+task3",
 					"-c",
 					"b",
+					"-file",
+					"+file-task1",
 				}
 				return c
 			}(),
 			want: `
-Default selections:
+Default selections: 1
-  - "image"
+  • 'image'
-Selected by expressions:
+Selection expressions: 6
-  - "-directory"
+  • 'b' (intersect)
-  - "+task3"
+  • '-directory' (remove)
-  - "-c"
+  • '-c' (remove)
-  - "b"
+  • '-file' (remove)
-┌───────────┬────────────────────┐
+  • '+task3' (add)
-│ CATALOGER │ TAGS               │
+  • '+file-task1' (add)
-├───────────┼────────────────────┤
+┌────────────────┬──────────────────┐
+│ FILE CATALOGER │ TAGS             │
+├────────────────┼──────────────────┤
+│ file-task1     │ file, ft, ft-1-b │
+└────────────────┴──────────────────┘
+┌───────────────────┬────────────────────┐
+│ PACKAGE CATALOGER │ TAGS               │
+├───────────────────┼────────────────────┤
 │ task1             │ 1, a, b, image     │
 │ task3             │ 3, c, d, directory │
-└───────────┴────────────────────┘
+└───────────────────┴────────────────────┘
 `,
 		},
 		{
@@ -183,7 +219,7 @@ Selected by expressions:
 				return c
 			}(),
 			want: `
-{"default":["image"],"selection":["-directory","+task3","-c","b"],"catalogers":[{"name":"task1","tags":["b","image"]},{"name":"task3","tags":["task3"]}]}
+{"default":["image"],"selection":["-directory","+task3","-c","b"],"catalogers":[{"name":"file-task1","tags":["file"]},{"name":"file-task2","tags":["file"]},{"name":"task1","tags":["b","image"]},{"name":"task3","tags":["task3"]}]}
 `,
 		},
 	}

cmd/syft/internal/commands/utils.go

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+package commands
+
+import (
+	"io"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+
+	"github.com/anchore/clio"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/cmd/syft/internal/ui"
+)
+
+func disableUI(app clio.Application, out io.Writer) func(*cobra.Command, []string) error {
+	return func(_ *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
+		type Stater interface {
+			State() *clio.State
+		}
+
+		state := app.(Stater).State()
+		state.UI = clio.NewUICollection(ui.None(out, state.Config.Log.Quiet))
+
+		return nil
+	}
+}

cmd/syft/internal/options/catalog.go

@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ func (cfg Catalog) ToSBOMConfig(id clio.Identification) *syft.CreateSBOMConfig {
 		WithPackagesConfig(cfg.ToPackagesConfig()).
 		WithFilesConfig(cfg.ToFilesConfig()).
 		WithCatalogerSelection(
-			pkgcataloging.NewSelectionRequest().
+			cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().
 				WithDefaults(cfg.DefaultCatalogers...).
 				WithExpression(cfg.SelectCatalogers...),
 		)

cmd/syft/internal/test/integration/utils_test.go

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/anchore/stereoscope/pkg/imagetest"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/cmd/syft/internal/options"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging/pkgcataloging"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/sbom"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/source"
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ func catalogFixtureImage(t *testing.T, fixtureImageName string, scope source.Sco
 		Name:    "syft-tester",
 		Version: "v0.99.0",
 	}).WithCatalogerSelection(
-		pkgcataloging.NewSelectionRequest().
+		cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().
 			WithExpression(catalogerSelection...),
 	)
 	cfg.Search.Scope = scope
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ func catalogDirectory(t *testing.T, dir string, catalogerSelection ...string) (s
 		Name:    "syft-tester",
 		Version: "v0.99.0",
 	}).WithCatalogerSelection(
-		pkgcataloging.NewSelectionRequest().
+		cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().
 			WithExpression(catalogerSelection...),
 	)
 

examples/create_custom_sbom/main.go

@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func getSBOM(src source.Source) sbom.SBOM {
 		// only use OS related catalogers that would have been used with the kind of
 		// source type (container image or directory), but also add a specific python cataloger
 		WithCatalogerSelection(
-			pkgcataloging.NewSelectionRequest().
+			cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().
 				WithSubSelections("os").
 				WithAdditions("python-package-cataloger"),
 		).

examples/select_catalogers/main.go

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging/pkgcataloging"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/sbom"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/source"
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ func getSBOM(src source.Source, defaultTags ...string) sbom.SBOM {
 		WithCatalogerSelection(
 			// here you can sub-select, add, remove catalogers from the default selection...
 			// or replace the default selection entirely!
-			pkgcataloging.NewSelectionRequest().
+			cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().
 				WithDefaults(defaultTags...),
 		)
 

internal/task/cataloging_config.go

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+package task
+
+import (
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging/filecataloging"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging/pkgcataloging"
+)
+
+type CatalogingFactoryConfig struct {
+	ComplianceConfig     cataloging.ComplianceConfig
+	SearchConfig         cataloging.SearchConfig
+	RelationshipsConfig  cataloging.RelationshipsConfig
+	DataGenerationConfig cataloging.DataGenerationConfig
+	PackagesConfig       pkgcataloging.Config
+	FilesConfig          filecataloging.Config
+}
+
+func DefaultCatalogingFactoryConfig() CatalogingFactoryConfig {
+	return CatalogingFactoryConfig{
+		ComplianceConfig:     cataloging.DefaultComplianceConfig(),
+		SearchConfig:         cataloging.DefaultSearchConfig(),
+		RelationshipsConfig:  cataloging.DefaultRelationshipsConfig(),
+		DataGenerationConfig: cataloging.DefaultDataGenerationConfig(),
+		PackagesConfig:       pkgcataloging.DefaultConfig(),
+		FilesConfig:          filecataloging.DefaultConfig(),
+	}
+}

internal/task/expression.go

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/go-multierror"
 	"github.com/scylladb/go-set/strset"
 
-	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging/pkgcataloging"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging"
 )
 
 var expressionNodePattern = regexp.MustCompile(`^([a-zA-Z0-9][a-zA-Z0-9-+]*)+$`)
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ func (ec expressionContext) newExpression(exp string, operation Operation, token
 	}
 }
 
-func newExpressionsFromSelectionRequest(nc *expressionContext, selectionRequest pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest) Expressions {
+func newExpressionsFromSelectionRequest(nc *expressionContext, selectionRequest cataloging.SelectionRequest) Expressions {
 	var all Expressions
 
 	for _, exp := range selectionRequest.DefaultNamesOrTags {

internal/task/expression_test.go

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
-	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging/pkgcataloging"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging"
 )
 
 func Test_newExpressionsFromSelectionRequest(t *testing.T) {
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ func Test_newExpressionsFromSelectionRequest(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 
-			req := pkgcataloging.NewSelectionRequest().WithDefaults(tt.basis...).WithExpression(tt.expressions...)
+			req := cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().WithDefaults(tt.basis...).WithExpression(tt.expressions...)
 
 			result := newExpressionsFromSelectionRequest(nc, req)
 			if tt.expectedErrors != nil {

internal/task/factory.go

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package task
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/scylladb/go-set/strset"
+)
+
+type factory func(cfg CatalogingFactoryConfig) Task
+
+type Factories []factory
+
+func (f Factories) Tasks(cfg CatalogingFactoryConfig) ([]Task, error) {
+	var allTasks []Task
+	taskNames := strset.New()
+	duplicateTaskNames := strset.New()
+	var err error
+	for _, fact := range f {
+		tsk := fact(cfg)
+		if tsk == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		tskName := tsk.Name()
+		if taskNames.Has(tskName) {
+			duplicateTaskNames.Add(tskName)
+		}
+
+		allTasks = append(allTasks, tsk)
+		taskNames.Add(tskName)
+	}
+	if duplicateTaskNames.Size() > 0 {
+		names := duplicateTaskNames.List()
+		sort.Strings(names)
+		err = fmt.Errorf("duplicate cataloger task names: %v", strings.Join(names, ", "))
+	}
+
+	return allTasks, err
+}

internal/task/file_tasks.go

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/internal/sbomsync"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/artifact"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging/filecataloging"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/file"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/file/cataloger/executable"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/file/cataloger/filecontent"
@@ -15,14 +16,27 @@ import (
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/sbom"
 )
 
-func NewFileDigestCatalogerTask(selection file.Selection, hashers ...crypto.Hash) Task {
+func DefaultFileTaskFactories() Factories {
+	return Factories{
+		newFileDigestCatalogerTaskFactory("digest"),
+		newFileMetadataCatalogerTaskFactory("file-metadata"),
+		newFileContentCatalogerTaskFactory("content"),
+		newExecutableCatalogerTaskFactory("binary-metadata"),
+	}
+}
+
+func newFileDigestCatalogerTaskFactory(tags ...string) factory {
+	return func(cfg CatalogingFactoryConfig) Task {
+		return newFileDigestCatalogerTask(cfg.FilesConfig.Selection, cfg.FilesConfig.Hashers, tags...)
+	}
+}
+
+func newFileDigestCatalogerTask(selection file.Selection, hashers []crypto.Hash, tags ...string) Task {
+	fn := func(ctx context.Context, resolver file.Resolver, builder sbomsync.Builder) error {
 		if selection == file.NoFilesSelection || len(hashers) == 0 {
 			return nil
 		}
 
-	digestsCataloger := filedigest.NewCataloger(hashers)
-
-	fn := func(ctx context.Context, resolver file.Resolver, builder sbomsync.Builder) error {
 		accessor := builder.(sbomsync.Accessor)
 
 		coordinates, ok := coordinatesForSelection(selection, builder.(sbomsync.Accessor))
@@ -30,7 +44,7 @@ func NewFileDigestCatalogerTask(selection file.Selection, hashers ...crypto.Hash
 			return nil
 		}
 
-		result, err := digestsCataloger.Catalog(ctx, resolver, coordinates...)
+		result, err := filedigest.NewCataloger(hashers).Catalog(ctx, resolver, coordinates...)
 
 		accessor.WriteToSBOM(func(sbom *sbom.SBOM) {
 			sbom.Artifacts.FileDigests = result
@@ -39,17 +53,21 @@ func NewFileDigestCatalogerTask(selection file.Selection, hashers ...crypto.Hash
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return NewTask("file-digest-cataloger", fn)
+	return NewTask("file-digest-cataloger", fn, commonFileTags(tags)...)
 }
 
-func NewFileMetadataCatalogerTask(selection file.Selection) Task {
+func newFileMetadataCatalogerTaskFactory(tags ...string) factory {
+	return func(cfg CatalogingFactoryConfig) Task {
+		return newFileMetadataCatalogerTask(cfg.FilesConfig.Selection, tags...)
+	}
+}
+
+func newFileMetadataCatalogerTask(selection file.Selection, tags ...string) Task {
+	fn := func(ctx context.Context, resolver file.Resolver, builder sbomsync.Builder) error {
 		if selection == file.NoFilesSelection {
 			return nil
 		}
 
-	metadataCataloger := filemetadata.NewCataloger()
-
-	fn := func(ctx context.Context, resolver file.Resolver, builder sbomsync.Builder) error {
 		accessor := builder.(sbomsync.Accessor)
 
 		coordinates, ok := coordinatesForSelection(selection, builder.(sbomsync.Accessor))
@@ -57,7 +75,7 @@ func NewFileMetadataCatalogerTask(selection file.Selection) Task {
 			return nil
 		}
 
-		result, err := metadataCataloger.Catalog(ctx, resolver, coordinates...)
+		result, err := filemetadata.NewCataloger().Catalog(ctx, resolver, coordinates...)
 
 		accessor.WriteToSBOM(func(sbom *sbom.SBOM) {
 			sbom.Artifacts.FileMetadata = result
@@ -66,20 +84,24 @@ func NewFileMetadataCatalogerTask(selection file.Selection) Task {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return NewTask("file-metadata-cataloger", fn)
+	return NewTask("file-metadata-cataloger", fn, commonFileTags(tags)...)
 }
 
-func NewFileContentCatalogerTask(cfg filecontent.Config) Task {
+func newFileContentCatalogerTaskFactory(tags ...string) factory {
+	return func(cfg CatalogingFactoryConfig) Task {
+		return newFileContentCatalogerTask(cfg.FilesConfig.Content, tags...)
+	}
+}
+
+func newFileContentCatalogerTask(cfg filecontent.Config, tags ...string) Task {
+	fn := func(ctx context.Context, resolver file.Resolver, builder sbomsync.Builder) error {
 		if len(cfg.Globs) == 0 {
 			return nil
 		}
 
-	cat := filecontent.NewCataloger(cfg)
-
-	fn := func(ctx context.Context, resolver file.Resolver, builder sbomsync.Builder) error {
 		accessor := builder.(sbomsync.Accessor)
 
-		result, err := cat.Catalog(ctx, resolver)
+		result, err := filecontent.NewCataloger(cfg).Catalog(ctx, resolver)
 
 		accessor.WriteToSBOM(func(sbom *sbom.SBOM) {
 			sbom.Artifacts.FileContents = result
@@ -88,20 +110,24 @@ func NewFileContentCatalogerTask(cfg filecontent.Config) Task {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return NewTask("file-content-cataloger", fn)
+	return NewTask("file-content-cataloger", fn, commonFileTags(tags)...)
 }
 
-func NewExecutableCatalogerTask(selection file.Selection, cfg executable.Config) Task {
+func newExecutableCatalogerTaskFactory(tags ...string) factory {
+	return func(cfg CatalogingFactoryConfig) Task {
+		return newExecutableCatalogerTask(cfg.FilesConfig.Selection, cfg.FilesConfig.Executable, tags...)
+	}
+}
+
+func newExecutableCatalogerTask(selection file.Selection, cfg executable.Config, tags ...string) Task {
+	fn := func(_ context.Context, resolver file.Resolver, builder sbomsync.Builder) error {
 		if selection == file.NoFilesSelection {
 			return nil
 		}
 
-	cat := executable.NewCataloger(cfg)
-
-	fn := func(_ context.Context, resolver file.Resolver, builder sbomsync.Builder) error {
 		accessor := builder.(sbomsync.Accessor)
 
-		result, err := cat.Catalog(resolver)
+		result, err := executable.NewCataloger(cfg).Catalog(resolver)
 
 		accessor.WriteToSBOM(func(sbom *sbom.SBOM) {
 			sbom.Artifacts.Executables = result
@@ -110,7 +136,7 @@ func NewExecutableCatalogerTask(selection file.Selection, cfg executable.Config)
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return NewTask("file-executable-cataloger", fn)
+	return NewTask("file-executable-cataloger", fn, commonFileTags(tags)...)
 }
 
 // TODO: this should be replaced with a fix that allows passing a coordinate or location iterator to the cataloger
@@ -154,3 +180,8 @@ func coordinatesForSelection(selection file.Selection, accessor sbomsync.Accesso
 
 	return nil, false
 }
+
+func commonFileTags(tags []string) []string {
+	tags = append(tags, filecataloging.FileTag)
+	return tags
+}

internal/task/package_task_factory.go

@@ -3,12 +3,9 @@ package task
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
-	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"unicode"
 
-	"github.com/scylladb/go-set/strset"
-
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/internal/bus"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/internal/log"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/internal/relationship"
@@ -23,67 +20,18 @@ import (
 	cpeutils "github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg/cataloger/common/cpe"
 )
 
-type packageTaskFactory func(cfg CatalogingFactoryConfig) Task
+func newPackageTaskFactory(catalogerFactory func(CatalogingFactoryConfig) pkg.Cataloger, tags ...string) factory {
-
-type PackageTaskFactories []packageTaskFactory
-
-type CatalogingFactoryConfig struct {
-	ComplianceConfig     cataloging.ComplianceConfig
-	SearchConfig         cataloging.SearchConfig
-	RelationshipsConfig  cataloging.RelationshipsConfig
-	DataGenerationConfig cataloging.DataGenerationConfig
-	PackagesConfig       pkgcataloging.Config
-}
-
-func DefaultCatalogingFactoryConfig() CatalogingFactoryConfig {
-	return CatalogingFactoryConfig{
-		ComplianceConfig:     cataloging.DefaultComplianceConfig(),
-		SearchConfig:         cataloging.DefaultSearchConfig(),
-		RelationshipsConfig:  cataloging.DefaultRelationshipsConfig(),
-		DataGenerationConfig: cataloging.DefaultDataGenerationConfig(),
-		PackagesConfig:       pkgcataloging.DefaultConfig(),
-	}
-}
-
-func newPackageTaskFactory(catalogerFactory func(CatalogingFactoryConfig) pkg.Cataloger, tags ...string) packageTaskFactory {
 	return func(cfg CatalogingFactoryConfig) Task {
 		return NewPackageTask(cfg, catalogerFactory(cfg), tags...)
 	}
 }
 
-func newSimplePackageTaskFactory(catalogerFactory func() pkg.Cataloger, tags ...string) packageTaskFactory {
+func newSimplePackageTaskFactory(catalogerFactory func() pkg.Cataloger, tags ...string) factory {
 	return func(cfg CatalogingFactoryConfig) Task {
 		return NewPackageTask(cfg, catalogerFactory(), tags...)
 	}
 }
 
-func (f PackageTaskFactories) Tasks(cfg CatalogingFactoryConfig) ([]Task, error) {
-	var allTasks []Task
-	taskNames := strset.New()
-	duplicateTaskNames := strset.New()
-	var err error
-	for _, factory := range f {
-		tsk := factory(cfg)
-		if tsk == nil {
-			continue
-		}
-		tskName := tsk.Name()
-		if taskNames.Has(tskName) {
-			duplicateTaskNames.Add(tskName)
-		}
-
-		allTasks = append(allTasks, tsk)
-		taskNames.Add(tskName)
-	}
-	if duplicateTaskNames.Size() > 0 {
-		names := duplicateTaskNames.List()
-		sort.Strings(names)
-		err = fmt.Errorf("duplicate cataloger task names: %v", strings.Join(names, ", "))
-	}
-
-	return allTasks, err
-}
-
 // NewPackageTask creates a Task function for a generic pkg.Cataloger, honoring the common configuration options.
 func NewPackageTask(cfg CatalogingFactoryConfig, c pkg.Cataloger, tags ...string) Task {
 	fn := func(ctx context.Context, resolver file.Resolver, sbom sbomsync.Builder) error {

internal/task/package_tasks.go

@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ const (
 )
 
 //nolint:funlen
-func DefaultPackageTaskFactories() PackageTaskFactories {
+func DefaultPackageTaskFactories() Factories {
-	return []packageTaskFactory{
+	return []factory{
 		// OS package installed catalogers ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 		newSimplePackageTaskFactory(arch.NewDBCataloger, pkgcataloging.DirectoryTag, pkgcataloging.InstalledTag, pkgcataloging.ImageTag, pkgcataloging.OSTag, "linux", "alpm", "archlinux"),
 		newSimplePackageTaskFactory(alpine.NewDBCataloger, pkgcataloging.DirectoryTag, pkgcataloging.InstalledTag, pkgcataloging.ImageTag, pkgcataloging.OSTag, "linux", "apk", "alpine"),

internal/task/selection.go

@@ -3,17 +3,19 @@ package task
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"sort"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/scylladb/go-set/strset"
 
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/internal/log"
-	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging/pkgcataloging"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging/filecataloging"
 )
 
 // Selection represents the users request for a subset of tasks to run and the resulting set of task names that were
 // selected. Additionally, all tokens that were matched on to reach the returned conclusion are also provided.
 type Selection struct {
-	Request      pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest
+	Request      cataloging.SelectionRequest
 	Result       *strset.Set
 	TokensByTask map[string]TokenSelection
 }
@@ -52,7 +54,18 @@ func newSelection() Selection {
 // Select parses the given expressions as two sets: expressions that represent a "set" operation, and expressions that
 // represent all other operations. The parsed expressions are then evaluated against the given tasks to return
 // a subset (or the same) set of tasks.
-func Select(allTasks []Task, selectionRequest pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest) ([]Task, Selection, error) {
+func Select(allTasks []Task, selectionRequest cataloging.SelectionRequest) ([]Task, Selection, error) {
+	ensureDefaultSelectionHasFiles(&selectionRequest, allTasks)
+
+	return _select(allTasks, selectionRequest)
+}
+
+func _select(allTasks []Task, selectionRequest cataloging.SelectionRequest) ([]Task, Selection, error) {
+	if selectionRequest.IsEmpty() {
+		selection := newSelection()
+		selection.Request = selectionRequest
+		return nil, selection, nil
+	}
 	nodes := newExpressionsFromSelectionRequest(newExpressionContext(allTasks), selectionRequest)
 
 	finalTasks, selection := selectByExpressions(allTasks, nodes)
@@ -62,6 +75,142 @@ func Select(allTasks []Task, selectionRequest pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest) ([
 	return finalTasks, selection, nodes.Validate()
 }
 
+// ensureDefaultSelectionHasFiles ensures that the default selection request has the "file" tag, as this is a required
+// for backwards compatibility (when catalogers were only for packages and not for separate groups of tasks).
+func ensureDefaultSelectionHasFiles(selectionRequest *cataloging.SelectionRequest, allTasks ...[]Task) {
+	for _, ts := range allTasks {
+		_, leftOver := tagsOrNamesThatTaskGroupRespondsTo(ts, strset.New(filecataloging.FileTag))
+		if leftOver.Has(filecataloging.FileTag) {
+			// the given set of tasks do not respond to file, so don't include it in the default selection
+			continue
+		}
+
+		defaultNamesOrTags := strset.New(selectionRequest.DefaultNamesOrTags...)
+		removals := strset.New(selectionRequest.RemoveNamesOrTags...)
+		missingFileIshTag := !defaultNamesOrTags.Has(filecataloging.FileTag) && !defaultNamesOrTags.Has("all") && !defaultNamesOrTags.Has("default")
+		if missingFileIshTag && !removals.Has(filecataloging.FileTag) {
+			log.Warnf("adding '%s' tag to the default cataloger selection, to override add '-%s' to the cataloger selection request", filecataloging.FileTag, filecataloging.FileTag)
+			selectionRequest.DefaultNamesOrTags = append(selectionRequest.DefaultNamesOrTags, filecataloging.FileTag)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// SelectInGroups is a convenience function that allows for selecting tasks from multiple groups of tasks. The original
+// request is split into sub-requests, where only tokens that are relevant to the given group of tasks are considered.
+// If tokens are passed that are not relevant to any group of tasks, an error is returned.
+func SelectInGroups(taskGroups [][]Task, selectionRequest cataloging.SelectionRequest) ([][]Task, Selection, error) {
+	ensureDefaultSelectionHasFiles(&selectionRequest, taskGroups...)
+
+	reqs, errs := splitCatalogerSelectionRequest(selectionRequest, taskGroups)
+	if errs != nil {
+		return nil, Selection{
+			Request: selectionRequest,
+		}, errs
+	}
+
+	var finalTasks [][]Task
+	var selections []Selection
+	for idx, req := range reqs {
+		tskGroup := taskGroups[idx]
+		subFinalTasks, subSelection, err := _select(tskGroup, req)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, Selection{
+				Request: selectionRequest,
+			}, err
+		}
+		finalTasks = append(finalTasks, subFinalTasks)
+		selections = append(selections, subSelection)
+	}
+
+	return finalTasks, mergeSelections(selections, selectionRequest), nil
+}
+
+func mergeSelections(selections []Selection, ogRequest cataloging.SelectionRequest) Selection {
+	finalSelection := newSelection()
+	for _, s := range selections {
+		finalSelection.Result.Add(s.Result.List()...)
+		for name, tokenSelection := range s.TokensByTask {
+			if existing, exists := finalSelection.TokensByTask[name]; exists {
+				existing.merge(tokenSelection)
+				finalSelection.TokensByTask[name] = existing
+			} else {
+				finalSelection.TokensByTask[name] = tokenSelection
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	finalSelection.Request = ogRequest
+	return finalSelection
+}
+
+func splitCatalogerSelectionRequest(req cataloging.SelectionRequest, selectablePkgTaskGroups [][]Task) ([]cataloging.SelectionRequest, error) {
+	requestTagsOrNames := allRequestReferences(req)
+	leftoverTags := strset.New()
+	usedTagsAndNames := strset.New()
+	var usedTagGroups []*strset.Set
+	for _, taskGroup := range selectablePkgTaskGroups {
+		selectedTagOrNames, remainingTagsOrNames := tagsOrNamesThatTaskGroupRespondsTo(taskGroup, requestTagsOrNames)
+		leftoverTags = strset.Union(leftoverTags, remainingTagsOrNames)
+		usedTagGroups = append(usedTagGroups, selectedTagOrNames)
+		usedTagsAndNames.Add(selectedTagOrNames.List()...)
+	}
+
+	leftoverTags = strset.Difference(leftoverTags, usedTagsAndNames)
+	leftoverTags.Remove("all")
+
+	if leftoverTags.Size() > 0 {
+		l := leftoverTags.List()
+		sort.Strings(l)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no cataloger tasks respond to the following selections: %v", strings.Join(l, ", "))
+	}
+
+	var newSelections []cataloging.SelectionRequest
+	for _, tags := range usedTagGroups {
+		newSelections = append(newSelections, newSelectionWithTags(req, tags))
+	}
+
+	return newSelections, nil
+}
+
+func newSelectionWithTags(req cataloging.SelectionRequest, tags *strset.Set) cataloging.SelectionRequest {
+	return cataloging.SelectionRequest{
+		DefaultNamesOrTags: filterTags(req.DefaultNamesOrTags, tags),
+		SubSelectTags:      filterTags(req.SubSelectTags, tags),
+		AddNames:           filterTags(req.AddNames, tags),
+		RemoveNamesOrTags:  filterTags(req.RemoveNamesOrTags, tags),
+	}
+}
+
+func filterTags(reqTags []string, filterTags *strset.Set) []string {
+	var filtered []string
+	for _, tag := range reqTags {
+		if filterTags.Has(tag) {
+			filtered = append(filtered, tag)
+		}
+	}
+	return filtered
+}
+
+func tagsOrNamesThatTaskGroupRespondsTo(tasks []Task, requestTagsOrNames *strset.Set) (*strset.Set, *strset.Set) {
+	positiveRefs := strset.New()
+	for _, t := range tasks {
+		if sel, ok := t.(Selector); ok {
+			positiveRefs.Add("all") // everything responds to "all"
+			positiveRefs.Add(strset.Intersection(requestTagsOrNames, strset.New(sel.Selectors()...)).List()...)
+		}
+		positiveRefs.Add(t.Name())
+	}
+	return positiveRefs, strset.Difference(requestTagsOrNames, positiveRefs)
+}
+
+func allRequestReferences(s cataloging.SelectionRequest) *strset.Set {
+	st := strset.New()
+	st.Add(s.DefaultNamesOrTags...)
+	st.Add(s.SubSelectTags...)
+	st.Add(s.AddNames...)
+	st.Add(s.RemoveNamesOrTags...)
+	return st
+}
+
 // selectByExpressions the set of tasks to run based on the given expression(s).
 func selectByExpressions(ts tasks, nodes Expressions) (tasks, Selection) {
 	if len(nodes) == 0 {

internal/task/selection_test.go

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/internal/sbomsync"
-	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging/pkgcataloging"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/file"
 )
 
@@ -21,45 +21,54 @@ func dummyTask(name string, tags ...string) Task {
 }
 
 // note: this test fixture does not need to be kept up to date here, but makes a great test subject
-func createDummyTasks() tasks {
+func createDummyPackageTasks() tasks {
 	return []Task{
 		// OS package installed catalogers
-		dummyTask("alpm-db-cataloger", "directory", "installed", "image", "os", "alpm", "archlinux"),
+		dummyTask("alpm-db-cataloger", "package", "directory", "installed", "image", "os", "alpm", "archlinux"),
-		dummyTask("apk-db-cataloger", "directory", "installed", "image", "os", "apk", "alpine"),
+		dummyTask("apk-db-cataloger", "package", "directory", "installed", "image", "os", "apk", "alpine"),
-		dummyTask("dpkg-db-cataloger", "directory", "installed", "image", "os", "dpkg", "debian"),
+		dummyTask("dpkg-db-cataloger", "package", "directory", "installed", "image", "os", "dpkg", "debian"),
-		dummyTask("portage-cataloger", "directory", "installed", "image", "os", "portage", "gentoo"),
+		dummyTask("portage-cataloger", "package", "directory", "installed", "image", "os", "portage", "gentoo"),
-		dummyTask("rpm-db-cataloger", "directory", "installed", "image", "os", "rpm", "redhat"),
+		dummyTask("rpm-db-cataloger", "package", "directory", "installed", "image", "os", "rpm", "redhat"),
 
 		// OS package declared catalogers
-		dummyTask("rpm-archive-cataloger", "declared", "directory", "os", "rpm", "redhat"),
+		dummyTask("rpm-archive-cataloger", "package", "declared", "directory", "os", "rpm", "redhat"),
 
 		// language-specific package installed catalogers
-		dummyTask("conan-info-cataloger", "installed", "image", "language", "cpp", "conan"),
+		dummyTask("conan-info-cataloger", "package", "installed", "image", "language", "cpp", "conan"),
-		dummyTask("javascript-package-cataloger", "installed", "image", "language", "javascript", "node"),
+		dummyTask("javascript-package-cataloger", "package", "installed", "image", "language", "javascript", "node"),
-		dummyTask("php-composer-installed-cataloger", "installed", "image", "language", "php", "composer"),
+		dummyTask("php-composer-installed-cataloger", "package", "installed", "image", "language", "php", "composer"),
-		dummyTask("ruby-installed-gemspec-cataloger", "installed", "image", "language", "ruby", "gem", "gemspec"),
+		dummyTask("ruby-installed-gemspec-cataloger", "package", "installed", "image", "language", "ruby", "gem", "gemspec"),
-		dummyTask("rust-cargo-lock-cataloger", "installed", "image", "language", "rust", "binary"),
+		dummyTask("rust-cargo-lock-cataloger", "package", "installed", "image", "language", "rust", "binary"),
 
 		// language-specific package declared catalogers
-		dummyTask("conan-cataloger", "declared", "directory", "language", "cpp", "conan"),
+		dummyTask("conan-cataloger", "package", "declared", "directory", "language", "cpp", "conan"),
-		dummyTask("dart-pubspec-lock-cataloger", "declared", "directory", "language", "dart"),
+		dummyTask("dart-pubspec-lock-cataloger", "package", "declared", "directory", "language", "dart"),
-		dummyTask("dotnet-deps-cataloger", "declared", "directory", "language", "dotnet", "c#"),
+		dummyTask("dotnet-deps-cataloger", "package", "declared", "directory", "language", "dotnet", "c#"),
-		dummyTask("elixir-mix-lock-cataloger", "declared", "directory", "language", "elixir"),
+		dummyTask("elixir-mix-lock-cataloger", "package", "declared", "directory", "language", "elixir"),
-		dummyTask("erlang-rebar-lock-cataloger", "declared", "directory", "language", "erlang"),
+		dummyTask("erlang-rebar-lock-cataloger", "package", "declared", "directory", "language", "erlang"),
-		dummyTask("javascript-lock-cataloger", "declared", "directory", "language", "javascript", "node", "npm"),
+		dummyTask("javascript-lock-cataloger", "package", "declared", "directory", "language", "javascript", "node", "npm"),
 
 		// language-specific package for both image and directory scans (but not necessarily declared)
-		dummyTask("dotnet-portable-executable-cataloger", "directory", "installed", "image", "language", "dotnet", "c#"),
+		dummyTask("dotnet-portable-executable-cataloger", "package", "directory", "installed", "image", "language", "dotnet", "c#"),
-		dummyTask("python-installed-package-cataloger", "directory", "installed", "image", "language", "python"),
+		dummyTask("python-installed-package-cataloger", "package", "directory", "installed", "image", "language", "python"),
-		dummyTask("go-module-binary-cataloger", "directory", "installed", "image", "language", "go", "golang", "gomod", "binary"),
+		dummyTask("go-module-binary-cataloger", "package", "directory", "installed", "image", "language", "go", "golang", "gomod", "binary"),
-		dummyTask("java-archive-cataloger", "directory", "installed", "image", "language", "java", "maven"),
+		dummyTask("java-archive-cataloger", "package", "directory", "installed", "image", "language", "java", "maven"),
-		dummyTask("graalvm-native-image-cataloger", "directory", "installed", "image", "language", "java"),
+		dummyTask("graalvm-native-image-cataloger", "package", "directory", "installed", "image", "language", "java"),
 
 		// other package catalogers
-		dummyTask("binary-cataloger", "declared", "directory", "image", "binary"),
+		dummyTask("binary-cataloger", "package", "declared", "directory", "image", "binary"),
-		dummyTask("github-actions-usage-cataloger", "declared", "directory", "github", "github-actions"),
+		dummyTask("github-actions-usage-cataloger", "package", "declared", "directory", "github", "github-actions"),
-		dummyTask("github-action-workflow-usage-cataloger", "declared", "directory", "github", "github-actions"),
+		dummyTask("github-action-workflow-usage-cataloger", "package", "declared", "directory", "github", "github-actions"),
-		dummyTask("sbom-cataloger", "declared", "directory", "image", "sbom"),
+		dummyTask("sbom-cataloger", "package", "declared", "directory", "image", "sbom"),
+	}
+}
+
+func createDummyFileTasks() tasks {
+	return []Task{
+		dummyTask("file-content-cataloger", "file", "content"),
+		dummyTask("file-metadata-cataloger", "file", "metadata"),
+		dummyTask("file-digest-cataloger", "file", "digest"),
+		dummyTask("file-executable-cataloger", "file", "binary-metadata"),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -72,7 +81,7 @@ func TestSelect(t *testing.T) {
 		expressions []string
 		wantNames   []string
 		wantTokens  map[string]TokenSelection
-		wantRequest pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest
+		wantRequest cataloging.SelectionRequest
 		wantErr     assert.ErrorAssertionFunc
 	}{
 		{
@@ -82,11 +91,11 @@ func TestSelect(t *testing.T) {
 			expressions: []string{},
 			wantNames:   []string{},
 			wantTokens:  map[string]TokenSelection{},
-			wantRequest: pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest{},
+			wantRequest: cataloging.SelectionRequest{},
 		},
 		{
 			name:     "use default tasks",
-			allTasks: createDummyTasks(),
+			allTasks: createDummyPackageTasks(),
 			basis: []string{
 				"image",
 			},
@@ -129,13 +138,13 @@ func TestSelect(t *testing.T) {
 				"binary-cataloger":                     newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
 				"sbom-cataloger":                       newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
 			},
-			wantRequest: pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest{
+			wantRequest: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
 				DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image"},
 			},
 		},
 		{
 			name:     "select, add, and remove tasks",
-			allTasks: createDummyTasks(),
+			allTasks: createDummyPackageTasks(),
 			basis: []string{
 				"image",
 			},
@@ -175,7 +184,7 @@ func TestSelect(t *testing.T) {
 				"binary-cataloger":                     newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
 				"sbom-cataloger":                       newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
 			},
-			wantRequest: pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest{
+			wantRequest: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
 				DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image"},
 				SubSelectTags:      []string{"os"},
 				RemoveNamesOrTags:  []string{"dpkg"},
@@ -184,7 +193,7 @@ func TestSelect(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			name:     "allow for partial selections",
-			allTasks: createDummyTasks(),
+			allTasks: createDummyPackageTasks(),
 			basis: []string{
 				"image",
 			},
@@ -228,7 +237,7 @@ func TestSelect(t *testing.T) {
 				"binary-cataloger":                     newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
 				"sbom-cataloger":                       newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
 			},
-			wantRequest: pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest{
+			wantRequest: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
 				DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image"},
 				SubSelectTags:      []string{"os", "rust-cargo-lock-cataloger"},
 				RemoveNamesOrTags:  []string{"dpkg"},
@@ -238,7 +247,7 @@ func TestSelect(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			name:     "select all tasks",
-			allTasks: createDummyTasks(),
+			allTasks: createDummyPackageTasks(),
 			basis: []string{
 				"all",
 			},
@@ -299,13 +308,13 @@ func TestSelect(t *testing.T) {
 				"github-action-workflow-usage-cataloger": newTokenSelection([]string{"all"}, nil),
 				"sbom-cataloger":                         newTokenSelection([]string{"all"}, nil),
 			},
-			wantRequest: pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest{
+			wantRequest: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
 				DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"all"},
 			},
 		},
 		{
 			name:     "set default with multiple tags",
-			allTasks: createDummyTasks(),
+			allTasks: createDummyPackageTasks(),
 			basis: []string{
 				"gemspec",
 				"python",
@@ -319,10 +328,31 @@ func TestSelect(t *testing.T) {
 				"ruby-installed-gemspec-cataloger":   newTokenSelection([]string{"gemspec"}, nil),
 				"python-installed-package-cataloger": newTokenSelection([]string{"python"}, nil),
 			},
-			wantRequest: pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest{
+			wantRequest: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
 				DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"gemspec", "python"},
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			name:        "automatically add file to default tags",
+			allTasks:    createDummyFileTasks(),
+			basis:       []string{},
+			expressions: []string{},
+			wantNames: []string{
+				"file-content-cataloger",
+				"file-metadata-cataloger",
+				"file-digest-cataloger",
+				"file-executable-cataloger",
+			},
+			wantTokens: map[string]TokenSelection{
+				"file-content-cataloger":    newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+				"file-metadata-cataloger":   newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+				"file-digest-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+				"file-executable-cataloger": newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+			},
+			wantRequest: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"file"},
+			},
+		},
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -330,7 +360,7 @@ func TestSelect(t *testing.T) {
 				tt.wantErr = assert.NoError
 			}
 
-			req := pkgcataloging.NewSelectionRequest().WithDefaults(tt.basis...).WithExpression(tt.expressions...)
+			req := cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().WithDefaults(tt.basis...).WithExpression(tt.expressions...)
 
 			got, gotEvidence, err := Select(tt.allTasks, req)
 			tt.wantErr(t, err)
@@ -367,3 +397,391 @@ func TestSelect(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestSelectInGroups(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name         string
+		taskGroups   [][]Task
+		selectionReq cataloging.SelectionRequest
+		wantGroups   [][]string
+		wantTokens   map[string]TokenSelection
+		wantRequest  cataloging.SelectionRequest
+		wantErr      assert.ErrorAssertionFunc
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "select only within the file tasks (leave package tasks alone)",
+			taskGroups: [][]Task{
+				createDummyPackageTasks(),
+				createDummyFileTasks(),
+			},
+			selectionReq: cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().
+				WithDefaults("image"). // note: file missing
+				WithSubSelections("content", "digest"),
+			wantGroups: [][]string{
+				{
+					// this is the original, untouched package task list
+					"alpm-db-cataloger",
+					"apk-db-cataloger",
+					"dpkg-db-cataloger",
+					"portage-cataloger",
+					"rpm-db-cataloger",
+					"conan-info-cataloger",
+					"javascript-package-cataloger",
+					"php-composer-installed-cataloger",
+					"ruby-installed-gemspec-cataloger",
+					"rust-cargo-lock-cataloger",
+					"dotnet-portable-executable-cataloger",
+					"python-installed-package-cataloger",
+					"go-module-binary-cataloger",
+					"java-archive-cataloger",
+					"graalvm-native-image-cataloger",
+					"binary-cataloger",
+					"sbom-cataloger",
+				},
+				{
+					// this has been filtered based on the request
+					"file-content-cataloger",
+					"file-digest-cataloger",
+				},
+			},
+			wantTokens: map[string]TokenSelection{
+				// packages
+				"alpm-db-cataloger":                    newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"apk-db-cataloger":                     newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"binary-cataloger":                     newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"conan-info-cataloger":                 newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"dotnet-portable-executable-cataloger": newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"dpkg-db-cataloger":                    newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"go-module-binary-cataloger":           newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"graalvm-native-image-cataloger":       newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"java-archive-cataloger":               newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"javascript-package-cataloger":         newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"php-composer-installed-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"portage-cataloger":                    newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"python-installed-package-cataloger":   newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"rpm-db-cataloger":                     newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"ruby-installed-gemspec-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"rust-cargo-lock-cataloger":            newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"sbom-cataloger":                       newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				// files
+				"file-content-cataloger":    newTokenSelection([]string{"content", "file"}, nil),
+				"file-digest-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"digest", "file"}, nil),
+				"file-executable-cataloger": newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+				"file-metadata-cataloger":   newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+			},
+			wantRequest: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image", "file"}, // note: file automatically added
+				SubSelectTags:      []string{"content", "digest"},
+			},
+			wantErr: assert.NoError,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "select package tasks (leave file tasks alone)",
+			taskGroups: [][]Task{
+				createDummyPackageTasks(),
+				createDummyFileTasks(),
+			},
+			selectionReq: cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().WithDefaults("image").WithSubSelections("os"),
+			wantGroups: [][]string{
+				{
+					// filtered based on the request
+					"alpm-db-cataloger",
+					"apk-db-cataloger",
+					"dpkg-db-cataloger",
+					"portage-cataloger",
+					"rpm-db-cataloger",
+				},
+				{
+					// this is the original, untouched file task list
+					"file-content-cataloger",
+					"file-metadata-cataloger",
+					"file-digest-cataloger",
+					"file-executable-cataloger",
+				},
+			},
+			wantTokens: map[string]TokenSelection{
+				// packages - os
+				"alpm-db-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"os", "image"}, nil),
+				"apk-db-cataloger":      newTokenSelection([]string{"os", "image"}, nil),
+				"rpm-archive-cataloger": newTokenSelection([]string{"os"}, nil),
+				"rpm-db-cataloger":      newTokenSelection([]string{"os", "image"}, nil),
+				"portage-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"os", "image"}, nil),
+				"dpkg-db-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"os", "image"}, nil),
+				// packages - remaining
+				"binary-cataloger":                     newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"conan-info-cataloger":                 newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"dotnet-portable-executable-cataloger": newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"go-module-binary-cataloger":           newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"graalvm-native-image-cataloger":       newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"java-archive-cataloger":               newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"javascript-package-cataloger":         newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"php-composer-installed-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"python-installed-package-cataloger":   newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"ruby-installed-gemspec-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"rust-cargo-lock-cataloger":            newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"sbom-cataloger":                       newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				// files
+				"file-content-cataloger":    newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+				"file-digest-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+				"file-executable-cataloger": newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+				"file-metadata-cataloger":   newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+			},
+			wantRequest: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image", "file"},
+				SubSelectTags:      []string{"os"},
+			},
+			wantErr: assert.NoError,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "select only file tasks (default)",
+			taskGroups: [][]Task{
+				createDummyPackageTasks(),
+				createDummyFileTasks(),
+			},
+			selectionReq: cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().WithDefaults("file"),
+			wantGroups: [][]string{
+				// filtered based on the request
+				nil,
+				{
+					// this is the original, untouched file task list
+					"file-content-cataloger",
+					"file-metadata-cataloger",
+					"file-digest-cataloger",
+					"file-executable-cataloger",
+				},
+			},
+			wantTokens: map[string]TokenSelection{
+				// files
+				"file-content-cataloger":    newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+				"file-digest-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+				"file-executable-cataloger": newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+				"file-metadata-cataloger":   newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+			},
+			wantRequest: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"file"},
+			},
+			wantErr: assert.NoError,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "select only file tasks (via removal of package)",
+			taskGroups: [][]Task{
+				createDummyPackageTasks(),
+				createDummyFileTasks(),
+			},
+			selectionReq: cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().WithDefaults("file", "image").WithRemovals("package"),
+			wantGroups: [][]string{
+				// filtered based on the request
+				nil,
+				{
+					// this is the original, untouched file task list
+					"file-content-cataloger",
+					"file-metadata-cataloger",
+					"file-digest-cataloger",
+					"file-executable-cataloger",
+				},
+			},
+			wantTokens: map[string]TokenSelection{
+				// packages
+				"alpm-db-cataloger":                      newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, []string{"package"}),
+				"apk-db-cataloger":                       newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, []string{"package"}),
+				"binary-cataloger":                       newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, []string{"package"}),
+				"conan-info-cataloger":                   newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, []string{"package"}),
+				"dotnet-portable-executable-cataloger":   newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, []string{"package"}),
+				"dpkg-db-cataloger":                      newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, []string{"package"}),
+				"go-module-binary-cataloger":             newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, []string{"package"}),
+				"graalvm-native-image-cataloger":         newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, []string{"package"}),
+				"java-archive-cataloger":                 newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, []string{"package"}),
+				"javascript-package-cataloger":           newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, []string{"package"}),
+				"php-composer-installed-cataloger":       newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, []string{"package"}),
+				"portage-cataloger":                      newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, []string{"package"}),
+				"python-installed-package-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, []string{"package"}),
+				"rpm-db-cataloger":                       newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, []string{"package"}),
+				"ruby-installed-gemspec-cataloger":       newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, []string{"package"}),
+				"rust-cargo-lock-cataloger":              newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, []string{"package"}),
+				"sbom-cataloger":                         newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, []string{"package"}),
+				"rpm-archive-cataloger":                  newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"package"}),
+				"conan-cataloger":                        newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"package"}),
+				"dart-pubspec-lock-cataloger":            newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"package"}),
+				"dotnet-deps-cataloger":                  newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"package"}),
+				"elixir-mix-lock-cataloger":              newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"package"}),
+				"erlang-rebar-lock-cataloger":            newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"package"}),
+				"javascript-lock-cataloger":              newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"package"}),
+				"github-actions-usage-cataloger":         newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"package"}),
+				"github-action-workflow-usage-cataloger": newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"package"}),
+				// files
+				"file-content-cataloger":    newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+				"file-digest-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+				"file-executable-cataloger": newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+				"file-metadata-cataloger":   newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+			},
+			wantRequest: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"file", "image"},
+				RemoveNamesOrTags:  []string{"package"},
+			},
+			wantErr: assert.NoError,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "select file and package tasks",
+			taskGroups: [][]Task{
+				createDummyPackageTasks(),
+				createDummyFileTasks(),
+			},
+			selectionReq: cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().
+				WithDefaults("image").
+				WithSubSelections("os", "content", "digest"),
+			wantGroups: [][]string{
+				{
+					// filtered based on the request
+					"alpm-db-cataloger",
+					"apk-db-cataloger",
+					"dpkg-db-cataloger",
+					"portage-cataloger",
+					"rpm-db-cataloger",
+				},
+				{
+					// filtered based on the request
+					"file-content-cataloger",
+					"file-digest-cataloger",
+				},
+			},
+			wantTokens: map[string]TokenSelection{
+				// packages - os
+				"alpm-db-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"os", "image"}, nil),
+				"apk-db-cataloger":      newTokenSelection([]string{"os", "image"}, nil),
+				"rpm-archive-cataloger": newTokenSelection([]string{"os"}, nil),
+				"rpm-db-cataloger":      newTokenSelection([]string{"os", "image"}, nil),
+				"portage-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"os", "image"}, nil),
+				"dpkg-db-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"os", "image"}, nil),
+				// packages - remaining
+				"binary-cataloger":                     newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"conan-info-cataloger":                 newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"dotnet-portable-executable-cataloger": newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"go-module-binary-cataloger":           newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"graalvm-native-image-cataloger":       newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"java-archive-cataloger":               newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"javascript-package-cataloger":         newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"php-composer-installed-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"python-installed-package-cataloger":   newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"ruby-installed-gemspec-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"rust-cargo-lock-cataloger":            newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				"sbom-cataloger":                       newTokenSelection([]string{"image"}, nil),
+				// files
+				"file-content-cataloger":    newTokenSelection([]string{"file", "content"}, nil), // note extra tags
+				"file-digest-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"file", "digest"}, nil),  // note extra tags
+				"file-executable-cataloger": newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+				"file-metadata-cataloger":   newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+			},
+			wantRequest: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image", "file"},
+				SubSelectTags:      []string{"os", "content", "digest"},
+			},
+			wantErr: assert.NoError,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "complex selection with multiple operators across groups",
+			taskGroups: [][]Task{
+				createDummyPackageTasks(),
+				createDummyFileTasks(),
+			},
+			selectionReq: cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().
+				WithDefaults("os"). // note: no file tag present
+				WithExpression("+github-actions-usage-cataloger", "-dpkg", "-digest", "content", "+file-metadata-cataloger", "-declared"),
+			wantGroups: [][]string{
+				{
+					"alpm-db-cataloger",
+					"apk-db-cataloger",
+					"portage-cataloger",
+					"rpm-db-cataloger",
+					"github-actions-usage-cataloger",
+				},
+				{
+					"file-content-cataloger",
+					"file-metadata-cataloger",
+				},
+			},
+			wantTokens: map[string]TokenSelection{
+				// selected package tasks
+				"alpm-db-cataloger":              newTokenSelection([]string{"os"}, nil),
+				"apk-db-cataloger":               newTokenSelection([]string{"os"}, nil),
+				"dpkg-db-cataloger":              newTokenSelection([]string{"os"}, []string{"dpkg"}),
+				"portage-cataloger":              newTokenSelection([]string{"os"}, nil),
+				"rpm-archive-cataloger":          newTokenSelection([]string{"os"}, []string{"declared"}),
+				"rpm-db-cataloger":               newTokenSelection([]string{"os"}, nil),
+				"github-actions-usage-cataloger": newTokenSelection([]string{"github-actions-usage-cataloger"}, []string{"declared"}),
+
+				// selected file tasks
+				"file-content-cataloger":  newTokenSelection([]string{"content", "file"}, nil),
+				"file-metadata-cataloger": newTokenSelection([]string{"file-metadata-cataloger", "file"}, nil),
+
+				// removed package tasks
+				"binary-cataloger":                       newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"declared"}),
+				"conan-cataloger":                        newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"declared"}),
+				"dart-pubspec-lock-cataloger":            newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"declared"}),
+				"dotnet-deps-cataloger":                  newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"declared"}),
+				"elixir-mix-lock-cataloger":              newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"declared"}),
+				"erlang-rebar-lock-cataloger":            newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"declared"}),
+				"github-action-workflow-usage-cataloger": newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"declared"}),
+				"javascript-lock-cataloger":              newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"declared"}),
+				"sbom-cataloger":                         newTokenSelection(nil, []string{"declared"}),
+
+				// removed file tasks
+				"file-executable-cataloger": newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, nil),
+				"file-digest-cataloger":     newTokenSelection([]string{"file"}, []string{"digest"}),
+			},
+			wantRequest: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"os", "file"}, // note: file added automatically
+				SubSelectTags:      []string{"content"},
+				RemoveNamesOrTags:  []string{"dpkg", "digest", "declared"},
+				AddNames:           []string{"github-actions-usage-cataloger", "file-metadata-cataloger"},
+			},
+			wantErr: assert.NoError,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "invalid tag",
+			taskGroups: [][]Task{
+				createDummyPackageTasks(),
+				createDummyFileTasks(),
+			},
+			selectionReq: cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().WithDefaults("invalid"),
+			wantGroups:   nil,
+			wantTokens:   nil,
+			wantRequest: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"invalid", "file"},
+			},
+			wantErr: assert.Error,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if tt.wantErr == nil {
+				tt.wantErr = assert.NoError
+			}
+
+			gotGroups, gotSelection, err := SelectInGroups(tt.taskGroups, tt.selectionReq)
+			tt.wantErr(t, err)
+			if err != nil {
+				// dev note: this is useful for debugging when needed...
+				//for _, e := range gotEvidence.Request.Expressions {
+				//	t.Logf("expression (errors %q): %#v", e.Errors, e)
+				//}
+
+				// note: we DON'T bail early in validations... this is because we should always return the full set of
+				// of selected tasks and surrounding evidence.
+			}
+
+			var gotGroupNames [][]string
+			for _, group := range gotGroups {
+				var names []string
+				for _, task := range group {
+					names = append(names, task.Name())
+				}
+				gotGroupNames = append(gotGroupNames, names)
+			}
+
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantGroups, gotGroupNames)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantTokens, gotSelection.TokensByTask)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantRequest, gotSelection.Request)
+		})
+	}
+}

syft/cataloging/filecataloging/tags.go

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+package filecataloging
+
+const (
+	// FileTag should be used to identify catalogers that primarily discover information about files (as opposed to packages).
+	FileTag = "file"
+)

syft/cataloging/pkgcataloging/selection.go

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+package pkgcataloging
+
+import (
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging"
+)
+
+// SelectionRequest is deprecated: use cataloging.SelectionRequest instead
+type SelectionRequest = cataloging.SelectionRequest
+
+// NewSelectionRequest is deprecated: use cataloging.NewSelectionRequest instead
+var NewSelectionRequest = cataloging.NewSelectionRequest

syft/cataloging/selection.go

@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
-package pkgcataloging
+package cataloging
 
-import (
+import "strings"
-	"strings"
-)
 
 type SelectionRequest struct {
 	DefaultNamesOrTags []string `json:"default,omitempty"`
@@ -50,6 +48,10 @@ func (s SelectionRequest) WithRemovals(nameOrTags ...string) SelectionRequest {
 	return s
 }
 
+func (s SelectionRequest) IsEmpty() bool {
+	return len(s.AddNames) == 0 && len(s.RemoveNamesOrTags) == 0 && len(s.SubSelectTags) == 0 && len(s.DefaultNamesOrTags) == 0
+}
+
 func cleanSelection(tags []string) []string {
 	var cleaned []string
 	for _, tag := range tags {

syft/configuration_audit_trail.go

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ type configurationAuditTrail struct {
 }
 
 type catalogerManifest struct {
-	Requested pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest `json:"requested" yaml:"requested" mapstructure:"requested"`
+	Requested cataloging.SelectionRequest `json:"requested" yaml:"requested" mapstructure:"requested"`
 	Used      []string                    `json:"used" yaml:"used" mapstructure:"used"`
 }
 

syft/create_sbom.go

@@ -125,6 +125,9 @@ func monitorCatalogingTask(srcID artifact.ID, tasks [][]task.Task) *monitor.Cata
 func formatTaskNames(tasks []task.Task) []string {
 	set := strset.New()
 	for _, td := range tasks {
+		if td == nil {
+			continue
+		}
 		set.Add(td.Name())
 	}
 	list := set.List()

syft/create_sbom_config.go

@@ -28,14 +28,14 @@ type CreateSBOMConfig struct {
 	Packages           pkgcataloging.Config
 	Files              filecataloging.Config
 	Parallelism        int
-	CatalogerSelection pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest
+	CatalogerSelection cataloging.SelectionRequest
 
 	// audit what tool is being used to generate the SBOM
 	ToolName          string
 	ToolVersion       string
 	ToolConfiguration interface{}
 
-	packageTaskFactories       task.PackageTaskFactories
+	packageTaskFactories       task.Factories
 	packageCatalogerReferences []pkgcataloging.CatalogerReference
 }
 
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ func (c *CreateSBOMConfig) WithoutFiles() *CreateSBOMConfig {
 }
 
 // WithCatalogerSelection allows for adding to, removing from, or sub-selecting the final set of catalogers by name or tag.
-func (c *CreateSBOMConfig) WithCatalogerSelection(selection pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest) *CreateSBOMConfig {
+func (c *CreateSBOMConfig) WithCatalogerSelection(selection cataloging.SelectionRequest) *CreateSBOMConfig {
 	c.CatalogerSelection = selection
 	return c
 }
@@ -166,6 +166,10 @@ func (c *CreateSBOMConfig) WithoutCatalogers() *CreateSBOMConfig {
 // WithCatalogers allows for adding user-provided catalogers to the final set of catalogers that will always be run
 // regardless of the source type or any cataloger selections provided.
 func (c *CreateSBOMConfig) WithCatalogers(catalogerRefs ...pkgcataloging.CatalogerReference) *CreateSBOMConfig {
+	for i := range catalogerRefs {
+		// ensure that all package catalogers have the package tag
+		catalogerRefs[i].Tags = append(catalogerRefs[i].Tags, pkgcataloging.PackageTag)
+	}
 	c.packageCatalogerReferences = append(c.packageCatalogerReferences, catalogerRefs...)
 
 	return c
@@ -182,8 +186,8 @@ func (c *CreateSBOMConfig) makeTaskGroups(src source.Description) ([][]task.Task
 	environmentTasks := c.environmentTasks()
 	relationshipsTasks := c.relationshipTasks(src)
 	unknownTasks := c.unknownsTasks()
-	fileTasks := c.fileTasks()
+
-	pkgTasks, selectionEvidence, err := c.packageTasks(src)
+	pkgTasks, fileTasks, selectionEvidence, err := c.selectTasks(src)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, err
 	}
@@ -214,80 +218,117 @@ func (c *CreateSBOMConfig) makeTaskGroups(src source.Description) ([][]task.Task
 		taskGroups...,
 	)
 
+	var allTasks []task.Task
+	allTasks = append(allTasks, pkgTasks...)
+	allTasks = append(allTasks, fileTasks...)
+
 	return taskGroups, &catalogerManifest{
 		Requested: selectionEvidence.Request,
-		Used:      formatTaskNames(pkgTasks),
+		Used:      formatTaskNames(allTasks),
 	}, nil
 }
 
 // fileTasks returns the set of tasks that should be run to catalog files.
-func (c *CreateSBOMConfig) fileTasks() []task.Task {
+func (c *CreateSBOMConfig) fileTasks(cfg task.CatalogingFactoryConfig) ([]task.Task, error) {
-	var tsks []task.Task
+	tsks, err := task.DefaultFileTaskFactories().Tasks(cfg)
-
+	if err != nil {
-	if t := task.NewFileDigestCatalogerTask(c.Files.Selection, c.Files.Hashers...); t != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to create file cataloger tasks: %w", err)
-		tsks = append(tsks, t)
-	}
-	if t := task.NewFileMetadataCatalogerTask(c.Files.Selection); t != nil {
-		tsks = append(tsks, t)
-	}
-	if t := task.NewFileContentCatalogerTask(c.Files.Content); t != nil {
-		tsks = append(tsks, t)
-	}
-	if t := task.NewExecutableCatalogerTask(c.Files.Selection, c.Files.Executable); t != nil {
-		tsks = append(tsks, t)
 	}
 
-	return tsks
+	return tsks, nil
 }
 
-// packageTasks returns the set of tasks that should be run to catalog packages.
+// selectTasks returns the set of tasks that should be run to catalog packages and files.
-func (c *CreateSBOMConfig) packageTasks(src source.Description) ([]task.Task, *task.Selection, error) {
+func (c *CreateSBOMConfig) selectTasks(src source.Description) ([]task.Task, []task.Task, *task.Selection, error) {
 	cfg := task.CatalogingFactoryConfig{
 		SearchConfig:         c.Search,
 		RelationshipsConfig:  c.Relationships,
 		DataGenerationConfig: c.DataGeneration,
 		PackagesConfig:       c.Packages,
 		ComplianceConfig:     c.Compliance,
+		FilesConfig:          c.Files,
 	}
 
-	persistentTasks, selectableTasks, err := c.allPackageTasks(cfg)
+	persistentPkgTasks, selectablePkgTasks, err := c.allPackageTasks(cfg)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to create package cataloger tasks: %w", err)
+		return nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to create package cataloger tasks: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	req, err := finalSelectionRequest(c.CatalogerSelection, src)
+	req, err := finalTaskSelectionRequest(c.CatalogerSelection, src)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, err
+		return nil, nil, nil, err
 	}
 
-	finalTasks, selection, err := task.Select(selectableTasks, *req)
+	selectableFileTasks, err := c.fileTasks(cfg)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, err
+		return nil, nil, nil, err
 	}
 
-	finalTasks = append(finalTasks, persistentTasks...)
+	taskGroups := [][]task.Task{
-
+		selectablePkgTasks,
-	if len(finalTasks) == 0 {
+		selectableFileTasks,
-		log.Warn("no catalogers selected")
-		return finalTasks, &selection, nil
 	}
 
-	return finalTasks, &selection, nil
+	finalTaskGroups, selection, err := task.SelectInGroups(taskGroups, *req)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, nil, err
+	}
+
+	finalPkgTasks := finalTaskGroups[0]
+	finalFileTasks := finalTaskGroups[1]
+
+	finalPkgTasks = append(finalPkgTasks, persistentPkgTasks...)
+
+	if len(finalPkgTasks) == 0 && len(finalFileTasks) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("no catalogers selected")
+	}
+
+	logTaskNames(finalPkgTasks, "package cataloger")
+	logTaskNames(finalFileTasks, "file cataloger")
+
+	if len(finalPkgTasks) == 0 && len(finalFileTasks) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("no catalogers selected")
+	}
+
+	if len(finalPkgTasks) == 0 {
+		log.Debug("no package catalogers selected")
+	}
+
+	if len(finalFileTasks) == 0 {
+		if c.Files.Selection != file.NoFilesSelection {
+			log.Warnf("no file catalogers selected but file selection is configured as %q (this may be unintentional)", c.Files.Selection)
+		} else {
+			log.Debug("no file catalogers selected")
+		}
+	}
+
+	return finalPkgTasks, finalFileTasks, &selection, nil
 }
 
-func finalSelectionRequest(req pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest, src source.Description) (*pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest, error) {
+func logTaskNames(tasks []task.Task, kind string) {
+	// log as tree output (like tree command)
+	log.Debugf("selected %d %s tasks", len(tasks), kind)
+	names := formatTaskNames(tasks)
+	for idx, t := range names {
+		if idx == len(tasks)-1 {
+			log.Tracef("└── %s", t)
+		} else {
+			log.Tracef("├── %s", t)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func finalTaskSelectionRequest(req cataloging.SelectionRequest, src source.Description) (*cataloging.SelectionRequest, error) {
 	if len(req.DefaultNamesOrTags) == 0 {
-		defaultTag, err := findDefaultTag(src)
+		defaultTags, err := findDefaultTags(src)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to determine default cataloger tag: %w", err)
 		}
 
-		if defaultTag != "" {
+		req.DefaultNamesOrTags = append(req.DefaultNamesOrTags, defaultTags...)
-			req.DefaultNamesOrTags = append(req.DefaultNamesOrTags, defaultTag)
-		}
 
-		req.RemoveNamesOrTags = replaceDefaultTagReferences(defaultTag, req.RemoveNamesOrTags)
+		req.RemoveNamesOrTags = replaceDefaultTagReferences(defaultTags, req.RemoveNamesOrTags)
-		req.SubSelectTags = replaceDefaultTagReferences(defaultTag, req.SubSelectTags)
+		req.SubSelectTags = replaceDefaultTagReferences(defaultTags, req.SubSelectTags)
 	}
 
 	return &req, nil
@@ -379,21 +420,29 @@ func (c *CreateSBOMConfig) Create(ctx context.Context, src source.Source) (*sbom
 	return CreateSBOM(ctx, src, c)
 }
 
-func findDefaultTag(src source.Description) (string, error) {
+func findDefaultTags(src source.Description) ([]string, error) {
 	switch m := src.Metadata.(type) {
 	case source.ImageMetadata:
-		return pkgcataloging.ImageTag, nil
+		return []string{pkgcataloging.ImageTag, filecataloging.FileTag}, nil
 	case source.FileMetadata, source.DirectoryMetadata:
-		return pkgcataloging.DirectoryTag, nil
+		return []string{pkgcataloging.DirectoryTag, filecataloging.FileTag}, nil
 	default:
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("unable to determine default cataloger tag for source type=%T", m)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to determine default cataloger tag for source type=%T", m)
 	}
 }
 
-func replaceDefaultTagReferences(defaultTag string, lst []string) []string {
+func replaceDefaultTagReferences(defaultTags []string, lst []string) []string {
 	for i, tag := range lst {
 		if strings.ToLower(tag) == "default" {
-			lst[i] = defaultTag
+			switch len(defaultTags) {
+			case 0:
+				lst[i] = ""
+			case 1:
+				lst[i] = defaultTags[0]
+			default:
+				// remove the default tag and add the individual tags
+				lst = append(lst[:i], append(defaultTags, lst[i+1:]...)...)
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	return lst

syft/create_sbom_config_test.go

@@ -88,15 +88,15 @@ func TestCreateSBOMConfig_makeTaskGroups(t *testing.T) {
 			wantTaskNames: [][]string{
 				environmentCatalogerNames(),
 				pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"),
-				fileCatalogerNames(true, true, true),
+				fileCatalogerNames(),
 				relationshipCatalogerNames(),
 				unknownsTaskNames(),
 			},
 			wantManifest: &catalogerManifest{
-				Requested: pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				Requested: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
-					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image"},
+					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image", "file"},
 				},
-				Used: pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"),
+				Used: flatten(pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"), fileCatalogerNames()),
 			},
 			wantErr: require.NoError,
 		},
@@ -107,15 +107,15 @@ func TestCreateSBOMConfig_makeTaskGroups(t *testing.T) {
 			wantTaskNames: [][]string{
 				environmentCatalogerNames(),
 				pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "directory"),
-				fileCatalogerNames(true, true, true),
+				fileCatalogerNames(),
 				relationshipCatalogerNames(),
 				unknownsTaskNames(),
 			},
 			wantManifest: &catalogerManifest{
-				Requested: pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				Requested: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
-					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"directory"},
+					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"directory", "file"},
 				},
-				Used: pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "directory"),
+				Used: flatten(pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "directory"), fileCatalogerNames()),
 			},
 			wantErr: require.NoError,
 		},
@@ -127,51 +127,53 @@ func TestCreateSBOMConfig_makeTaskGroups(t *testing.T) {
 			wantTaskNames: [][]string{
 				environmentCatalogerNames(),
 				pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "directory"),
-				fileCatalogerNames(true, true, true),
+				fileCatalogerNames(),
 				relationshipCatalogerNames(),
 				unknownsTaskNames(),
 			},
 			wantManifest: &catalogerManifest{
-				Requested: pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				Requested: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
-					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"directory"},
+					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"directory", "file"},
 				},
-				Used: pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "directory"),
+				Used: flatten(pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "directory"), fileCatalogerNames()),
 			},
 			wantErr: require.NoError,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "no file digest cataloger",
 			src:  imgSrc,
-			cfg:  DefaultCreateSBOMConfig().WithFilesConfig(filecataloging.DefaultConfig().WithHashers()),
+			cfg:  DefaultCreateSBOMConfig().WithCatalogerSelection(cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().WithRemovals("digest")),
 			wantTaskNames: [][]string{
 				environmentCatalogerNames(),
 				pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"),
-				fileCatalogerNames(false, true, true), // note: the digest cataloger is not included
+				fileCatalogerNames("file-metadata", "content", "binary-metadata"),
 				relationshipCatalogerNames(),
 				unknownsTaskNames(),
 			},
 			wantManifest: &catalogerManifest{
-				Requested: pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				Requested: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
-					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image"},
+					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image", "file"},
+					RemoveNamesOrTags:  []string{"digest"},
 				},
-				Used: pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"),
+				Used: flatten(pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"), fileCatalogerNames("file-metadata", "content", "binary-metadata")),
 			},
 			wantErr: require.NoError,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "select no file catalogers",
 			src:  imgSrc,
-			cfg:  DefaultCreateSBOMConfig().WithFilesConfig(filecataloging.DefaultConfig().WithSelection(file.NoFilesSelection)),
+			cfg:  DefaultCreateSBOMConfig().WithCatalogerSelection(cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().WithRemovals("file")),
 			wantTaskNames: [][]string{
 				environmentCatalogerNames(),
 				pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"),
-				// note: there are no file catalogers in their own group
+				nil, // note: there is a file cataloging group, with no items in it
 				relationshipCatalogerNames(),
 				unknownsTaskNames(),
 			},
 			wantManifest: &catalogerManifest{
-				Requested: pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				Requested: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
-					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image"},
+					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image", "file"},
+					RemoveNamesOrTags:  []string{"file"},
 				},
 				Used: pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"),
 			},
@@ -186,16 +188,16 @@ func TestCreateSBOMConfig_makeTaskGroups(t *testing.T) {
 				// note: there is a single group of catalogers for pkgs and files
 				append(
 					pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"),
-					fileCatalogerNames(true, true, true)...,
+					fileCatalogerNames()...,
 				),
 				relationshipCatalogerNames(),
 				unknownsTaskNames(),
 			},
 			wantManifest: &catalogerManifest{
-				Requested: pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				Requested: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
-					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image"},
+					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image", "file"},
 				},
-				Used: pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"),
+				Used: flatten(pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"), fileCatalogerNames()),
 			},
 			wantErr: require.NoError,
 		},
@@ -208,15 +210,15 @@ func TestCreateSBOMConfig_makeTaskGroups(t *testing.T) {
 			wantTaskNames: [][]string{
 				environmentCatalogerNames(),
 				addTo(pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"), "persistent"),
-				fileCatalogerNames(true, true, true),
+				fileCatalogerNames(),
 				relationshipCatalogerNames(),
 				unknownsTaskNames(),
 			},
 			wantManifest: &catalogerManifest{
-				Requested: pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				Requested: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
-					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image"},
+					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image", "file"},
 				},
-				Used: addTo(pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"), "persistent"),
+				Used: flatten(addTo(pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"), "persistent"), fileCatalogerNames()),
 			},
 			wantErr: require.NoError,
 		},
@@ -229,15 +231,15 @@ func TestCreateSBOMConfig_makeTaskGroups(t *testing.T) {
 			wantTaskNames: [][]string{
 				environmentCatalogerNames(),
 				addTo(pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "directory"), "persistent"),
-				fileCatalogerNames(true, true, true),
+				fileCatalogerNames(),
 				relationshipCatalogerNames(),
 				unknownsTaskNames(),
 			},
 			wantManifest: &catalogerManifest{
-				Requested: pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				Requested: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
-					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"directory"},
+					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"directory", "file"},
 				},
-				Used: addTo(pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "directory"), "persistent"),
+				Used: flatten(addTo(pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "directory"), "persistent"), fileCatalogerNames()),
 			},
 			wantErr: require.NoError,
 		},
@@ -246,20 +248,20 @@ func TestCreateSBOMConfig_makeTaskGroups(t *testing.T) {
 			src:  imgSrc,
 			cfg: DefaultCreateSBOMConfig().WithCatalogers(
 				pkgcataloging.NewAlwaysEnabledCatalogerReference(newDummyCataloger("persistent")),
-			).WithCatalogerSelection(pkgcataloging.NewSelectionRequest().WithSubSelections("javascript")),
+			).WithCatalogerSelection(cataloging.NewSelectionRequest().WithSubSelections("javascript")),
 			wantTaskNames: [][]string{
 				environmentCatalogerNames(),
 				addTo(pkgIntersect("image", "javascript"), "persistent"),
-				fileCatalogerNames(true, true, true),
+				fileCatalogerNames(),
 				relationshipCatalogerNames(),
 				unknownsTaskNames(),
 			},
 			wantManifest: &catalogerManifest{
-				Requested: pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				Requested: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
-					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image"},
+					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image", "file"},
 					SubSelectTags:      []string{"javascript"},
 				},
-				Used: addTo(pkgIntersect("image", "javascript"), "persistent"),
+				Used: flatten(addTo(pkgIntersect("image", "javascript"), "persistent"), fileCatalogerNames()),
 			},
 			wantErr: require.NoError,
 		},
@@ -272,15 +274,15 @@ func TestCreateSBOMConfig_makeTaskGroups(t *testing.T) {
 			wantTaskNames: [][]string{
 				environmentCatalogerNames(),
 				addTo(pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"), "user-provided"),
-				fileCatalogerNames(true, true, true),
+				fileCatalogerNames(),
 				relationshipCatalogerNames(),
 				unknownsTaskNames(),
 			},
 			wantManifest: &catalogerManifest{
-				Requested: pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				Requested: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
-					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image"},
+					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image", "file"},
 				},
-				Used: addTo(pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"), "user-provided"),
+				Used: flatten(addTo(pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"), "user-provided"), fileCatalogerNames()),
 			},
 			wantErr: require.NoError,
 		},
@@ -293,15 +295,15 @@ func TestCreateSBOMConfig_makeTaskGroups(t *testing.T) {
 			wantTaskNames: [][]string{
 				environmentCatalogerNames(),
 				pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"),
-				fileCatalogerNames(true, true, true),
+				fileCatalogerNames(),
 				relationshipCatalogerNames(),
 				unknownsTaskNames(),
 			},
 			wantManifest: &catalogerManifest{
-				Requested: pkgcataloging.SelectionRequest{
+				Requested: cataloging.SelectionRequest{
-					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image"},
+					DefaultNamesOrTags: []string{"image", "file"},
 				},
-				Used: pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"),
+				Used: flatten(pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t, "image"), fileCatalogerNames()),
 			},
 			wantErr: require.NoError,
 		},
@@ -314,9 +316,6 @@ func TestCreateSBOMConfig_makeTaskGroups(t *testing.T) {
 
 			// sanity check
 			require.NotEmpty(t, tt.wantTaskNames)
-			for _, group := range tt.wantTaskNames {
-				require.NotEmpty(t, group)
-			}
 
 			// test the subject
 			gotTasks, gotManifest, err := tt.cfg.makeTaskGroups(tt.src)
@@ -378,20 +377,51 @@ func pkgCatalogerNamesWithTagOrName(t *testing.T, token string) []string {
 	return names
 }
 
-func fileCatalogerNames(digest, metadata, executable bool) []string {
+func fileCatalogerNames(tokens ...string) []string {
 	var names []string
-	if digest {
+	cfg := task.DefaultCatalogingFactoryConfig()
-		names = append(names, "file-digest-cataloger")
+topLoop:
+	for _, factory := range task.DefaultFileTaskFactories() {
+		cat := factory(cfg)
+
+		if cat == nil {
+			continue
 		}
-	if executable {
+
-		names = append(names, "file-executable-cataloger")
+		name := cat.Name()
+
+		if len(tokens) == 0 {
+			names = append(names, name)
+			continue
 		}
-	if metadata {
+
-		names = append(names, "file-metadata-cataloger")
+		for _, token := range tokens {
+			if selector, ok := cat.(task.Selector); ok {
+				if selector.HasAllSelectors(token) {
+					names = append(names, name)
+					continue topLoop
 				}
+
+			}
+			if name == token {
+				names = append(names, name)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	sort.Strings(names)
 	return names
 }
 
+func flatten(lists ...[]string) []string {
+	var final []string
+	for _, lst := range lists {
+		final = append(final, lst...)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(final)
+	return final
+}
+
 func relationshipCatalogerNames() []string {
 	return []string{"relationships-cataloger"}
 }
@@ -436,7 +466,7 @@ func Test_replaceDefaultTagReferences(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			assert.Equal(t, tt.want, replaceDefaultTagReferences("replacement", tt.lst))
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.want, replaceDefaultTagReferences([]string{"replacement"}, tt.lst))
 		})
 	}
 }
@@ -446,7 +476,7 @@ func Test_findDefaultTag(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name    string
 		src     source.Description
-		want    string
+		want    []string
 		wantErr require.ErrorAssertionFunc
 	}{
 		{
@@ -454,21 +484,21 @@ func Test_findDefaultTag(t *testing.T) {
 			src: source.Description{
 				Metadata: source.ImageMetadata{},
 			},
-			want: pkgcataloging.ImageTag,
+			want: []string{pkgcataloging.ImageTag, filecataloging.FileTag},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "directory",
 			src: source.Description{
 				Metadata: source.DirectoryMetadata{},
 			},
-			want: pkgcataloging.DirectoryTag,
+			want: []string{pkgcataloging.DirectoryTag, filecataloging.FileTag},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "file",
 			src: source.Description{
 				Metadata: source.FileMetadata{},
 			},
-			want: pkgcataloging.DirectoryTag, // not a mistake...
+			want: []string{pkgcataloging.DirectoryTag, filecataloging.FileTag}, // not a mistake...
 		},
 		{
 			name: "unknown",
@@ -483,7 +513,7 @@ func Test_findDefaultTag(t *testing.T) {
 			if tt.wantErr == nil {
 				tt.wantErr = require.NoError
 			}
-			got, err := findDefaultTag(tt.src)
+			got, err := findDefaultTags(tt.src)
 			tt.wantErr(t, err)
 			if err != nil {
 				return

test/cli/scan_cmd_test.go

@@ -298,6 +298,15 @@ func TestPackagesCmdFlags(t *testing.T) {
 				assertSuccessfulReturnCode,
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			name: "select-no-package-catalogers",
+			args: []string{"scan", "-o", "json", "--select-catalogers", "-package", coverageImage},
+			assertions: []traitAssertion{
+				assertPackageCount(0),
+				assertInOutput(`"used":["file-content-cataloger","file-digest-cataloger","file-executable-cataloger","file-metadata-cataloger"]`),
+				assertSuccessfulReturnCode,
+			},
+		},
 		{
 			name: "override-default-catalogers-option",
 			// This will detect enable:
@@ -311,6 +320,15 @@ func TestPackagesCmdFlags(t *testing.T) {
 				assertSuccessfulReturnCode,
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			name: "override-default-catalogers-with-files",
+			args: []string{"packages", "-o", "json", "--override-default-catalogers", "file", coverageImage},
+			assertions: []traitAssertion{
+				assertPackageCount(0),
+				assertInOutput(`"used":["file-content-cataloger","file-digest-cataloger","file-executable-cataloger","file-metadata-cataloger"]`),
+				assertSuccessfulReturnCode,
+			},
+		},
 		{
 			name: "new and old cataloger options are mutually exclusive",
 			args: []string{"packages", "-o", "json", "--override-default-catalogers", "python", "--catalogers", "gemspec", coverageImage},