Best Static Code Analysis Tools
Static Code Analysis (also called static analysis or source code analysis) is a way to debug software code before the program is executed. The code is automatically compared to coding rules and industry standards to ensure compliance. Static code analysis occurs in the creation phase, before testing begins. Static code analysis analyzes the structure of the code, looking for code errors, malicious software, and other security flaws such as back doors. These tools frequently allow...
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PyCharm is an extensive Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Python developers. Its arsenal includes intelligent code completion, error detection, and rapid problem-solving features, all of which aim to bolster efficiency. The product supports programmers in composing orderly and maintainable code by offering PEP8 checks, testing assistance, intelligent ref…
GuardRails orchestrates open-source, and commercial security tools by integrating them into an existing development workflow. GuardRails curates each security rule of the security tools to keep the noise low and only report high-impact and relevant security issues.
Installing and configuring security tools, even for one repository, typically takes a lot of time and effort. GuardRails aims to make the process frictionless, quick and rewarding for develo…
Learn More About Static Code Analysis Tools
What is Static Code Analysis?
Static Code Analysis (also called static analysis or source code analysis) is a way to debug software code before the program is executed. The code is automatically compared to coding rules and industry standards to ensure compliance. Static code analysis occurs in the creation phase, before testing begins.
Static code analysis analyzes the structure of the code, looking for code errors, malicious software, and other security flaws such as back doors. These tools frequently allow developers to hone in on portions of the code that might be problematic, rather than simply finding flaws.
How does Static Coding differ from Dynamic Coding?
The goal of both static coding and dynamic coding is to discover coding errors. The difference is where this discovery takes place. Static coding uncovers errors before testing the software, whereas dynamic coding uncovers errors during the testing phase, including any errors that the static code analysis failed to uncover.
Dynamic code analysis analyzes how code interacts with other components, such as application servers and SQL databases to ensure the code is secure. Most developers choose to implement both kinds of testing to ensure the most robust code.
Benefits of Static Code Analysis
Static code analysis is not 100% accurate and sometimes returns false positives or false negatives. However, it has numerous benefits, including:
- Relative accuracy - catch many more errors than by manual analysis
- Efficient way to uncover errors
- Speed to discover errors
- Comprehensiveness of testing
- Decreases risk of high impact error after software release
- Ability to uncover errors that aren’t usually detected during dynamic testing
Static Code Analysis Tools Features & Capabilities
Most static code analysis software on the market today offers the following features:
- Multiple programming language support
- Various security and industry standard libraries
- Code standardization
- Reporting and analytics dashboards
- Some offer third party integrations, including Github and Jenkins
Static Code Analysis Tools Comparison
When choosing a static code analysis solution, there are a few factors you should consider.
Dashboards: Static code analysis tools include dashboarding features for visualization. Some include detailed dashboards, while others expect you to export data to another intelligence tool. Be sure to choose a solution that has the dashboarding features you need.
Integrations: Some static code analysis tools offer integrations with other code tools, such as GitHub. If you plan to make use of these integrations, you should choose a tool that offers them natively.
Supported Languages: Almost all static code analysis tools support multiple languages, but they don’t always support all languages. When choosing a solution for your business, make sure the languages you use are supported.
Pricing Information
The price of static code analysis software ranges from free to several thousand per year. There are several open source static code analysis solutions on the market. For those needing more robust solutions, more programming languages, and support, expect to pay between $10 and $65 per user per month. Enterprise level users will need to obtain a custom quote based on the number of users and scans anticipated per month.