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Checkstyle VS Pmd

Compare Checkstyle VS Pmd and see what are their differences

Checkstyle logo Checkstyle

Checkstyle is a development tool to help programmers write Java code that adheres to a coding...

Pmd logo Pmd

PMD scans Java source code and looks for potential problems like:
  • Checkstyle Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-29
  • Pmd Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-10

Checkstyle features and specs

  • Code Consistency
    Checkstyle enforces coding standards and style guidelines, ensuring that the codebase remains consistent across different parts of the project.
  • Customization
    It offers a high level of customization, allowing teams to define their own coding standards and tailor rules to fit their specific needs.
  • Automation
    Checkstyle can be integrated into build and CI/CD tools, automating style checks and making it easy to identify and fix issues early in the development process.
  • Error Detection
    It helps in identifying common Java coding issues and potential bugs, which can lead to more reliable and maintainable code.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source tool, Checkstyle has a supportive community and is free to use, which can be beneficial for budget-constrained projects.

Possible disadvantages of Checkstyle

  • Learning Curve
    New users may face a steep learning curve in configuring and using Checkstyle effectively due to its extensive configuration options.
  • Overhead
    Strict adherence to coding standards may introduce additional overhead in terms of time spent on addressing style issues rather than focusing solely on code logic.
  • False Positives
    It might occasionally report false positives or style violations that developers might consider irrelevant, potentially distracting from more critical issues.
  • Complexity in Rule Definition
    Creating or modifying rules can become complex, especially for teams that require detailed and specific style guide enforcement.
  • Limited Scope
    While great for style checks, Checkstyle doesn't cover all aspects of code quality such as performance, concurrency, or deep functional testing.

Pmd features and specs

  • Open Source
    PMD is open-source software, which means it's free to use and can be modified by anyone. This allows for extensive community support and collaboration.
  • Multi-language Support
    PMD supports a variety of languages such as Java, JavaScript, Salesforce.com Apex, PLSQL, XML, XSL, and others, making it a versatile tool for developers working with different technologies.
  • Custom Rule Capability
    Users can define custom rules in PMD, allowing them to enforce specific coding standards and practices pertinent to their projects.
  • Integration and Automation
    PMD easily integrates with various build tools and CI/CD systems like Maven, Ant, Gradle, and Jenkins, helping automate the detection of code issues in continuous integration pipelines.
  • Comprehensive Reporting
    PMD provides detailed reports on code quality issues, which can be exported in multiple formats such as XML, CSV, text, and HTML, aiding in comprehensive documentation and analysis.

Possible disadvantages of Pmd

  • Steeper Learning Curve
    Users may experience a steeper learning curve due to the wide array of customizable features and the need to create custom rules in XML.
  • False Positives
    Like many static code analysis tools, PMD can generate false positives, which might lead developers to spend time reviewing non-issues.
  • Limited UI
    PMD primarily operates via command line and configuration files, lacking a graphical user interface, which might be inconvenient for some users who prefer visual tools.
  • Java Focus
    While it supports multiple languages, PMD is predominantly focused on Java, which might result in less comprehensive support for other languages.
  • Performance Overhead
    Running PMD on large codebases can sometimes introduce performance overhead, slowing down the development workflow, especially if not optimally configured.

Checkstyle videos

CheckStyle - A development tool for maintaining better Java coding standards for Application

More videos:

  • Review - CheckStyle || Maven || Configuration|| HTML Report - 1
  • Review - Install and Use CheckStyle for Java as an IntelliJ IDEA Plugin 2018

Pmd videos

PMD: Personal Microderm PRO + Clean | Review & Demo

More videos:

  • Review - PMD Clean Review: I Tried it for 30 Days! | Beauty with Susan Yara
  • Review - PMD Personal Microderm 6-Week Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Checkstyle and Pmd)
Code Coverage
58 58%
42% 42
Code Analysis
55 55%
45% 45
Code Review
61 61%
39% 39
Code Quality
46 46%
54% 54

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Checkstyle and Pmd

Checkstyle Reviews

We have no reviews of Checkstyle yet.
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Pmd Reviews

TOP 40 Static Code Analysis Tools (Best Source Code Analysis Tools)
A tool that helps in analyzing C/C++, Java, C#, RPG and Python codes. Another good thing about this tool is it allows integration with free static checker tools like cppcheck, PMD, FindBugs. Basic Version of this tool is free but it comes with fewer features. Based on the need, you can decide whether the free version satisfies the requirement or not.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Checkstyle seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Checkstyle mentions (6)

  • Most Effective Approaches for Debugging Applications
    Static code analysis tools scan code for potential issues before execution, catching bugs like null pointer dereferences or race conditions early. Daniel Vasilevski, Director and Owner of Bright Force Electrical, shares, “Utilizing static code analysis tools gives us a clear look at what’s going wrong before anything ever runs.” During a scheduling system rebuild, SonarQube flagged a concurrency flaw, preventing... - Source: dev.to / 14 days ago
  • Custom Gradle Plugin for Unified Static Code Analysis
    PMD and Checkstyle are static analysis tools that check your code on each project build. Gradle allows to apply them easily. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • java checkstyle in neovim?
    AFAIK, you can't use it with nvim-jdtls, but here you shave a list of checkstyle plugins and there are a Gradle and a Maven one that your could use. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Spring Boot – Black Box Testing
    The generated classes should be put into .gitignore. Otherwise, if you have Checkstyle, PMD, or SonarQube in your project, then generated classes can violate some rules. Besides, if you don't put them into .gitignore, then each pull request might become huge due to the fact that even a slightest fix can lead to lots of changes in the generated classes. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Basics of CI/CD
    Speaking of code style there aren't many differences. You can try Checkstyle plugin. It automatically fails a build that violates any of the stated requirements. For example, the code might have an unused import. Besides you can look at cloud services that run the code analysis and shows the result as a bunch of charts (SonarCloud can also do that). - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
View more

Pmd mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Pmd yet. Tracking of Pmd recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Checkstyle and Pmd, you can also consider the following products

SonarQube - SonarQube, a core component of the Sonar solution, is an open source, self-managed tool that systematically helps developers and organizations deliver Clean Code.

Checkmarx - The industry’s most comprehensive AppSec platform, Checkmarx One is fast, accurate, and accelerates your business.

FindBugs - Findbugs is a tool that looks for bugs in Java code. Findbugs finds the bugs by analyzing computer software without actually executing programs. Using this software allows for easy debugging and repairing broken script. Read more about FindBugs.

Codacy - Automatically reviews code style, security, duplication, complexity, and coverage on every change while tracking code quality throughout your sprints.

Coverity Scan - Find and fix defects in your Java, C/C++ or C# open source project for free

PyCharm - Python & Django IDE with intelligent code completion, on-the-fly error checking, quick-fixes, and much more...