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JaCoCo VS Atlassian Clover

Compare JaCoCo VS Atlassian Clover and see what are their differences

JaCoCo logo JaCoCo

JaCoCo is a free Java code coverage library.

Atlassian Clover logo Atlassian Clover

Atlassian Clover is aย Java and Groovy code coverage tool.
  • JaCoCo Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-05
  • Atlassian Clover Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-08

JaCoCo features and specs

  • Comprehensive Coverage Analysis
    JaCoCo provides detailed reporting on code coverage including branch, line, method, and class coverage, helping developers understand the extent of their test coverage.
  • Integration with Build Tools
    JaCoCo easily integrates with popular build automation tools like Maven, Gradle, and Ant, streamlining the process of including coverage analysis in automated builds.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source tool, JaCoCo is free to use and modify, which makes it accessible to a wide range of users and allows for community contributions.
  • IDE Support
    JaCoCo has good support for integration with IDEs like Eclipse, which makes it convenient for developers to use during the development process.
  • Java Agent
    JaCoCo provides a Java agent for instrumenting code on the fly, which allows for on-the-fly coverage reporting without needing to modify the codebase.

Possible disadvantages of JaCoCo

  • Limited Language Support
    JaCoCo is primarily focused on Java and doesn't support other programming languages, which limits its use in polyglot projects.
  • Complex Configuration
    Setting up JaCoCo, especially for large projects or those with complex configurations, can be cumbersome and require a deep understanding of the tool.
  • Performance Overhead
    Running JaCoCo can introduce a performance overhead because of the additional bytecode instrumentation required, which may slow down test execution.
  • Lack of Detailed Documentation
    Users have reported that JaCoCo's documentation can be sparse or outdated, which can make troubleshooting and advanced usage more difficult for new users.
  • Limited Support for Java 8+ Features
    While JaCoCo supports most common Java features, certain newer features introduced in Java 8 and later (like lambda expressions and method references) may not be fully covered or reported incorrectly.

Atlassian Clover features and specs

  • Code Coverage Insight
    Atlassian Clover provides detailed code coverage reports which help developers identify untested parts of their applications, ensuring a higher quality of code.
  • Integrated with Popular IDEs
    Clover integrates seamlessly with popular Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) like IntelliJ IDEA and Eclipse, facilitating ease of use and enhancing productivity.
  • Customizable Reports
    The tool allows users to generate customizable reports, providing teams with insights that are tailored to their specific needs and preferences.
  • Continuous Integration Support
    Clover supports continuous integration processes, making it suitable for modern development workflows and helping teams maintain consistent code quality.
  • Risk-based Testing
    Cloverโ€™s risk-based testing feature enables teams to focus on the most critical parts of their codebase, optimizing testing efforts and resources.

Possible disadvantages of Atlassian Clover

  • No Longer Actively Supported
    Atlassian Clover has been discontinued as of 2017, which means there will be no new updates, features, or official support from Atlassian.
  • Limited Language Support
    Clover primarily focuses on Java and Groovy, which might not be suitable for teams working with other programming languages.
  • Complex Setup
    The initial setup and configuration of Clover can be complex and time-consuming, especially for users who are not familiar with the tool.
  • Performance Overhead
    Clover can introduce some performance overhead during the code coverage analysis, which may impact build times, especially for large projects.
  • Price
    Even though Clover is no longer sold, its original license was considered to be on the pricey side for smaller teams or individual developers.

JaCoCo videos

What is Code Coverage with Jacoco โ€” By DevOpsSchool

More videos:

  • Review - Code Coverage | JaCoCo | Java Code Coverage | Test cases

Atlassian Clover videos

Atlassian Clover - 2009 Duke's Choice Awards

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to JaCoCo and Atlassian Clover)
Code Coverage
57 57%
43% 43
Code Analysis
57 57%
43% 43
Code Quality
55 55%
45% 45
Code Review
60 60%
40% 40

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing JaCoCo and Atlassian Clover, 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.

OpenClover - The most sophisticated code coverage tool for Java and Groovy.

OpenCover - OpenCover is a code coverage tool for .NET

Istanbul - Code Coverage Tool - Istanbul is an all-javascript instrumentation library that tracks statement, branch, and function coverage.

Codecov - Develop healthier code using Codecov's leading, dedicated code coverage solution. Try it free

cobertura - A code coverage tool for java