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JaCoCo VS Istanbul - Code Coverage Tool

Compare JaCoCo VS Istanbul - Code Coverage Tool and see what are their differences

JaCoCo logo JaCoCo

JaCoCo is a free Java code coverage library.

Istanbul - Code Coverage Tool logo Istanbul - Code Coverage Tool

Istanbul is an all-javascript instrumentation library that tracks statement, branch, and function coverage.
  • JaCoCo Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-05
  • Istanbul - Code Coverage Tool Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-06

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    Users have reported that JaCoCo's documentation can be sparse or outdated, which can make troubleshooting and advanced usage more difficult for new users.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.

Istanbul - Code Coverage Tool features and specs

  • Comprehensive Coverage Reporting
    Istanbul provides detailed coverage reports, including line, statement, function, and branch coverage, which help in identifying untested parts of a codebase.
  • Integration with Build Systems
    It seamlessly integrates with various build systems and CI/CD pipelines, making it easier to include in automated testing environments.
  • Variety of Output Formats
    Istanbul supports multiple output formats such as HTML, JSON, LCOV, and more, allowing flexibility in how coverage data is consumed and visualized.
  • Open Source and Community Supported
    Being an open-source tool, Istanbul benefits from a wide community of developers who contribute to its maintenance and improvement.
  • Wide Language Support
    Originally designed for JavaScript, Istanbul has evolved to support modern JavaScript variants like TypeScript and popular frameworks, making it versatile for different tech stacks.

Possible disadvantages of Istanbul - Code Coverage Tool

  • Performance Overhead
    Instrumenting code for coverage can slow down the execution of tests, especially in large codebases, potentially impacting continuous integration build times.
  • Complexity in Setup
    Initial setup and configuration for projects with custom build processes or less common frameworks can be complex and time-consuming.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Although Istanbul covers basic code coverage needs, it might lack advanced features present in some paid tools, such as integration with advanced analytics or real-time monitoring.
  • Inconsistent Updates
    As with many open-source projects, updates and bug fixes might not be as frequent or consistent as commercial alternatives, potentially leading to issues with new environment changes.

JaCoCo videos

What is Code Coverage with Jacoco — By DevOpsSchool

More videos:

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

Istanbul - Code Coverage Tool videos

No Istanbul - Code Coverage Tool videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to JaCoCo and Istanbul - Code Coverage Tool)
Code Coverage
58 58%
42% 42
Code Analysis
56 56%
44% 44
Code Quality
62 62%
38% 38
Code Review
50 50%
50% 50

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing JaCoCo and Istanbul - Code Coverage Tool, 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.

OpenCover - OpenCover is a code coverage tool for .NET

cobertura - A code coverage tool for java

Coverlipse - SourceForge presents the Coverlipse project. Coverlipse is an open source application.

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

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