Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PyLint VS SonarQube

Compare PyLint VS SonarQube and see what are their differences

PyLint logo PyLint

Pylint is a Python source code analyzer which looks for programming errors.

SonarQube logo 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.
  • PyLint Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-22
  • SonarQube Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-12

SonarQube, a core component of the Sonar solution, is an open source, self-managed tool that systematically helps developers and organizations deliver Clean Code. SonarQube integrates into the developers' CI/CD pipeline and DevOps platform to detect and help fix issues in the code while performing continuous inspection of projects.

Supported by the Sonar Clean as You Code methodology, only code that meets the defined quality standard can be released to production. SonarQube analyzes the most popular programming languages, frameworks, and infrastructure technologies and supports over 5,000 Clean Code rules.

Trusted by 7 million developers and 400,000 organizations globally to clean more than half a trillion lines of code, Sonar has become integral to delivering better software.

Explore our pricing and request an evaluation: https://www.sonarsource.com/plans-and-pricing/

PyLint features and specs

  • Extensive Error Checking
    PyLint provides comprehensive checks for errors in Python code, including syntax errors, structural problems, and more complex issues like unused variables and undefined names.
  • Customizability
    PyLint allows users to configure which types of errors and warnings they want to check for through configuration files, making it adaptable to different coding standards and preferences.
  • Integration with Development Tools
    PyLint can be integrated with various IDEs and editors such as Visual Studio Code, PyCharm, and more, enhancing the development workflow by providing real-time feedback.
  • Code Quality Metrics
    It offers additional metrics and ratings for code quality, helping developers understand the complexity and maintainability of their code.
  • Code Refactoring Support
    PyLint suggests specific code improvements and refactorings, which can enhance the readability and performance of the code.

Possible disadvantages of PyLint

  • Performance Overhead
    Analyzing large codebases can be slow with PyLint, impacting performance and increasing the time taken for continuous integration pipelines to run.
  • False Positives
    PyLint can generate false positive warnings, particularly in complex or dynamically-typed code, which might lead to developers spending time investigating non-issues.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    The initial setup and configuration of PyLint can be challenging for new users who are not familiar with its extensive customization options.
  • Strictness
    PyLint is very strict by default, which might overwhelm developers, especially those working in less formal or rapid development environments, with a high volume of warnings and errors.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There might be compatibility issues with certain Python versions or specific coding patterns, leading to inaccurate linting results or the need for frequent adjustments to configurations.

SonarQube features and specs

  • Comprehensive code analysis
    SonarQube provides detailed insights into code quality by examining various metrics such as code smells, bugs, vulnerabilities, and duplications.
  • Multi-language support
    It supports a wide range of programming languages like Java, C#, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, PHP, and many others, making it versatile for different projects.
  • Continuous integration (CI) integration
    SonarQube integrates seamlessly with CI tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, and Azure DevOps, facilitating continuous code inspection.
  • Customizable rules
    Users can customize and extend the set of rules to fit specific project needs and coding standards.
  • User-friendly interface
    The platform offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate web interface for analyzing and managing code quality issues.
  • Technical debt measurement
    It provides metrics to measure technical debt, helping teams understand the potential effort required to fix and improve their codebase.
  • Community and commercial support
    There is a vibrant community for support and extensive documentation. Additionally, a commercial version offers advanced features and professional support.
  • Rich plugin ecosystem
    A variety of plugins are available to extend functionality and integrate with other tools and services.

Possible disadvantages of SonarQube

  • Resource-intensive
    Analysis can be resource-heavy and may require significant memory and CPU, especially for larger projects.
  • Complex setup
    Setting up SonarQube, especially in a highly customized setup with multiple plugins and integrations, can be complex and time-consuming.
  • Learning curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, understanding and making the most of all available features can have a steep learning curve.
  • Cost of commercial edition
    The commercial editions, while rich in features, can be costly, which might be prohibitive for smaller teams or startups.
  • Occasional false positives
    Like many static analysis tools, SonarQube can sometimes generate false positives, which can lead to unnecessary investigations.
  • Dependency on other tools
    For optimal use, SonarQube often requires integration with additional tools and services, which can add to the maintenance overhead.
  • Update requirements
    Keeping SonarQube up to date can be challenging due to frequent updates and the need for plugin compatibility checks.

PyLint videos

Pylint Tutorial – How to Write Clean Python

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to write pylint plugins

SonarQube videos

What is SonarQube?

More videos:

  • Tutorial - What is SonarQube? How to configure a maven project for Code Coverage | Tech Primers
  • Tutorial - How to analyze code quality using SonarQube | Easy tutorial

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PyLint and SonarQube)
Code Analysis
15 15%
85% 85
Code Coverage
14 14%
86% 86
Code Review
13 13%
87% 87
Code Quality
14 14%
86% 86

User comments

Share your experience with using PyLint and SonarQube. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

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

PyLint Reviews

7 best recommended IntelliJ IDEA Python plugins - Programmer Sought
As the name suggests, this plugin is a Python linter. It provides real-time and on-demand scanning of Python files with Pylint ideas from your Intellij. Pylint is an open source project, so it can be fully customized according to your needs. In addition, Pylint has a lot of documentation on the plugin website.

SonarQube Reviews

Top 11 SonarQube Alternatives in 2024
While SonarQube offers a robust set of features, users may want to consider newer, more specialized tools that can complement SonarQube's capabilities. Some users have chosen to explore alternative options due to SonarQube's limitations, such as its initial learning curve, specific configuration requirements, and licensing fees for enterprise versions.
Source: www.codeant.ai
8 Best Static Code Analysis Tools For 2024
SonarQube is a widely used code analysis tool that helps you write clean, reliable, and secure code. Below are some of its key features that allow you to conduct a proper static code analysis.
Source: www.qodo.ai
The 5 Best SonarQube Alternatives in 2024
Unlike Codacy, which offers a comprehensive replacement for SonarQube, Snyk takes a different approach by focusing exclusively on security. It's an excellent choice for teams looking to enhance their security practices without necessarily replacing their existing code quality tools. However, for teams looking to move away from SonarQube entirely, Snyk must be complemented...
Source: blog.codacy.com
5 Best DevSecOps Tools in 2023
Whereas OWASP ZAP scans your website once it has been deployed (known as dynamic code scanning), SonarQube/SonarCloud is a product/service that will scan the source code itself before it is deployed and alert on any possible security issues related to the source code. This is known as static code scanning. It looks for things that can be exploited. Things such as not...
Ten Best SonarQube alternatives in 2021
Other critical elements to bear in mind even as mastering alternatives to SonarQube embody Integration and initiatives. We have compiled a listing of SonarQube alternatives that reviewers voted for because of the excellent standard options to employ instead of SonarQube.
Source: duecode.io

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PyLint seems to be a lot more popular than SonarQube. While we know about 11 links to PyLint, we've tracked only 1 mention of SonarQube. 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.

PyLint mentions (11)

  • The Cloud Resume Challenge - GCP :)
    I used Pylint to perform basic test on the code and for the security bit I used snyk SCM to check for vulnerabilities within my code and it's dependencies. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • I'm being told that one of my projects on GitHub is poorly coded. Can anyone tell me why? The only thing I see ugly, not necessary wrong or poorly coded, is the two variables with the list of iPhone models, and the incredibly long if, elif, and else statements.
    Pylint - https://pylint.pycqa.org/en/latest/ Black - https://black.readthedocs.io/en/stable/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • API pull into pandas with formatting.
    Your code isn't PEP-8 compliant. Use black or autopep8 on your code to auto-format your code, or at least use pylint to check for issues, before asking anyone else to read your code. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • First time posting here wow
    Here's the pylint user manual if you're curious. Source: about 3 years ago
  • 50 Ways You can Improve as a Programmer
    Use code linters. Code linters provide immediate feedback for your programs. The online W3C Markup Validation Service checks web documents for validity. ESlint helps you find and fix problems in JavaScript code. Pylint is a linter for Python code. Linters are available as plugins for IDEs like Visual Studio Code. Linters force you to learn by flagging errors and suggesting changes. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
View more

SonarQube mentions (1)

  • Google: C++20, How Hard Could It Be
    Even for Java, C# and JS we do enforce such kind of rules, e.g. https://sonarqube.org. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing PyLint and SonarQube, you can also consider the following products

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

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

CodeClimate - Code Climate provides automated code review for your apps, letting you fix quality and security issues before they hit production. We check every commit, branch and pull request for changes in quality and potential vulnerabilities.

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

ReSharper - ReSharper is a productivity tool for visual studio that provides tools and features to help you manage your code.