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Source Insight VS Semgrep

Compare Source Insight VS Semgrep and see what are their differences

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Source Insight logo Source Insight

Source Insight is a programming editor & code browser with built-in live analysis for C/C++, C#, Java, and more; helping you understand large projects.

Semgrep logo Semgrep

Semgrep is a fast, open-source, static analysis tool for finding bugs and enforcing code standards at editor, commit, and CI time.
  • Source Insight Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-21
  • Semgrep Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-09-14

Source Insight features and specs

  • Efficient Code Navigation
    Source Insight provides advanced code navigation features, such as global symbol indexing and dynamic context views, which help in understanding and navigating large codebases quickly.
  • Real-time Symbolic Analysis
    The software performs real-time analysis of symbols and relationships between them, giving developers instant feedback and insights while coding.
  • Customizable Syntax Formatting
    Developers can customize the syntax formatting to their preferences, helping to enhance code readability and maintain consistency across projects.
  • Lightweight and Fast
    Source Insight is known for being lightweight and fast, making it a suitable choice even on less powerful machines, without compromising performance.
  • Integrated Scripting
    The tool supports integrated scripting to automate repetitive tasks and extend the functionality, offering greater flexibility to users.

Possible disadvantages of Source Insight

  • Limited Language Support
    Source Insight primarily supports C, C++, Java, and some other languages, but it lacks extensive support for newer languages and technologies, which might be restrictive for some developers.
  • Outdated Interface
    The user interface of Source Insight is considered outdated compared to modern IDEs, which might affect the user experience, especially for new users accustomed to contemporary UIs.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    The powerful features and customization options come at the cost of a steeper learning curve, which may require more time for new users to become proficient.
  • Windows Only
    Source Insight is only available for Windows, limiting its usability for developers who prefer or require other operating systems like macOS or Linux.
  • No Integrated Debugger
    While Source Insight excels in code browsing and analysis, it does not include an integrated debugger, which may necessitate the use of additional tools for complete development workflows.

Semgrep features and specs

  • Easy to Use
    Semgrep offers a straightforward setup and simple syntax, making it easy for developers to start using it for static code analysis without extensive configuration.
  • Language Support
    It supports a wide range of programming languages, including popular ones like Python, JavaScript, Java, and more, making it versatile for different codebases.
  • Customizable Rules
    Users can create custom rules tailored to their specific codebase needs, allowing for more control and precision over code analysis.
  • Real-time Analysis
    Semgrep can be integrated into CI/CD pipelines, providing real-time feedback on code submissions and helping to catch issues early in the development process.
  • Open Source
    Being open source, it allows for community contributions and transparency, enabling users to understand and trust the tool more deeply.

Possible disadvantages of Semgrep

  • Performance Overhead
    Running extensive checks or using it on a large codebase might introduce a performance overhead, potentially slowing down development and analysis processes.
  • Learning Curve for Custom Rules
    While powerful, creating and fine-tuning custom rules can be challenging and require a good understanding of the tool and the code patterns to be detected.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to some commercial static analysis tools, Semgrep might lack certain advanced features such as deep data flow analysis or sophisticated vulnerability detection out-of-the-box.
  • False Positives
    Like many static analysis tools, Semgrep can produce false positives, requiring developers to manually review and filter out incorrect findings.
  • Community Support Dependency
    As an open-source platform, the availability of new features, bug fixes, and support heavily relies on the community, which may not always align with enterprise needs.

Analysis of Source Insight

Overall verdict

  • Source Insight is particularly well-regarded for its strong code navigation features and efficient handling of large projects. It's a great choice for developers who need a fast, reliable code editor with powerful analytical tools built in. However, it may feel dated in terms of user interface and might lack some of the modern features found in newer IDEs and editors. Overall, it is a solid option for developers working on large and complex codebases who prioritize speed and efficient code comprehension.

Why this product is good

  • Source Insight is a project-oriented program editor and code browser, specifically designed to help you understand, edit, and manage complex source code. It provides features such as syntax highlighting for several programming languages, real-time code parsing, and intuitive code browsing capabilities. The tool is known for its speed, lightweight nature, and the ability to handle large codebases effectively. It also offers features like code navigation, reference trees, and call trees to help developers understand and manage dependencies within their code.

Recommended for

  • Developers working with large and complex codebases
  • C, C++, and Java developers
  • Teams or individuals seeking a fast and lightweight code editor
  • Users who frequently need to navigate and refactor large amounts of code
  • Developers who prefer traditional, project-oriented editing environments over cloud-based IDEs

Source Insight videos

+ Add

STM32F0 Tutorial 2: Blinking LED with CubeMX, Keil ARM and Source Insight - Part 2

More videos:

  • Tutorial - STM32F0 Tutorial 2: Blinking LED with CubeMX, Keil ARM and Source Insight - Part 1
  • Review - source insight

Semgrep videos

+ Add

Semgrep: a lightweight static analysis tool for security consultant and hackers

More videos:

  • Review - Using Semgrep and Jenkins for Static Code Analysis
  • Review - Workshop: Scaling your AppSec Program with Semgrep

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Source Insight and Semgrep)

Source Insight

Semgrep

Code Coverage
80 80%
Code Coverage
20% 20
Code Analysis
68 68%
Code Analysis
32% 32
Code Quality
86 86%
Code Quality
14% 14
Security
0 0%
Security
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Semgrep seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 8 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.

Source Insight mentions (0)

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

Semgrep mentions (8)

  • How to make “Input validation” easy for your devs
    Also, we can use a tool like Semgrep to audit the use of the middleware through all routes using a custom rule, to show a simple example we can use a rule like the below (Note this is just example which covers one way of defining routes in Express, for production the rule needs to be extended to include all other ways of defining routes). - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Tree-Sitter
    > Not sure I understand your point. The problem is using Treesitter (for syntax highlighting and "semantic movements") and an LSP at the same time. So if your language has a LSP, using Treesitter additionally is redundant at best and introduces inconcistency at worst. I'm not talking about using Treesitter as the parser for the LSP. > Most popular languages have language-specific tools I'd say even less popular... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Powerful SAST project for Android Application Security
    This project is a compilation of Semgrep rules derived from the OWASP Mobile Application Security Testing Guide (MASTG) specifically for Android applications. The aim is to enhance and support Mobile Application Penetration Testing (MAPT) activities conducted by the ethical hacker community. The primary objective of these rules is to address the static tests outlined in the OWASP MASTG. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Do you SecDevOps?
    For generally code analysis, I used Semgrep in the past. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Username/password scanner for network share
    You can try with Semgrep. For scanning shared drive you need to have the access though. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Source Insight and Semgrep, you can also consider the following products

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

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.

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.

Snyk - Snyk helps you use open source and stay secure. Continuously find and fix vulnerabilities for npm, Maven, NuGet, RubyGems, PyPI and much more.

Cppcheck - Cppcheck is an analysis tool for C/C++ code. It detects the types of bugs that the compilers normally fail to detect. The goal is no false positives. CppCheckDownload cppcheck for free.

Source-Navigator NG - Source-Navigator NG is a source code analysis tool.

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