Development teams are under stress—quality releases required to be delivered on time. Coding and compliance standards are compelled to be met. And errors are not an option.
Therefore, development teams are practising static analysis tools. Here, we discuss the static analysis and the benefits of using a static code analysis tool.
Code Review Tools for Code Quality Analysis
A Code Review tool automates audit of the coding process like in case of CodeScan. They help in static code analysis essential to deliver a reliable software application. There are many Code Quality Tools in the market and selecting one for your project could be challenging.
Best factors to be considered while selecting a Code Review Tool
- Flexible and easy-to-use.
- Quality of Customer support.
- License cost wherever applicable.
- Customer/Client Preference of the tool, In the case of an outsourcing project.
- The cost involved in training employees on a tool.
- Hardware/Software needs of the code review tool.
- Support and Update the policy of the tool.
- Reviews of the company.
Static Analysis
Static analysis is best described as a debugging method by automatically examining source code before running a program.
Static Code Analysis
Static code analysis is a procedure of debugging by analyzing source code before a program is run. It’s done by processing a set of code over a set of coding rules.
Static code analysis and static analysis are usually used reciprocally, along with source code analysis. This analysis addresses limitations in source code that might guide to vulnerabilities. This may be achieved through manual code inspections, but using automated tools is much more productive.
Static Code Analysis Performance Stage
Static code analysis is done early in development before software testing starts. For organizations practising DevOps, static code analysis takes place in the “Create” phase. Static code analysis supports DevOps by performing an automated feedback loop. Developers will comprehend sooner than anyone if there are some complications in their regulations. And it will be easier to fix intricacies.
Static Analysis vs Dynamic Analysis
The big difference is where they explore defects in the development lifecycle, although both types detect defects.
The static analysis identifies defects before running a program such as between coding and unit testing.
The dynamic analysis marks defects after running a program (e.g., during unit testing). However, some coding failures might not surface in unit testing. So, there are flaws that dynamic testing might drop that static code analysis can attain.
Limitations of a Static Code Analysis Tool
Static code analysis is utilized for a specific purpose within a selective development. But there are many restrictions of a static code analysis tool.
- No Understanding of Developer Intent : A static analysis device may get a possible overflow in this calculation. It can’t examine that function essentially does not do what is demanded!
- Rules That Aren’t Statically Enforceable : Various coding rules depend on obvious documentation. Or they are open to biased interpretation.
- Possible Defects Lead to Fake Positives and False Negatives : In various circumstances, a device can only report that there is a possible defect. The result is undecidable. That means that tools may note imperfections that do not exist (false positives). They may decline to report actual defects (false negatives).
Advantages of Static Analysis Tools
There are advantages of static code analysis tools — if you require to comply with technological excellence. The best static code analysis tools provide speed, depth, and accuracy.
Speed : It takes a fair amount of time and effort for developers to get manual code reviews. Automated tools are faster. Static code pinpoints precisely towards the error in the code. So, you’ll be able to fix those errors faster. Plus, coding errors found earlier are less costly to repair.
Depth : Testing can’t cover every possible code execution path. But a static code analyzer can.
Accuracy : Manual code reviews are accountable to human error, whereas Automated tools are not. They scan each line of code to identify potential problems. It ensures the highest-quality code is developed — before actual testing starts. When you are complying with a coding standard, quality is significant.
Choosing Static Code Quality Tool
Before shopping around for new helping tools, answer the following questions to shape the selection process.
Support language : Few languages such as Java or C# have various tools to choose from, whereas languages like Perl only have support from one popular device. Developers may also practice in a single language and find better maintenance from an open-source offering.
Equipped for teams/individuals : Project support and team tools have features that you never realize you’re desiring until you don’t have them at the disposal. A stand-alone code scanner can produce results that are just as good as enterprise enabled tools. However, they may fall short when pursuing vulnerabilities across teams, implementing metrics, or promoting peer review.
Run Time for Tools : Some security scanning devices work best when allowed with the full source code and libraries required to build a purpose. These devices may take hours to run and needed to be run outside of the standard development procedure or as part of a task on an automated build server. Periodic scans offer coverage over a whole application. They can find vulnerabilities that occur as data is traced through an application.
Real-time writing : Some tools run on the developer’s workstation to close the feedback loop associated with periodic scans. They should either be tried before the developer analyses code back into the treasury or type code into IDE. This real time code scanning may refrain from data flow-related problems. However, it offers a better learning experience aiding developers to stop writing vulnerabilities altogether. The downside is that these real-time solutions may not be ideal for scanning legacy applications.
Budget : Finding an ideal security tool that is priced more than the yearly security budget can be disheartening. Adding together tools to allow sufficient coverage isn’t costly either. Having a variety of devices means providing a type of training and dealing with multiple reporting formats. That complexity takes time that may not be noticeable in a small transaction with only some projects, but that can vary as the company expands.
Open source or Commercial scanning : When deciding on software security tools, the closed source vs open source question is often asked right after “What types of devices should we get?” Search a tool that suits the environment, technical specifications, working technique, and resources, instead of ruling out one level or another. You can worry about the licensing class.
All the above, criteria is fulfilled by CodeScan, which makes it one of the best static code analysis tool.