best Java code review tools For Developers

by , Published on
Last Updated on 1 year

Poor quality of code can cause so many issues, and delay the progress of the product but by using the code review tools you can fix this issue and ensure everything is perfect. In this post, we are going to tell you about some of the best Java Code Reviews tools.

best Java code review tools

1. SpotBugs

  • Requirement: JRE (or JDK) 1.8.0 or later
  • Latest Version: 4.6.0
  • Type Of License: Open Source

SpotBugs is an open-source tool which uses static analysis to look for bugs in Java code. Many of you may know about FindBugs which is a similar program.

SpotBugs

Actually, SpotBugs is the advanced version of the FindBugs, when the FindBugs get abandoned SpotBugs started from the same point where FindBugs left off so users can continue using this excellent program.

SpotBugs is able to analyze any program from Java version 1.0 to 1.9, and it checks 400+ bug patterns. If you have any issues with the SpotBugs you can report here.


2. Checkstyle

  • Latest Version: 10.1
  • Type Of License: Open Source
  • O/S: Cross-platform
  • Written In: Java

Checkstyle is an open-source static code analysis tool which you can use for free in software development to review your Java source code to find if it is compliant with specified coding rules or not.

Checkstyle

In 2001 Checkstyle was developed by Oliver Burn and later this project was maintained by a community of developers from around the world.

Some Key Features

  • It can check many aspects of your source code.
  • It can also find class design problems, as well as method design problems.
  • With this tool, you can check code with different standards.

Because Checkstyle is a single file static analysis tool so it has some limitations, you can visit here to find a full list of limitations.


3. Sonarlint

  • Type Of License: Open Source

SonarLint is an Open Source IDE extension which lets you find issues while you code, as well as it also helps you fix the issue.

SonarLint works like a grammar checker or spell checker where it tells you problems with your code while you are coding. It means SonarLint can let you fix issues with your code in real-time.

SonarLint

Fixing coding issues in real-time saves so much time, and you can code confidently.

The best part of SonarLint is that it’s easy to configure because it Fits right in your IDE of choice. You are just required to install SonarLint from the IDE marketplace of your choice, and that’s it.

As I mentioned above, SonarLint not just lets you find issues with your code, it also provides you with possible solutions to fix the issue. And this quality makes them unique from their competitors.

Some Key Features

  • Find issues with your code in real-time.
  • Find fixes for the issues in real-time.
  • It highlights all the impacted locations in your codebase.
  • They also provide rich documentation that lets you understand issues in detail.

4. Graudit

  • Current Version: 3.4
  • Type Of License: Open Source

Like most of the software in this list, Graudit is also an open-source solution to identify vulnerabilities in your source code. Graudit uses the GNU utility grep so it can compare the source code with signature sets within different databases.

Graudit

Graudit has its own different databases, or you can also add any additional databases or you can create your own ones if required.

Some Other Key Features

  • Its databases support so many languages from JavaScript to Python.
  • You can scan a single file or multiple files at the same time as per your preference.
  • It’s very portable, flexible, and easy to use.

5. JArchitect

  • Type Of License: Premium
  • Developed By: JArchitect
  • O/S: Multiplatform

JArchitect is a very popular multiplatform premium static analysis tool to review your Java code to find vulnerabilities or issues. According to the stats as per their website more than 500 companies use JArchitect to measure their product Java code quality.

JArchitect

Key Features

  • It also performs code base snapshots comparison, as well as validation of architectural and quality rules.
  • Users can also define rules using LINQ queries.
  • It shows Dependency Visualization using dependency graphs, and a dependency matrix.
  • It supports 82 code metrics.
  • It can let you know what has been changed between 2 builds.

6. PMD

  • Latest Version: 6.44.0
  • Type Of License: Open Source
  • O/S: Windows, Linux, macOS
  • Written In: Java

PMD is free to use source code analyzer for Windows, Linux, and macros which let you find common programming flaws like unused variables, empty catch blocks, unnecessary object creation, and so forth.

PMD

It supports Java, JavaScript, Salesforce.com Apex and Visualforce, PLSQL, Apache Velocity, XML, and XSL. PMD can analyze source code written in Java, JavaScript, Apex and Visualforce, PLSQL, Apache Velocity, XML, and XSL.

Other than that PMD includes CPD which is a copy-paste-detector. With the help of CPD, you can find duplicated code in Java, C, C++, C#, Groovy, PHP, Ruby, Fortran, JavaScript, PLSQL, Apache Velocity, Scala, Objective C, Matlab, Python, Go, Swift, and Salesforce.com Apex and Visualforce.

It has its own built-in rule sets, and if needed users can also write their own custom rules.


7. Snyk Code

  • Type Of License: Freemium

Snyk Code is a freemium Security Testing tool for the developers. They claim their scans are 10-50x faster than other market solutions which makes the development work more efficient and actionable. Snyk Code uses semantic analysis to unveil security and performance bugs.

Snyk Code

Key features

  • Quick scans
  • Better accuracy
  • Find and fix issues in real-time.

Pricing

  • Free: Limited to 200 tests per month.
  • Team: can be used by up to 5 developers, and unlimited open-source tests.
  • Business: can be used by up to 25 developers, and unlimited open-source tests.
  • Enterprise: customs plan

8. Junit5

  • Developed By: Kent Beck, Erich Gamma, David Saff, Kris Vasudevan
  • Type Of License: Open Source
  • O/S: Cross-platform
  • Written In: Java

JUnit 5 is a free source code testing framework for Java and the JVM, and it’s the next generation of JUnit. JUnit 5 is developed as the result of JUnit Lambda and its crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo.

JUnit 5

JUnit 5 testing framework includes Java 8 and above, as well as enables so many other different styles of testing.


9. JaCoCo

  • Type Of License: Open Source

JaCoCo is an open-source code coverage library for Java, created by the EclEmma team based on the lessons learned from using and integrating existing libraries for many years. And the master branch of JaCoCo is automatically built and published.

JaCoCo

JaCoCo uses the test-driven development approach so as a result every build is considered fully functional.


Like This Post? Checkout More

Photo of author
A Digital Marketer by profession and a passionate traveller. Technology has been always my first interest, so I consistently look for new updates in tech to explore, and also has expertise in WordPress.