The Rise of Static Source Code Analysis Tools

In 2025, new code languages are being developed, meaning that coders will have to add a few new languages to their repertoire.

What are these new languages? Rust and Kotlin are the primary two, and older coding languages such as Objective-C and PHP are fading away. What does this mean? Well, as coders learn new languages, which will be helpful with AI software, there is going to be a requirement for code analysis to make sure that the written code is efficient and secure.

This leads to the use of code analysis tools in software development and even app security.

What Is Static Code Analysis?

Static analysis, also referred to as static code analysis, is a way to debug code in a computer program. The code analysis itself examines the code without executing the program, making it a core part of software and app development.

The process helps code developers understand the code structure and make sure it adheres to industry standards. In simple terms, if you were a translator, this would be the same as making sure a written letter translates to the other language without errors in grammar or spelling.

You may have heard of Python Code, C++ Code, or even C# Code. These are code languages, and when they are applied to software development, it is essential that the code makes sense for the program to work.

They are written as a command so that the computer knows what it needs to do for the software to run. So, a static code analysis or the use of a static source code analysis tool will help coders spot code errors, which could cause glitches when the program is executed.

Why Is Code Analysis Essential?

Static code analysis allows coders to have a safety net that will enable them to spot and fix issues early, speed up deadlines, and save time and money with software development. In short, it can help to make the code more readable to a computer.

Code analysis allows common coding bugs to be spotted before they escalate into serious issues, which makes the debugging process less stressful. Imagine you were writing an article in French, which was not your native language, and you misspelt a common verb throughout the article.

This could be a large issue, which would take a long time to correct manually. With the use of correction tools to check for spelling or grammatical mistakes, you can correct it quickly, making the article readable.

Code analysis can also spot security vulnerabilities in code that could be exploited by hackers. Indeed, many apps have been hacked and user information stolen, usually due to a code glitch that was not detected by the coders. A code analysis tool can prevent your app’s security from being breached, boost the company’s image, and help with faster distribution.

A source code analysis can also be altered to check for coding standards and rules, so a coder will spend less time going through the thousands of lines of code and can spend more time focusing on writing new code.

In short, using a static code analysis in a coder’s workflow fixes issues before they happen, builds higher quality code for software and ensures security standards are met in the development process.

How the Static Code Analysis Process Works

A key part of coders using a static code analysis is to spot bugs, but that isn’t all that it does. It makes the code smarter and safer via a process that will be broken down here.

Code Parsing

The code analysis reads the code that is put into it and breaks it down into parts. The code is then converted into a format that the static code can analyze.

Rule Checking

Once the code has been passed, it is compared against the code’s set of rules or guidelines. Each code type, such as C++ or Python, has its own rules regarding code style and cybersecurity. The tools then spot anything that doesn’t match or conform to the pattern that is standard.

Reports

The code analysis tool then generates a report highlighting the bugs or other issues it has found. For coders, this is a simplified guide on what needs to be fixed in their code. In some cases, the code analysis tool will also offer suggestions on how best to correct the issue. For coders learning a new coding language, this makes the code easier to learn and can help improve future code quality.

It should be noted that some coders consider using a code analysis tool to be a waste of time, stating that the process mentioned above is lengthy and may create more work. Remember, the code analysis tool is also checking for security issues that could impact the safety of the software or the app.

Static Analysis Types and Features

It is also essential to note that there are different types of static analysis tools with different features. For software developers or app developers, it is crucial to ensure that the correct one is being used for different types of code or programs. This means that one block of code may require different static analysis tools to be run through it to check for different issues, and if a piece of code is being translated from one language to another, it may need a lot of screening for errors.

Syntax Analysis

This assesses the structure and the code’s grammar. It will perform a lexical analysis (tokenization) and parsing, and it will conduct an AST generation.

Semantic Analysis

This will look at the meaning and the behavior of the code; does it comply with the rules of the language, and will it do what it needs to do when the program is run? It covers type checking, data flow analysis, and control flow of the code.

Code Quality Analysis

Is the code readable? Will it be readable to the computer? Based on the coding rules, a complexity metric will be performed to ensure that the code is not too complicated or too simple.

Security Analysis

This is a big one as it will identify any security vulnerabilities hackers could exploit. This is called a taint analysis or vulnerability detection check.

Program Verification

This looks at formal methods to prove the correctness of the program and includes abstract interpretation, as well as model checking.

Code Analysis Growth in 2025

This is an area that is expected to see steady growth in 2025, especially with the release of new code languages such as Rust and Kotlin.

By 2029, static code analysis is predicted to grow to one point three billion dollars due to the integration of the analysis into developed practices, as well as the emphasis on more secure coding practices and the expansions of IoT devices.

There is also likely to be growth in these analysis tools due to an increased emphasis on software development productivity and cost-effective software development. In short, developers don’t want to have to pay coders to read through lines of code for hours on end, especially when there is an analysis tool that can do this.

This trend includes the integration of AI with code analysis tools, which is set to increase threat detection and focus on real-time code analysis solutions.