What tools are available for static code analysis in Modula-2 projects?
Introduction
Modula-2, an advanced procedural language designed by Niklaus Wirth, presents several opportunities for static analysis. Static code analysis refers to the technique of evaluating a software without actually executing the program, primarily for vulnerability detection, coding standards enforcement, and complexity metrics analysis. In the context of Modula-2, some tools that support static code analysis are discussed below.
LINT for Modula-2
Developed in the Bell Labs during the 1970s, LINT is a tool used for static code analysis. While originally designed for C and C++, LINT variants which support Modula-2 are available.
LINT checks the source code for potential bugs that the compiler may ignore. This includes checking type usage for incompatibility, variables that haven't been used, and unreachable code, among others.
How you use depends on the specific LINT tool you have. Generally, you will run the LINT tool and pass in the Modula-2 source code files as arguments. These files will be analyzed, and a report will be generated.
SonarQube with Plugin Support
SonarQube provides continuous inspection of code quality by performing automatic reviews with static analysis of code to detect bugs, code smells, and security vulnerabilities in over 20 programming languages. For Modula-2 code analysis, a SonarQube plugin tailored for Modula-2 would do this.
The SonarQube server can be installed either on your local machine or on a server, depending on your project's needs. Once the SonarQube server is up and running, you can load the Modula-2 plugin and then run the analysis.
Visual M Studio
Visual M Studio is another tool that supports static code analysis for Modula-2. Formerly known as "Stony Brook Modula-2", this tool provides a complete Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for creating, debugging, and producing quality Modula-2 code.
To use Visual M for static code analysis, you would typically open your Modula-2 project in the Visual M Studio IDE. Once loaded, you can run the static code analysis tools provided with Visual M Studio, which will check the code for common programming errors.
Conclusion
While there are not many static code analysis tools designed specifically for Modula-2, the above options should provide a good start.
As with any static code analysis tool, the value you get out of it heavily depends on how it's configured. A properly setup tool will provide valuable insights that lead to a considerable rise in code quality, whereas a poorly set up tool could give a lot of false positives, becoming more of a hindrance than a help.
The effectiveness of a tool often depends on understanding what particular issues you are trying to address. Are you focused on enforcing coding standards, preventing bugs, or addressing security vulnerabilities? Different tools often have different strengths, so balance your specific needs with the capabilities of the different static analysis tools.
