List of Code Linters

C++

Tools Considered

g++

The plain compiler invoked as g++ -Weverything -c on the file. Not ideal nor a real linter, but mainly for convenience.

clang++

The plain compiler invoked as clang++ -Weverything -c on the file. Not ideal nor a real linter, but mainly for convenience.

cppcheck

A C/C++ linter with a novel flow sensitive analysis.

cpplint

A linter built by google specifically for their coding standard.

clang-tidy

A clang-based C++ linter

clang-analyzer

Another clang-based static c++ linter with awesome reporting features.

Checks

64 Bit Compatibility

// return cast from ptr to int
int ptr_to_int()
{
  void * p = 0;
  return p;
}

// return cast from ptr to long
long ptr_to_long()
{
  void * p = 0;
  return p;
}

// return cast from int to ptr
void * int_to_ptr()
{
  int i = 0;
  return i;
}

// return cast from long to ptr
void * long_to_ptr()
{
  long l = 0;
  return l;
}

int main ()
{
  void * p = 0;

  // assign address to int
  int i = p;

  // assign address to long
  long l = p;

  //assign int to address
  p = i;

  //assign long to address
  p = l;

  return 0;
}

Linter	ptr2int	ptr2long	int2ptr	long2ptr	ptr2int return	ptr2long return	int2ptr return	long2ptr return
g++ -Weverything	Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Y
clang++ -Weverything	Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Y
cppcheck	Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Y
cpplint	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N
clang-tidy	Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Y
clang-analyze	Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Y

Assert

#include <assert.h>

volatile static int i = 0;

bool side_effect ()
{
  i++;
  return true;
}

int main ()
{
  // Indirect assignment via preincrement
  assert (++i);

  // Indirect assignment via postincrement
  assert (i++);

  // Direct assignment in assert
  assert (i = 1);

  // Assert calling function with side effects
  assert (side_effect());

  return 0;
}

Linter	preinc	postinc	assignment	function
g++ -Weverything	N	N	N	N
clang++ -Weverything	N	N	N	N
cppcheck	N	Y	Y	Y
cpplint	N	N	N	N
clang-tidy	N	N	N	N
clang-analyze	N	N	N	N

Memory Leaks (function variables)

#include <glib.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main ()
{
  // New
  int *a = new int;

  // Malloc
  int *b = (int *)malloc(sizeof (int));

  // Calloc
  int *c = (int *)calloc(1, sizeof (int));

  // Realloc
  int *d = (int *)realloc(0, sizeof (int));

  // External library
  int *e = (int *)g_malloc(sizeof (int));

  return 0;
}

Linter	New	Malloc	Calloc	Realloc
g++ -Weverything	N	N	N	N
clang++ -Weverything	N	N	N	N
cppcheck	Y	Y	Y	Y
cpplint	N	N	N	N
clang-tidy	Y	Y	Y	Y
clang-analyze	Y	Y	Y	Y