JavaScript source code analyzer

Question

Does anyone know of a good, extensible source code analyzer that parses JavaScript files?

Answer 1

In the interest of keeping this issue current, there is a JSLint plug called JSHint . An explanation of why JSHint was created can be found here , but in short:

JSHint is a JSLint fork, a tool written and maintained by Douglas Crockford. JSLint has served me well for quite some time, but in the last few years it has received uncomfortably stubborn and hostile code towards you. It is quickly converted from a tool that helps developers prevent errors in a tool that guarantees you write your code like Douglas Crockford.

Answer 2

JSLint has historically been the primary tool for this, but there are several more:

• JSHint is a JSLint plug that is said to be slightly less self-confident
• Closure Linter - The linter that validates the Google Javascript Style Guide
• ESLint is a more flexible tool, but newer and not yet stable.

Answer 3

If you haven't found it yet, you should take a look at the Google Closure compiler. Compiles your JavaScript and finds errors in the code. http://code.google.com/closure/compiler/docs/gettingstarted_api.html

Answer 4

I tried ESLint and found it to be good. You can also add your own rules there. Here is the github repository: https://github.com/nzakas/eslint

Answer 5

JSAnalyse has just been published on codeplex. This is a tool that parses dependencies between javascript files. You can even determine the allowed dependencies, and JSAnalysis checks whether certain rules are met or not. This allows you to track javascript dependencies even in large projects and have a clean architecture.

JSAnalyse can be run as a command line tool or configured through Visual Studio Layer Diagramm . It is also easily integrated into the assembly. With private logs, you can control dependencies.

Answer 6

There is a parser called the ECMAScript parsing framework for multi-purpose analysis (esprima), located at http://esprima.org/ with several examples of tools that can be used in some analysis

ECMAScript parsing framework for multipurpose parsing

Answer 7

In addition to JSLint, JSHint, ESLint, Plato, Google Closure-Linter, there is another tool called Esprima. Here is a link to it: http://esprima.org/

Also, this is the github link for the Esprima tool: https://github.com/ariya/esprima

I had trouble installing while trying Google Closure-Linter for Windows. But the webpage mentions that Windows support is experimental. All other tools are easy to use.

Answer 8

I found JSLint that helps fix many common errors, etc .; however, I hope to find something that I can add my own rules and such to help automate some of the coding standards that my company wants to implement in JavaScript.

http://www.jslint.com/

I need to learn more about the extension model.

Answer 9

There are several tools in the list of tools for static code analysis in wikipedia with JavaScript support, you can also see Debugging JavaScript , if any of the mentioned tools help. There are also some good YUI tools (Yahoo! Developer Network), as well as many useful components.

I have always used JSLint myself, and this is the only analysis tool for JS I have tried. I loved JavaScript more and more, but good tools still remain a problem. :(

Answer 10

I use Aptana to parse JavaScript files. It catches a lot of goofs (if the condition is with one =). It also describes the layout of the class. I believe that it implements jslint implementation.