Open-Source Security · semgrep

semgrep

Semgrep is an open-source static analysis tool that searches code for bugs and security issues across 30+ languages using pattern matching that resembles source code. It runs locally in IDEs, CI/CD pipelines, and as pre-commit hooks, with an optional cloud platform for enterprise teams.

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Source: GitHub — github.com/semgrep/semgrep

15.8k

GitHub stars

989

Forks

OCaml

Primary language

LGPL-2.1

License (OSI-approved)

Key facts

Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.

Field	Value
Repository	semgrep/semgrep
Owner	semgrep
Primary language	OCaml
License	LGPL-2.1 — OSI-approved
Stars	15.8k
Forks	989
Open issues	877
Latest release	v1.168.0 (2026-06-24)
Last updated	2026-07-08
Source	https://github.com/semgrep/semgrep

What semgrep is

Semgrep performs semantic code analysis via pattern-matching rules written in source-like syntax rather than regex or AST abstractions. The open-source Community Edition analyzes code within single functions/files; the commercial AppSec Platform adds cross-file data-flow analysis, AI-assisted triage, and 20,000+ proprietary SAST/SCA/secrets rules. Code analysis is local by default.

Quickstart

Get the semgrep source

Clone the repository and explore it locally.

terminalbash

1git clone https://github.com/semgrep/semgrep.git2cd semgrep3# follow the project's README for install & configuration

Need it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.

Best use cases

CI/CD security scanning at scale

Integrate Semgrep into pull request workflows to catch code patterns indicative of bugs or security issues before merge. Supports 30+ languages and runs efficiently in container environments.

Developer-first SAST in heterogeneous codebases

Use custom rule authoring and community rule sets for polyglot teams. Pattern syntax mirrors actual code, lowering barrier to writing org-specific detection rules.

Supply chain dependency scanning (SCA)

Semgrep Supply Chain detects reachable vulnerabilities in third-party libraries across 15 package managers (npm, pip, Maven, Go modules, etc.). Available via AppSec Platform login.

Implementation considerations

Community Edition alone is suitable for ad-hoc audits or consultants; production SAST adoption typically requires AppSec Platform login and commercial rules for acceptable true-positive rates.
Rule sets are versioned via Semgrep registry; pull latest before each scan or pin versions for reproducibility in CI/CD. Default community rules may drift from org security policy.
Performance depends on codebase size and rule count; no benchmark data provided in README. Test against representative sample before organization-wide rollout.
Cross-file and data-flow analysis (needed to reduce false positives significantly) is AppSec Platform only; Community Edition is single-scope limited.
Integration with IDE, Slack, PR comments, and custom webhooks is platform-dependent; CLI output is JSON/SARIF compatible but formatting for developer workflows requires additional tooling.

When to avoid it — and what to weigh

High-confidence production SAST without manual review — Community Edition is single-file/single-function scoped and will miss inter-procedural vulnerabilities and have higher false positive rates. README explicitly states AppSec Platform recommended for security use.
Closed-source code or offline-only environments without platform setup — Community Edition CLI requires internet for rule downloads and optional login. If fully air-gapped, rule management becomes manual and cumbersome.
Organizations requiring standalone SAST without commercial support — Community Edition has no SLA or vendor support. Enterprise SAST needs (policy management, triage workflows, compliance reporting) require AppSec Platform, which is commercial.
Teams unfamiliar with pattern-based rule syntax — While simpler than regex, pattern authoring still requires learning Semgrep DSL and understanding code structure for effective rule writing.

License & commercial use

Licensed under LGPL-2.1 (GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1). LGPL is a permissive copyleft license; derivative works and improvements must be contributed back under LGPL, but proprietary applications may link dynamically.

LGPL-2.1 permits commercial use of the Community Edition under copyleft conditions (derivative improvements must be open-sourced). However, Semgrep's AppSec Platform (20,000+ proprietary rules, cross-file analysis, support) is commercial and requires a separate agreement. Verify with Semgrep licensing terms whether embedded or SaaS use of Community Edition satisfies your copyleft obligations. For production SAST, AppSec Platform is the recommended and likely required commercial offering; terms not disclosed in README.

DEV.co evaluation signals

Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.

Signal	Assessment
Maintenance	Active
Documentation	Strong
License clarity	Clear
Deployment complexity	Low
DEV.co fit	Good
Assessment confidence	High

Security considerations

Code analysis is local-by-default; no code upload to Semgrep servers unless using AppSec Platform (which is cloud-hosted). Community Edition single-scope analysis will miss inter-procedural flows and data-taint chains, increasing false negatives in security scanning. Semgrep rules (whether community or proprietary) must be reviewed for false positives before acting on findings. Supply chain scanning (SCA) via AppSec Platform depends on Semgrep's own database of vulnerability metadata; currency and accuracy not stated. No exploit details or vulnerability disclosures in README.

Alternatives to consider

SonarQube / SonarCloud

Established SAST/code quality platform with multi-language support, cloud and self-hosted options, and tighter IDE integration. Enterprise support and commercial rules available. More complex setup than Semgrep CLI.

GitHub Advanced Security (CodeQL)

Native GitHub integration, data-flow analysis engine, and no additional licensing if you use GitHub Enterprise. Query language is more explicit (QL) but less intuitive than Semgrep's source-like syntax. Vendor lock-in to GitHub.

Snyk

Purpose-built SCA and dependency scanning with strong dev-first UX and CLI. SAST capabilities are secondary. Better for supply chain security; Semgrep competes here with AppSec Platform.

Software development agency

Build on semgrep with DEV.co software developers

Start with the free Community Edition CLI to test pattern-based scanning on your codebase, or register for the AppSec Platform to explore cross-file analysis and proprietary rules. Assess alignment with your SAST and SCA requirements before committing to production use.

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semgrep FAQ

Does Community Edition support cross-file and inter-procedural analysis?

No. README explicitly states Community Edition is limited to single-function and single-file scope. AppSec Platform Pro engine adds cross-file and data-flow reachability analysis to reduce false positives by ~25% and increase true positives by ~250%.

Can I use Semgrep Community Edition in production without the AppSec Platform?

Technically yes, but not recommended for security use. README advises AppSec Platform for SAST, SCA, and secrets scanning due to significantly higher false positive rates and missed detections in Community Edition. Suitable for ad-hoc audits or low-risk scanning.

Is my code uploaded to Semgrep servers?

By default, no. Analysis runs locally on your machine or build environment. AppSec Platform does contact Semgrep servers but is designed for on-premise or SaaS use without source code upload. Verify terms if compliance is critical.

How do I write custom rules?

Rules are written in Semgrep pattern syntax that resembles source code (no regex or AST abstraction required). Examples and editor at semgrep.dev/playground. Pattern syntax documentation is in official docs; learning curve is lower than traditional SAST rule authoring but requires some familiarity with target language syntax.

Software developers & web developers for hire

Adopting semgrep is usually one piece of a larger software development effort. As a software development agency, DEV.co provides software development services and web development expertise — pairing senior software developers and web developers with your team to design, build, and operate open-source security software in production.

Evaluate Semgrep for Your Security Workflow

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