
Sourcery - Detailed Review
Developer Tools

Sourcery - Product Overview
Overview of Sourcery
Sourcery, in the context of developer tools, is an AI-driven code reviewer that simplifies and enhances the code review process for developers. Here’s a brief overview of its primary function, target audience, and key features:Primary Function
Sourcery is an automated code reviewer that analyzes code changes and provides instant feedback on proposed modifications. It aims to improve code quality, identify bugs, and suggest improvements to make the code more readable and maintainable.Target Audience
The primary target audience for Sourcery includes software developers, engineering teams, and organizations that use GitHub or GitLab for their version control. It is particularly useful for teams looking to streamline their code review processes and maintain high-quality codebases.Key Features
Instant Feedback
Sourcery provides immediate feedback on pull requests, including a summary of changes, high-level feedback, and line-by-line suggestions.Multi-Language Support
It supports over 30 programming languages, making it versatile for various development projects.Integration
Sourcery integrates seamlessly with GitHub, GitLab, and several Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), allowing developers to receive reviews directly within their workflow.Code Refactoring
It uses AI to automatically refactor code, making it more readable and maintainable without changing its functionality. This includes simplifying complex code segments and suggesting improvements in real-time.Privacy and Security
Sourcery ensures that code is not stored for more than 30 days and is not used to train any AI models, maintaining the privacy and security of the codebase.Conclusion
Overall, Sourcery is a valuable tool for developers and teams aiming to improve code quality, reduce the time spent on code reviews, and accelerate development velocity.
Sourcery - User Interface and Experience
User Interface and Experience
The user interface and experience of Sourcery, an AI-driven code review and refactoring tool, are designed to be intuitive and integrated seamlessly into the development workflow.Integration with Development Tools
Sourcery integrates well with various development environments, including GitHub repositories, IntelliJ, and Visual Studio Code. This integration allows developers to receive instant feedback on their code changes directly within their familiar IDEs or version control systems.Automated Code Reviews
When a developer submits a pull request, Sourcery automatically reviews the code, providing feedback and suggestions for improvement. This feedback includes general comments, inline suggestions, and security checks, all of which are presented in a clear and actionable manner.User Interaction
The tool offers a straightforward interface where developers can interact with the suggested changes. For example, Sourcery highlights code sections that can be improved and provides a diff view to show exactly what changes are suggested. This makes it easy for developers to review and apply the recommendations.Coding Assistant
Sourcery includes a Coding Assistant that acts as an AI pair programmer. This assistant can help write new code, explain coding concepts, and assist in solving problems. Developers can chat with the assistant, ask questions, or request code edits directly within their IDE. The assistant is context-aware, meaning it understands the current file or selected code section.Customization and Configuration
Users can customize their experience using configuration files such as `.sourcery.yaml`. This allows them to specify settings like the Python version, run checks only on modified code, and output results in CSV format. Additionally, users can create custom recipes for common tasks and adjust rule settings to ignore certain types of refactorings.Code Metrics and Quality Scores
Sourcery provides code quality metrics, including complexity, method length, working memory, and overall quality scores. These metrics help developers identify areas of the code that need improvement and track the quality of their functions over time.Generating Diagrams, Tests, and Docstrings
The tool can generate sequence diagrams, class diagrams, and flow charts based on the code context. It also helps in generating unit tests and docstrings for functions, which can be done with just a few clicks.Ease of Use
The overall user experience is streamlined to save time and make coding more efficient. Sourcery’s automated processes and intuitive interface reduce the need for manual code reviews and refactoring, allowing developers to focus on more critical tasks. The tool is easy to use, with clear and actionable suggestions that do not require significant additional learning or setup.Conclusion
In summary, Sourcery’s user interface is user-friendly, well-integrated with common development tools, and provides valuable feedback and assistance to developers, making the coding process more efficient and the code quality higher.
Sourcery - Key Features and Functionality
Sourcery Overview
Sourcery is an AI-driven tool that significantly enhances code quality and productivity for software engineering teams. Here are the main features and how they work:AI Code Reviews on Pull Requests
Sourcery integrates with GitHub and GitLab to provide instant feedback on pull requests. As soon as a pull request is opened, Sourcery reviews the code, offering feedback and suggestions for improvement. This automated process accelerates the code review cycle, allowing teams to focus on more critical tasks.Coding Assistant in IDE
Sourcery offers an in-IDE coding assistant that works within Visual Studio Code (VS Code) and JetBrains IDEs. This assistant reviews your code in real-time, suggesting improvements as you type. It underlines sections of code that can be improved and provides a diff of the proposed changes. You can apply these changes with a single click, helping you write better code faster.Real-time Refactoring Suggestions
While you work, Sourcery analyzes your code and suggests refactorings to improve its quality. These suggestions include simplifying complex logic, breaking down large functions, removing redundant code, and adhering to best practices like the DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) rule. This helps in reducing technical debt and making the code more modular.Security Checks
Sourcery actively scans the code for potential security issues to prevent vulnerabilities. This feature is particularly useful in DevSecOps, where integrating real-time code analysis can catch security issues early in the development cycle.Complexity Analysis
Sourcery evaluates the complexity of the code and suggests simplifications where possible. It provides a quality score for each function, along with sub-scores on method length, complexity, and working memory. This helps developers structure their code more cleanly and maintain higher code quality.Continuous Code Quality Feedback
Sourcery gives continuous feedback on code quality, allowing developers to address issues promptly. It reviews the current file, uncommitted changes, or compares any two Git branches, providing inline comments and suggested fixes. This feedback is available directly in the IDE, ensuring developers can improve their code before opening a pull request.Customizable Rules
Sourcery is highly extendable, allowing you to set up your own rules or use public rulesets. You can configure Sourcery to check for specific best practices by setting up a `.sourcery.yaml` configuration file in your project directory. This flexibility ensures that Sourcery aligns with your team’s coding standards.Team Collaboration
Sourcery facilitates code reviews for teams of various sizes, from 2 to 200 members. It generates PR summaries, PR titles, and posts a reviewer’s guide to the PR, including diagrams and a breakdown of the changes. This enhances team collaboration and ensures that code reviews are efficient and effective.Integration and Accessibility
Sourcery is free to use for open-source projects and public repositories. For non-open-source projects, it offers a 2-week free trial of Sourcery Pro, with subsequent plans starting at $12 per user per month. This makes it accessible for both individual developers and larger teams.Conclusion
In summary, Sourcery leverages AI to provide comprehensive code reviews, real-time refactoring suggestions, security checks, and complexity analysis, all integrated seamlessly into your development workflow. This helps in maintaining high code quality, streamlining the code review process, and enhancing overall productivity.
Sourcery - Performance and Accuracy
Performance
Sourcery has made significant strides in improving its performance, particularly in areas that impact developer productivity. Here are some notable aspects:Real-time Refactoring Suggestions
Sourcery analyzes code in real-time, providing immediate suggestions for improvement. This feature helps in maintaining a smooth development workflow without significant performance slowdowns.CI/CD Integration
Sourcery integrates seamlessly with GitHub and GitLab, allowing it to review code as part of the CI/CD pipeline. This integration ensures that code reviews are efficient and do not hinder the development process.Optimizations
The team behind Sourcery has focused on performance improvements, including architecture changes and micro-optimizations. These efforts have enabled the introduction of major features without compromising performance.Accuracy
The accuracy of Sourcery’s suggestions and reviews is a critical aspect of its effectiveness:Code Quality
Sourcery is highly accurate in suggesting improvements that follow best practices, such as the DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) rule, simplifying complex logic, and removing redundant code. These suggestions enhance code readability, efficiency, and maintainability.Automated Code Reviews
Sourcery provides detailed code reviews, including a summary of changes, high-level feedback, and line-by-line suggestions. This ensures that the code meets high quality standards before it is merged into the main branch.Security and Best Practices
The tool flags areas that need improvement, helping to prevent bugs, security vulnerabilities, and performance issues. This proactive approach ensures that the codebase remains secure and maintainable.Limitations and Areas for Improvement
While Sourcery is highly effective, there are some limitations and areas where it can improve:Language Support
Currently, Sourcery offers full support primarily for Python. Although there has been some progress in adding basic support for non-Python languages, it still lags behind in this area compared to other tools like Tabnine or GitHub Copilot.Initial Setup
Configuring custom rules and fine-tuning the static analysis engine can require some initial setup and learning, especially for larger teams. This can be a bit of a hurdle but is necessary for aligning the tool with specific team or project guidelines.Privacy and Security
While Sourcery ensures that code is not stored or used to train AI models beyond 30 days, the need to send code sections to third-party AI services (like OpenAI and Anthropic) might raise privacy concerns for some users. In summary, Sourcery excels in providing real-time refactoring suggestions, integrating well with CI/CD pipelines, and maintaining high code quality through automated reviews. However, it has room for improvement in terms of broader language support and initial setup complexity.
Sourcery - Pricing and Plans
Sourcery Pricing Overview
Sourcery, an AI-driven developer tool, offers a clear and structured pricing plan to cater to various needs of developers and organizations.
Free Options
- Open Source Projects: Using Sourcery on public repositories is always free. This allows developers working on open-source projects to benefit from Sourcery’s features without any cost.
Paid Plans
Individual (Pro) Plan
- Monthly Price: $10 per month
- Features:
- Real-time feedback in the Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
- Bulk suggestions with the Sourcery CLI
- Unlimited custom rules
- This plan is suitable for individual developers working on closed-source projects.
Team Plan
- Monthly Price: $30 per month per user
- Features:
- Self-hosted Continuous Integration (CI) integration
- Pre-commit hooks
- Unlimited custom rules
- This plan is geared towards teams and ensures best practices are followed across all projects.
Trial Period
- Sourcery offers a 14-day free trial for the Pro plan, allowing developers to test the features before committing to a paid subscription.
Additional Services
- Premium Support Service: For an additional fee, Sourcery provides premium support services, including workspace setup, project structuring, and ongoing support. The costs vary depending on the specific services needed, such as $50 for project setup or $395 per month for unlimited support.
Summary
In summary, Sourcery’s pricing structure is straightforward, with free options for open-source projects, an affordable Pro plan for individual developers, and a more comprehensive Team plan for organizations. The additional premium support services can be added as needed to enhance the user experience.

Sourcery - Integration and Compatibility
Sourcery Overview
Sourcery, an AI-driven tool for improving code quality, integrates seamlessly with various development tools and platforms, making it a versatile addition to your development workflow.IDE Integrations
Sourcery offers extensions for several popular Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), including:- VS Code
- JetBrains IDEs (such as IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, etc.)
- Emacs
- Sublime
- Vim
Source Hosting Platforms
Sourcery can be integrated with GitHub and GitLab. When installed as an app on these platforms, it can review all pull requests and merge requests, suggesting improvements and creating new pull requests for the suggested changes. This feature is particularly useful for teams, as it automates the code review process and ensures consistent code quality.Command Line Interface (CLI) and CI Pipelines
The Sourcery CLI allows you to integrate Sourcery into your Continuous Integration (CI) pipelines or use it as a pre-commit hook. This ensures that your code is reviewed and improved automatically during your development process.Operating System Compatibility
Sourcery supports a range of operating systems, including:- Windows 10 and later
- Intel Mac
- M1 Mac (though for JetBrains IDEs, it requires Rosetta)
- Ubuntu 20.04 and later (with limited testing on other Linux versions)
Account and Trial
To use Sourcery, you need to set up an account, which can be done using an email address, Google account, or GitHub account. Upon signing up, you receive a 2-week free trial of Sourcery Pro, which allows you to use the tool on non-open source projects. Sourcery is always free for open source projects and public repositories.Conclusion
In summary, Sourcery is highly compatible and integrates well with various IDEs, source hosting platforms, and operating systems, making it a valuable tool for maintaining high-quality code in your development projects.
Sourcery - Customer Support and Resources
Customer Support
For general inquiries, users can contact Sourcery via email at `hello@sourcery.ai`. For specific feedback or issues related to code reviews, you can reach out to `Reviews@sourcery.ai`. If you encounter any problems or need help, Sourcery provides a comprehensive FAQ section and troubleshooting guides available through their documentation.Additional Resources
Documentation and Guides
Sourcery has an extensive documentation section that includes getting started guides, detailed explanations of features, and how-to sections. This documentation covers topics such as configuring Sourcery, using the coding assistant, generating tests and docstrings, and creating custom rules.GitHub and Community Support
Users can report issues, suggest enhancements, and engage with the community on Sourcery’s GitHub repository. Additionally, you can join the Sourcery Discord Community for real-time support and discussions.Changelog and Updates
Sourcery maintains a changelog that outlines recent updates, improvements, and new features. This helps users stay informed about the latest developments and enhancements to the tool.IDE Integration Support
For users integrating Sourcery into their IDEs (such as VS Code or JetBrains IDEs), there are specific guides and support resources available. These resources help with installation, configuration, and troubleshooting within the IDE environment.Customization and Configuration
Users can customize their Sourcery experience by editing configuration files like `.sourcery.yaml`. This allows for setting up custom prompts, rules, and project descriptions to improve the quality of suggestions provided by the coding assistant.Feedback Mechanism
Sourcery encourages feedback and suggestions from users. You can provide feedback directly through email or by participating in discussions on GitHub. This feedback is valuable for improving the tool and adding new features. By leveraging these resources, users can maximize the benefits of Sourcery’s AI-driven developer tools and ensure they are using the product efficiently.
Sourcery - Pros and Cons
Advantages of Sourcery
Sourcery, an AI-powered code reviewer, offers several significant advantages for developers:Code Quality Improvement
Sourcery provides real-time refactoring suggestions to enhance code readability, efficiency, and maintainability. It enforces best practices, such as the DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) rule, making the code more modular and reducing technical debt.Automated Code Reviews
It integrates with GitHub and GitLab to provide automated code reviews as part of the CI/CD pipeline, flagging areas that need improvement before the code is merged. This reduces the time spent in manual code reviews.Bug and Security Risk Detection
Sourcery can identify bugs, security vulnerabilities, and performance issues in real-time, helping to prevent these problems before they become critical.In-line Suggestions
The tool offers in-line suggestions while you work, helping to improve code readability and maintainability. It also assists in writing new code or changing existing code.Free for Open-Source Projects
Sourcery is free to use for open-source projects, making it accessible to a wide range of developers.Flexible Pricing
It offers various pricing models, including a $10 per month plan for individual projects and a $30 per month per team member plan for teams, making it flexible for different user needs.Disadvantages of Sourcery
While Sourcery is highly beneficial, there are some potential drawbacks to consider:Limited Language Support
Although Sourcery now supports over 30 languages, it was initially noted for its strong focus on Python. Developers working in other languages might find some limitations, although this has been largely addressed with its expanded language support.Oversimplification of Code
Some users have reported that Sourcery can sometimes oversimplify code, which might not always be desirable.Learning Curve
Implementing Sourcery’s suggestions can take some time to get used to, especially for larger teams or complex projects. There is an initial setup and learning phase required to fully benefit from the tool.Duplicate Code Removal
While Sourcery helps in removing duplicate code, this feature might require some manual oversight to ensure it aligns with the project’s specific needs. Overall, Sourcery is a valuable tool for improving code quality, automating code reviews, and enhancing developer productivity, but it does come with some minor limitations that need to be considered.
Sourcery - Comparison with Competitors
When comparing Sourcery with other AI-driven developer tools, several key features and differences stand out:
Sourcery
- Automated Code Reviews: Sourcery integrates with GitHub repositories to provide instant feedback on pull requests, including summaries, high-level feedback, and line-by-line suggestions.
- Security Checks: It actively scans for potential security issues to prevent vulnerabilities.
- Complexity Analysis: Sourcery evaluates code complexity and suggests simplifications.
- Private Repo Support: It offers code reviews for both public and private GitHub repositories, with a free trial for private repos.
- Team Collaboration: Supports teams of 2 to 200 members.
- IDE Integration: Can be used as an automated pair programmer in IDEs to help with tasks like adding unit tests, docstrings, and optimizing code.
GitHub Copilot
- Intelligent Code Generation: Provides advanced code autocompletion, suggesting entire code blocks rather than just single variables or methods. It also supports multiple programming languages and offers context-aware suggestions.
- Developer Experience Enhancements: Includes features like an interactive chat interface, automated code documentation generation, and built-in test case generation.
- Collaborative Development Support: Offers pull request summarization, change description generation, and context-aware test suggestions.
- Integration: Seamlessly integrates with popular IDEs like Visual Studio Code and JetBrains.
- Unlike Sourcery, GitHub Copilot is more focused on real-time coding assistance and automation rather than automated code reviews.
Windsurf IDE by Codeium
- AI-Enhanced Development: Windsurf IDE offers intelligent code suggestions, cascade technology for continuous awareness of developer actions, and deep contextual understanding of complex codebases.
- Collaborative Intelligence: Provides real-time AI collaboration and an intelligent collaboration mode that functions both as a real-time copilot and an autonomous agent.
- Enhanced Productivity Tools: Includes multi-file smart editing, command integration, and rapid prototyping capabilities.
- Windsurf IDE is more comprehensive as an integrated development environment compared to Sourcery, which is primarily a code review tool.
JetBrains AI Assistant
- Code Intelligence: Offers smart code generation from natural language descriptions, context-aware completion, and proactive bug detection.
- Development Workflow: Includes automated testing, documentation assistant, and intelligent refactoring.
- Developer Experience: Features in-line code generation, an interactive chat interface, and seamless integration with JetBrains IDEs.
- While JetBrains AI Assistant provides a wide range of AI-powered features, it is more integrated within the JetBrains ecosystem and does not specifically focus on automated code reviews like Sourcery.
OpenHands
- Immediate Deployment & Security: Offers zero-wait access, enterprise-grade secure sandbox environments, and isolated workspaces for parallel development and testing.
- Intelligent Development Interface: Includes natural language communication, seamless VS Code integration, real-time code preview, and dynamic workspace management.
- Advanced AI Integration: Supports multiple language models, including Claude Sonnet 3.5, and offers autonomous complex application generation.
- OpenHands is more focused on providing a comprehensive development environment with advanced AI capabilities, whereas Sourcery is specialized in automated code reviews and improvements.
Unique Features of Sourcery
- Automated Code Reviews: Sourcery’s primary strength lies in its ability to review every pull request and provide detailed feedback, which is unique compared to the more general coding assistance offered by tools like GitHub Copilot and Windsurf IDE.
- Security and Complexity Analysis: Its focus on security checks and complexity analysis makes it a valuable tool for maintaining high code quality and security standards.
Potential Alternatives
- If you need more comprehensive coding assistance and real-time support, GitHub Copilot or Windsurf IDE might be better alternatives.
- For those deeply integrated within the JetBrains ecosystem, the JetBrains AI Assistant could be more suitable.
- If you require a tool with a strong focus on security and deployment, OpenHands might be a better fit.
Each tool has its unique strengths and is suited to different needs within the development process. Sourcery stands out for its specialized focus on automated code reviews and improvements, making it an excellent choice for teams looking to enhance code quality and streamline the review process.

Sourcery - Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about Sourcery, along with detailed responses to each:
How do I get started with Sourcery?
To get started with Sourcery, you can add it to any GitHub repository. For public repositories, Sourcery is completely free to use. For private repositories, you can try Sourcery for free for 14 days, after which you will need a Team or Pro plan.
What features does Sourcery offer?
Sourcery provides several key features, including automated code reviews for pull requests on GitHub repositories. It offers a summary of the changes, high-level feedback, and line-by-line suggestions and comments. Additionally, Sourcery can act as an automated pair programmer in your IDE, helping you to understand existing code, add unit tests and docstrings, optimize code for readability or performance, and improve overall code quality.
Is my code secure when using Sourcery?
Yes, your code is secure when using Sourcery. When using Sourcery in your IDE or CLI, the analysis is run fully locally, and none of your code is sent to their servers. For GitHub cloud analysis, they clone the branch or PR, run the analysis, suggest changes, and then immediately delete your code from their servers. Your code is not stored or used to train any AI models.
Can I configure Sourcery to avoid certain refactorings?
Yes, you can configure Sourcery to avoid certain refactorings. You can add a Sourcery configuration file (.sourcery.yaml
) to your project to switch off individual refactorings. This allows you to customize the suggestions based on your project’s specific needs.
What languages does Sourcery support?
Sourcery supports all major programming languages for code reviews, but its static rules are particularly focused on Python, JavaScript, and TypeScript.
Why does Sourcery sometimes remove comments?
Sourcery may remove comments during refactorings if the lines of code associated with those comments are moved or removed. However, Sourcery will flag this to you so you can decide whether to keep the comments. You can copy the comments, apply the refactoring, and then paste the comments back where you want them.
How do I know Sourcery’s refactorings won’t change my code’s functionality?
Sourcery runs every potential refactoring through multiple validation steps to ensure that the suggestions do not change the functionality of your code. If you encounter any suggestion that would alter your code’s behavior, you should report it to Sourcery, and they will address the issue promptly.
Can I use Sourcery behind a firewall or corporate proxy?
Yes, you can use Sourcery behind a firewall or corporate proxy. You need to follow the steps to configure Sourcery to use a proxy, which is detailed in their FAQ section.
What information does Sourcery collect?
When using Sourcery, the analysis is run locally, and only usage information around the type of refactoring suggestions, interaction stats, and basic error reporting are collected. For GitHub cloud analysis, they collect the necessary code temporarily but delete it immediately after analysis. On their website, they collect basic usage information via Google Analytics and Mixpanel, login information via Auth0, and payment information via Stripe.
How much does Sourcery cost?
For public repositories, Sourcery is free to use. For private repositories, you can try Sourcery for free for 14 days, after which it costs $12 per developer per month or $120 per developer per year.

Sourcery - Conclusion and Recommendation
Final Assessment of Sourcery
Sourcery is an AI-powered code reviewer that integrates seamlessly with GitHub and GitLab repositories, as well as various Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). Here’s a comprehensive overview of its benefits and who would most benefit from using it.Key Features and Benefits
Automated Code Reviews
Sourcery provides instant feedback on pull requests, including general feedback, inline comments, and actionable suggestions to improve code quality.
Security Checks
It actively scans for potential security issues to prevent vulnerabilities, ensuring the codebase remains secure.
Complexity Analysis
Sourcery evaluates code complexity and suggests simplifications, making the code easier to maintain and understand.
Team Collaboration
It supports code reviews for teams of various sizes, from 2 to 200 members, facilitating efficient team collaboration.
Efficiency and Quality Assurance
By automating the code review process, Sourcery accelerates development velocity and enhances code quality by catching issues early.
Who Would Benefit Most
Sourcery is particularly beneficial for several groups:Software Development Teams
Teams looking to streamline their code review process and maintain high code quality will find Sourcery invaluable. It helps teams focus on more critical tasks by automating routine code reviews.
Individual Developers
Developers working on personal or open-source projects can use Sourcery for free on public repositories, gaining instant feedback to improve their coding practices.
Organizations with Private Repositories
While there is a free trial for private repositories, organizations can benefit from Sourcery’s comprehensive code reviews and security checks by subscribing to a Team or Pro plan.
Recommendations
Early Integration
Integrate Sourcery early in the development process to catch issues sooner and improve overall code quality.
Team Engagement
Encourage team members to review and act on Sourcery’s suggestions to learn and improve their coding practices.
Continuous Improvement
Use Sourcery’s complexity analysis to refactor and simplify complex code sections regularly.
Overall Recommendation
Sourcery is a highly recommended tool for any software development team or individual developer looking to enhance code quality, security, and efficiency. Its ability to provide instant, actionable feedback across multiple programming languages makes it a valuable asset in the developer toolkit. By leveraging Sourcery, developers can ensure their code is of high quality, secure, and maintainable, ultimately accelerating their development velocity.