Clang-Tidy - Short Review

Clang-Tidy is a powerful, clang-based C “linter” tool designed to provide an extensible framework for diagnosing and fixing a wide range of typical programming errors, style violations, and other issues that can be identified through static analysis.

Purpose and Functionality

Clang-Tidy’s primary purpose is to enhance the quality and reliability of C code by performing static checks that go beyond what a compiler can detect. It helps developers identify and correct bugs, improve code readability, and adhere to various coding standards and guidelines.

Key Features

Static Analysis Checks

Clang-Tidy supports a large variety of static checks, including but not limited to:

• Buffer overflow detection
• Potential NULL pointer dereferences
• Use of memory that has already been deallocated
• Out of scope memory usage
• Failure to set a return value from a subroutine

Customizable Checks

Users can select which checks to run using the `-checks=` option, specifying a comma-separated list of positive and negative globs. This allows for fine-grained control over the types of checks performed.

Integration with Clang Static Analyzer

In addition to its own checks, Clang-Tidy can also run Clang Static Analyzer checks, providing a comprehensive analysis of the code.

Configuration Options

Clang-Tidy can be configured using a `.clang-tidy` file or command-line options. Users can specify configurations in YAML or JSON format, and options such as `–config=`, `–dump-config`, and `–verify-config` help in managing and validating these configurations.

Fixing Code Automatically

Clang-Tidy can apply suggested fixes to the code using the `–fix` and `–fix-errors` options. This allows for automatic correction of identified issues, even if compilation errors are present.

Filtering and Display Options

Options like `–header-filter`, `–line-filter`, and `–system-headers` enable users to filter diagnostics and control what is displayed. Additionally, options such as `–quiet` and `–use-color` allow for customization of the output format.

Performance and Profiling

Clang-Tidy supports performance profiling with the `–enable-check-profile` option, which prints a report to stderr. This helps in understanding the time spent on each check.

Extensibility

Clang-Tidy is designed to be extensible, allowing developers to write custom checks with minimal code changes. Checks can be integrated at the preprocessor level or the Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) level, making it easy to add new checks as needed.

Ease of Use

Clang-Tidy can be used with a compile command database for easier integration into existing projects. It also supports parameter files for managing complex sets of options and source files. In summary, Clang-Tidy is a versatile and powerful tool that helps C developers maintain high-quality code by identifying and fixing a broad range of issues, while offering extensive customization and extensibility options.