Semgrep, Joute's Review

The essentials

Open-source static analysis tool with customizable rules and AI
From 40 €/month (free/open-source plan available)
Multi-language analysis, custom rules, Semgrep Code AI, CI/CD integration
For security teams, pentesters, and developers who want flexible, precise static analysis

What is Semgrep?

Semgrep is an open-source static code analysis tool that stands out for its flexibility. The rule engine lets you write detection patterns that resemble the code itself (no complex regexes or manual ASTs). The Semgrep community offers thousands of ready-to-use rules for OWASP vulnerabilities, bad coding practices, and framework-specific anti-patterns. Semgrep Code, the AI layer, automatically generates and suggests rules from natural language descriptions and analyzes results to reduce false positives. The tool is widely adopted by AppSec teams at large companies and security consultants.

Strengths

Custom rules in code syntax

Writing a Semgrep rule looks like writing code in the target language. Learning curve is fast for developers. No need to master ASTs or parsers.

Open source with a rule ecosystem

Thousands of public rules are available in the Semgrep Registry. Security teams share their rules and benefit from the community's.

Simple CI/CD integration

Adding Semgrep to a GitHub Actions or GitLab CI pipeline takes a few lines of YAML. Analyses run on every PR.

Limitations

Learning curve for advanced rules

Writing complex Semgrep rules that match sophisticated vulnerability patterns takes time and practice.

Less AI SAST than DeepCode

Semgrep Code is still developing. For pure machine-learning-based SAST, DeepCode or Checkmarx are more advanced.

Pricing

Semgrep OSS is free and open source. Semgrep Code (SaaS) from 40 €/month. Check semgrep.dev for plans.

Alternatives

For advanced AI SAST: Snyk DeepCode. For quality and security analysis: SonarQube. For pre-built security rules: Bandit (Python) or ESLint security.

Verdict

Semgrep is the reference tool for AppSec teams that want flexible, customizable static analysis. The open-source version is plenty to get started. The cloud version adds result management and AI for larger teams.

FAQ

Is Semgrep truly open source?

Yes, the Semgrep OSS engine is open source (LGPL-2.1). The Semgrep Cloud Platform is proprietary. Check semgrep.dev for details.

What languages does Semgrep support?

Semgrep supports about thirty languages: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, Go, Ruby, PHP, C, C++, Kotlin, Rust, and others. Check semgrep.dev for the full list.