anderrorprone

anderrorprone is a static analysis tool designed to identify error‑prone code patterns in software projects, specifically targeting languages that support annotations and compile‑time checks. Developed by a collaborative effort between open‑source contributors and a corporate research team, anderrorprone builds upon concepts introduced by similar tools such as Google's Error Prone and SonarQube. The project was first released in 2020, with a focus on improving code quality for large, distributed codebases.

The core of anderrorprone operates as a compiler plug‑in that scans source files during the build process. It gathers abstract syntax trees and applies a set of customizable rules, each associated with a particular class of bugs. These rules cover common pitfalls, such as improper null handling, off‑by‑one errors, misuse of concurrency constructs, and insecure API usage. When a rule is triggered, the tool emits a warning or error that can be integrated into continuous integration pipelines, ensuring that developers address issues before code merges.

anderrorprone supports extension through a rule API, enabling teams to add organization‑specific checks. The tool is compatible with major build systems, including Gradle, Maven, and Bazel. It produces machine‑readable output in JSON, enabling integration with IDEs, static analysis dashboards, and automated code review workflows.

Users of anderrorprone often report that it reduces the incidence of runtime exceptions by an estimated 15 % and speeds up the code review process. Its community maintains an online repository of rule configurations and best‑practice guidelines. While it shares many features with other static analyzers, anderrorprone distinguishes itself by emphasizing extensibility and seamless integration into modern build pipelines.