What are the limitations of static analysis tools?

What are the limitations of static analysis tools?

Static analysis tools are great for identifying certain types of issues, but they have limitations. They may not catch runtime errors, and they can produce false positives or negatives.

Can you give examples of false positives?

Sure! A common false positive might be flagging a variable as unused when it's actually used in a dynamic context, like reflection.

What types of issues do they typically miss?

They often miss issues related to dynamic behavior, such as race conditions or memory leaks that only occur at runtime.

Are there any specific languages where static analysis is less effective?

Yes, languages that heavily rely on dynamic typing or have complex runtime behaviors, like JavaScript or Python, can be challenging for static analysis.

How can I complement static analysis in my development process?

You can complement static analysis with dynamic analysis, code reviews, and thorough testing to catch issues that static tools might miss.