What are the limitations of static analysis tools?

What are the limitations of static analysis tools?

Static analysis tools are great for identifying potential issues in code, but they have several limitations. For instance, they may produce false positives, meaning they flag issues that aren't actually problems. They also might not catch runtime errors since they analyze code without executing it.

Can you give me examples of false positives?

Sure! A common example of a false positive is when a static analysis tool flags a variable that appears unused, but it's actually used in a specific context, like in a callback function. This can lead to unnecessary code changes.

What about complex code structures?

Static analysis tools can struggle with complex code structures, such as those involving dynamic typing or heavy use of reflection. They may not fully understand the code's behavior, leading to missed issues or incorrect assessments.

Are there any types of bugs they can't detect?

Yes, static analysis tools typically can't detect issues that arise during runtime, such as memory leaks or race conditions in multi-threaded applications. These require dynamic analysis or testing to identify.