What tools exist for comparing C++ code to coding guidelines?

Question

There exist tools for comparing code against a custom specified set of coding guidelines/standards for a variety of languages (rather than pure static analysis for common defects). Examples include FxCop for .Net code and CheckStyle for Java, but I was wondering what examples people know of in the C++ world.

An existing question was asked regarding free tools which provided examples like Vera but I was also wondering about commercial tools that may be available.

Answer 1

astyle is a common Unix tool that reformats source to a specified style. It supports most C-like languages. I know of no similar commercial tools.

Answer 2

I was also wondering about commercial tools that may be available.

Visual Studio Team System Edition 2005/2008 does have some such stuff. They also have a facility to enforce a set of rules on a whole team. Check it out.

Answer 3

A tool used by us was CodeWizard from Parasoft. But I think the new version is called "Parasoft C++ Test". From the homepage:

• Static analysis of code for compliance with user-selected coding standards
• Graphical RuleWizard editor for creating custom coding rules
• Static code path simulation for identifying potential runtime errors
• Automated code review with a graphical interface and progress tracking
• Automated generation and execution of unit and component-level tests
• Flexible stub framework
• Full support for regression testing
• Code coverage analysis with code highlighting
• Runtime memory error checking during unit test execution
• Full team deployment infrastructure for desktop and command line usage

Answer 4

DISCLAIMER: Working on this tool is my day job.

I'm obviously biased, but one of the main features of QA C++ is Coding Standard enforcement. For example we do JSF++ and MISRA C++ enforcement. You can read more about this here.

Answer 5

The full list that I managed to generate:

• PRQA's QA C++
• Parasoft's C++Test
• MS Visual Studio Team System seems to have some functionality but it's hard to tell via their website.
• GrammaTech CodeSonar
• Coverity Extend

The last two provide some functionality but not particularly customisable ones:

• Klocwork Insight
• Rational PurifyPlus