The Key Role of Static Code Analysis in Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery

Things move fast in the software world, considering the endless number of software products built and integrated with various devices across all industries. Day in, day out, developers have to identify bugs, share and submit code changes, roll out updates, release new features, and whatnot.

With this, ensuring that the source code is of the highest quality and flawlessly secure becomes crucial. However, doing so for developers, to consistently meet code quality and coding standards is an overwhelming task. Even the most experienced developers can make mistakes; human error is the no. 1 reason for software defects.

Introducing Static Code Analysis – empowering software developers to have complete faith in the code they are sending to production.

Static analysis in the CI/CD pipeline makes sure the code is healthy by rooting out bugs and vulnerabilities as early as in the SDLC as possible.

Let us show you how, starting with a bit of backdrop!

What is Static Code Analysis, Per Se?

In simple words, static analysis is an DevOps practice that enables developers to automatically identify defects in the embedded codebase of a software, such as security threats, possible bugs, design errors, code replication, etc.

Whereas a typical code review cycle takes around 1-2 hours, implementing source code analysis in it is an efficient way to review the code as frequently as possible. with the help of Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tools, you can pick up on all those issues, even the most discreet vulnerabilities that could easily get away from reviewers. This results in much faster review cycles and more reliable codebases.

Moreover, you can analyze the codebase without even executing the program. By building an abstract syntax tree, you will be able to review the source code, or in some cases, even on the object code.

Developers thus frequently integrate SAST tooling in the codebase's build task. Most programming errors fall into a set of categories which can be defined by certain programming patterns. And static analysis picks out these patterns to identify defects.

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How Does Static Analysis Work?

As long as it is automatic, static analysis is a rather straightforward process. In traditional software development, static analysis typically comes before testing. However, it takes place in the integration phases in DevOps software development.

Let us explain:

Developers use static code analysis tools after writing the codebase to determine whether the code complies with the desired quality and standard. However, sometimes it is crucial to review and remove any false positives that may have been flagged by SAST scan.

Once you dismiss the false positives, you can start fixing each and every obvious bug, usually starting with the most complex ones, and finally proceed to execute the code for testing..

Here is a simple example of how a static analyzer finds code errors:

The error in this snippet is a NullPointerException that sneaked past reviewers. The BuildNumbers() function may return a Nullable object in the first snippet, so while using in the for loop, it could cause the software to throw an unchecked exception.

However, with the help of code analysis tools, developers can quickly identify and resolve such issues through the embedded rules within the code.

As you can see, the second code shows us how to deal with this situation, which reviewers and programmers often fail to notice. It is therefore essential to have an SASR testing tool integrated into your Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery pipeline to identify these vulnerabilities.

Different Types of Static Analysis Methodologies

There are quite a few methods for static code review, such as:

1. Failure/Fault Analysis

In this static code analysis technique, developers check failures (incorrect component behavior) and faults (invalid component) in the codebase. With the transformation description of the input-output, you can pinpoint the errors. The model design specification is verified to identify issues in particular scenarios.

2. Data Analysis

The data analysis method of static analysis helps developers implement correct operations to different data objects and properly use the defined data. There are two distinct ways to run this static code review technique – data flow analysis to assess the context and definition of variables and data dependency to analyze the synchronization accuracy in different processors.

3. Control Analysis

As the name says, control analysis is about reviewing control flows in the calling structure and state transition, such as a function, subroutine, method, or process. You can analyze the sequential order of control transfers and create a graph of the model consisting model junctions and conditional branches represented by nodes.

4. Interface Analysis

The process of user interface analysis involves checking the UI of the program and integrated security measures so that users don’t face any errors while navigating the software. Static analysis tools of this kind ensure the interfaces are properly integrated with the overall program to provide the best user experience.

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Key Benefits of Static Analysis

Here comes the good part; SAST security testing offers a number of advantages, especially when compared to traditional software testing methods. For example:

Improved Productivity

Developers perform at their peak when given the freedom to solely work on the project at hand. If they have to go back and work on past projects every time there’s a bug, it sidetracks them from the current task. As a result, it decreases their productivity and delays the release cycle.

With source code analysis tools, development teams can run automation testing on the embedded codebase, and concentrate on writing new lines of code.

Reduced Technical Debt

For your developers, having a lot of technical debt means more effort. They cannot have the time to handle new issues since they will be too busy fixing up old projects. This delays your Software Development life Cycle, and your company will ultimately incur more resources.

Using a source code scanner dramatically cuts down the technical debt your development team has to deal with by detecting possible threats and vulnerabilities as early as possible,

High-Quality Code

One of the greatest benefits of SAST software is that it increases the quality of your code. Developers can be confident in the code they write with regular testing and health checks on the codebase.

Moreover, customers will see you as the market leader if your products comply with global coding standards and your releases are consistently of a high quality.

Strong Data Security

Cybercriminals are constantly searching for bottlenecks in your system that they may exploit. These fraudsters may be able to gain access to your IT ecosystem through a backdoor created by an incorrect software upgrade with vulnerabilities.

Static Application Security Testing tools saves you from such catastrophes by creating robust codebase structures and optimizing your data security measures in general.

Faster Release Cycles

Development teams can automate the most time-consuming operations in a DevOps CI/CD pipeline and consistently create quality products with secure code review tools.

By automating code reviews, you can give your team members more time to work on other critical tasks like moving a project down the pipeline, working on the upcoming release, delivering products at a faster rate, and getting a competitive edge in the market.

Static Analysis vs Dynamic Analysis: What’s the Difference?

Although both static and dynamic analysis complement each other to a large extent, there's some basic differences between these two.

Static code analysis focuses on the source code to identify problems with the logic and programming. On the other hand, testing potential code execution paths is a part of dynamic code analysis, which involves running code and analyzing the results.

When developers test the code, they are engaging in dynamic analysis, although in the most basic form. Static analysis is carried out by programmers as they evaluate the code. Whichever tools they use, programmers and developers are conducting analysis that ultimately leads to improved code.

Teams should optimize both static and dynamic code because using either one alone is not the best choice. Static and dynamic analysis cannot be alternatives to development teams. Instead, think of them as interdependent and complementary.

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Top Static Code Analysis Tools

Now that we are well aware of the definition and benefits of static code analysis, let’s look at some of the best SAST tools available in the market:

SonarQube

SonarQube is the most popular static SAST application that you can use to help development teams during code reviews while also continuously checking the security and quality of your codebases. In addition, SonarQube code analysis offers code-review tools, a CI server, IDE and Jenkins services, and much more to help you actively make the necessary corrections.

Top Features

• Multi-language support
• Quality code release
• Identification of tricky issues
• Security analysis
• Easy maintainability

Veracode

Veracode is one of the most well-known code analysis tools focusing solely on security vulnerabilities. The service offered by this tool comprises policy scans, pipeline scans, and IDE scans, in addition to code checks across the Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment pipeline to look for security flaws. As part of the system, it crafts a code evaluation report for audit.

Top Features

• Contextual platform data
• Optimal pipeline outcomes
• Continuous scanning
• Comprehensive DevSecOps
• Cloud-native SaaS architecture

DeepSource

Throughout the code review process, DeepSource enables you to automatically detect and correct errors in your code. You can integrate it with your Bitbucket, GitLab or GitHub account. This static analyzer searches for performance glitches, potential bug sources, anti-patterns, and accordingly raise issues. Additionally, DeepSource generates and keeps track of metrics like resource usage, documentation coverage, dependency count, etc.

Top Features

• Bug tracking and dashboard software
• Support for parallel execution
• Quality check of pull requests
• Single file configuration
• Code formatters for commits

Codacy

Here's another great tool for SAST testing that enables development teams to increase the quality of their code in every commit. and reduce technical debt. In addition to saving time during code reviews, you may enforce your standards for code quality and security measures.

Top Features

• Quality evolution tracking
• Code standardization
• Configuration file support
• Cluster installation
• Self-hosting capabilities

Reshift

Reshift is a SaaS-based software platform that empowers developers to continually deliver reliable deliverables without hindering the CI/CD solution. It helps software firms meet regulatory and compliance protocols by lowering the cost and time associated with discovering and fixing vulnerabilities, assessing potential data breaches, and identifying possible risks.

Top Features

• Penetration testing as a service
• Security scanning
• Developer training
• Integrated management portal
• Thread modeling

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Enable Static Analysis with RadixwebEvery software development life cycle should incorporate the valuable practice of static code analysis. Regardless of how your application performs or what the structure of your development cycle is, if you use continuous delivery pipelines, you should think about including an automatic code analysis tool and making sure that the release for customer-facing environments holds if the code quality is not up to the mark.Although there is a considerable upfront cost required to set up this technique in the pipeline, the payoffs are worth it.And we can help you leverage the rewards of SAST tooling. Our developers have in-depth knowledge on all types of DevOps automation and software testing methods, including static analysis, so that we can ensure that the product we are going to deliver to the client turns out perfect from the ground up.Let's talk about project, shall we?