Open Source Alternatives to Semgrep

Opengrep is an open-source static code analysis engine designed to help developers and security teams find security issues in codebases. Born as a fork of Semgrep CE (formerly Semgrep OSS), Opengrep was created in response to the removal of critical features from the original open-source project, ensuring that advanced static analysis capabilities remain freely accessible to everyone. The project is backed by a consortium of over ten organizations in the application security space, pooling resources and expertise to advance the state of static application security testing (SAST).

Opengrep’s mission is to build the most advanced, fully open-source static analysis engine. It aims to commoditize and democratize SAST by providing a powerful scanning engine that does not restrict essential features or metadata behind commercial licenses or logins. The engine is backward compatible and supports common output formats like JSON and SARIF, making it easy to integrate into existing workflows and CI/CD pipelines.

Key features of Opengrep include:

• Advanced Scanning Engine: Delivers comprehensive static analysis without hiding essential metadata or capabilities behind paywalls.
• Backward Compatibility: Supports common output formats such as JSON and SARIF for seamless integration.
• Extended Language Support: Restores and expands language support that was previously removed from open-source versions.
• Inter-procedural and Cross-file Analysis: Enables powerful analyses across functions and files, unlocking capabilities that were previously pro-only.
• Windows Support: Expands platform compatibility to include Windows environments.
• Community-driven Development: Contributions are reviewed and accepted based on merit, not commercial interests, ensuring a truly open and collaborative project.
• Long-term Open Governance: A commitment to move Opengrep under foundation management guarantees its open future and continued community stewardship.

Opengrep stands out as a robust, community-driven alternative for static code analysis, especially for those seeking transparency, extensibility, and assurance that future improvements will remain open. Its collaborative development model, strong organizational backing, and focus on advanced features make it a compelling choice for organizations and individuals who prioritize open-source security tooling and want to avoid vendor lock-in.