CodeCompass
CodeCompass is a free, open-source tool for understanding large software codebases.
What CodeCompass is
CodeCompass is a free, open-source tool for understanding large software codebases. It presents source code in a web interface for navigation among code elements, with text and definition search, file and path filters, metrics, and revision-control views. Diagrams include call paths, inheritance, aggregation, and CodeBites. The project describes support for several languages, with deep parsing for C, C++, and Java; additional languages are planned. Its webserver also supports some standard and non-standard Language Server Protocol requests for C and C++ projects.
CodeCompass says it responds quickly on source bases up to 100Mb. Users can request an open-source project by sharing a source link, such as a GitHub or GitLab repository, but the demonstration server cannot parse private projects. The project lists parsed examples including cJSON, cURL, Doxygen, GoogleTest, LLVM-Clang, and Apache Xerces-C. For deployment, it supports SQLite and PostgreSQL, with PostgreSQL recommended for production on medium-size or larger projects. The usage guide describes optional authentication and SSL mode; HTTP is the default. The GitHub repository identifies the project as GPL-3.0 licensed.
Good
- Open-source and GPL-3.0 licensed.
- Includes diagrams for call paths and inheritance.
- Supports deep parsing for C, C++, and Java.
- Provides search, filters, metrics, and revision-control navigation.
- Supports SQLite and PostgreSQL.
Watch out
- The demonstration server cannot parse private projects.
- Deep parsing is listed for C, C++, and Java.
- HTTP is the default; SSL mode is optional.
Who it suits
CodeCompass suits developers who need to browse or analyze large source codebases through a web interface. Teams considering self-hosting can weigh its database options and documented authentication and SSL settings.
Verdict
CodeCompass offers code navigation and analysis features for larger codebases, with its strongest stated parsing support for C, C++, and Java. Private projects require a deployment beyond the demonstration server.
The facts
Each one read from CodeCompass's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Authentication and HTTPS
- The usage guide describes optional authentication and SSL mode using a certificate file in the workspace; HTTP is the default.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Databases
- CodeCompass supports SQLite and PostgreSQL; its usage guide recommends PostgreSQL for production on medium-size or larger projects.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Demo limitation
- The demonstrational server cannot parse private projects.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Diagrams
- It provides call path, inheritance, aggregation, and CodeBites diagrams.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The download page lists Linux tarballs for Ubuntu and SUSE, including a development release labeled ubuntu-20.04 dated 2026-04-22.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Example projects
- The site lists parsed projects including cJSON, cURL, Doxygen, GoogleTest, LLVM-Clang, and Apache Xerces-C.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Hosting limitation
- The demonstrational server cannot parse private projects, and project requests require a source code link such as a GitHub or GitLab repository.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Languages
- The official site describes support for C, C++, and Java, with more languages planned.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Language server support
- The webserver supports some standard and non-standard Language Server Protocol requests for C and C++ projects.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Navigation
- It provides fast navigation among source code elements through a web UI.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Navigation and analysis
- The interface includes a file manager, metrics, diagrams, Git diff, and revision control navigation.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Open source
- The Ericsson CodeCompass repository is public and identifies its license as GPL-3.0.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Parsing and search
- The frontend guide describes text search, definition search, file and path filters, and language-specific search options.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- CodeCompass is a pluggable code comprehension tool for large scale software.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Project requests
- Users can request an open source project by providing a source code link, including a GitHub or GitLab repository.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- CodeCompass is a pluginable code comprehension tool for large scale software.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Scale
- The site says CodeCompass responds quickly on source code bases as large as 100Mb.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Security reporting
- The project asks users to report vulnerabilities through GitHub Security Advisories.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security support
- The security policy says security updates cover the current development release and the last stable version.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project contact page invites questions by email at [email protected].checked 9 Oct 2026
- Support contact
- The project lists [email protected] for questions about the project.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Web interface
- The product provides a user friendly web UI for navigating source code.checked 9 Oct 2026
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