Infer

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Score7.2

Rank#5 of 38

PriceFree

Free planYes

Runs onLinux, macOS, Self-hosted, Web

Summary

Infer is a free static analyzer that reports potential bugs in source code before it ships. It supports Java, C, C++, Objective-C, and Erlang, with checks that include null pointer errors, memory or resource leaks, coding conventions, unavailable APIs, and concurrency problems. Its analysis can follow issues across functions or methods in multiple files. Pulse handles memory safety and value analysis, while RacerD focuses on thread safety. Infer captures compilation commands, analyzes the captured files, and creates reports that can be explored with infer explore; files that are not compiled are not analyzed. Documented integrations include ant, Buck, CMake, Gradle, Make, Maven, xcodebuild, and xctool. You can use a binary release, build from source, run a Docker image, or try a small browser example through Codeboard. The latest binary release is described for Linux and macOS. Infer is not supported on Windows, though the documentation suggests using a Linux virtual machine if the project can compile there. It is also used in Meta's continuous-integration pipeline for selected code properties.

Who it is for

Infer suits developers and teams who want static checks for supported languages before code ships, including in CI workflows. It is not suitable for Windows-native use, and it only analyzes files captured during compilation.

What is good

Free, with binary, source-build, and Docker options.
Checks Java, C, C++, Objective-C, and Erlang.
Can identify issues spanning multiple functions or files.
Integrates with several documented build systems.
Includes Pulse memory and RacerD thread-safety checkers.

What to know first

Windows is not supported.
Uncompiled files are not analyzed.
Cost analysis lacks Python, Rust, and Swift support.
Java support may require GPL-licensed components.

Verdict

Infer offers broad static analysis for several languages and build workflows at no cost. Check its platform and compilation-capture requirements before adopting it.

Infer plans and pricing

All plans

Infer (free) Free Static analysis for supported programming languages; downloadable binary, source build, or Docker image fbinfer.com · 2 Oct 2026

Compared on static analysis tools

Free plan: Yesfbinfer.com
Security analysis: Yesfbinfer.com

Facts

Purpose: Infer is a static analysis tool that produces a list of potential bugs from Java or C/C++/Objective-C code.fbinfer.com · 1 Oct 2026
Java checks: For Android and Java, Infer checks null pointer exceptions, resource leaks, annotation reachability, missing lock guards, and concurrency race conditions.fbinfer.com · 1 Oct 2026
C-family checks: For C, C++, and iOS/Objective-C, Infer checks null pointer dereferences, memory leaks, coding conventions, and unavailable APIs.fbinfer.com · 1 Oct 2026
Supported languages: Infer is a static program analyzer for Java, C, C++, Objective-C, and Erlang, written in OCaml.fbinfer.com · 1 Oct 2026
Deep analysis: Infer can detect issues such as null pointer dereferences and data races by reasoning across multiple functions or methods in different files.fbinfer.com · 1 Oct 2026
Pulse: Pulse is an interprocedural memory safety analysis that can detect null dereferences in Java.fbinfer.com · 1 Oct 2026
Cost analysis: Cost analysis computes asymptotic function complexity and supports C/C++/Objective-C and Java, with Hack experimental and no Python, Rust, or Swift support.fbinfer.com · 1 Oct 2026
Integrations: Infer documents integrations for Buck, cmake, Gradle, Make, Maven, Xcodebuild, xctool, and compilation databases.fbinfer.com · 1 Oct 2026
Deployment: Infer runs in Meta's continuous-integration pipeline to verify select properties of code modifications for projects including Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp.fbinfer.com · 1 Oct 2026
Installation: Infer can be installed from binary releases, built from source, or run using Docker images.fbinfer.com · 1 Oct 2026
Browser demo: Infer can be tried on a small example in a browser through Codeboard.fbinfer.com · 1 Oct 2026
Windows support: Infer is not supported on Windows; the documentation suggests using a Linux virtual machine if the project can compile on Linux.fbinfer.com · 1 Oct 2026
Support: Support is provided through GitHub issues and the #infer IRC channel on Libera Chat.fbinfer.com · 1 Oct 2026
License: The Infer repository states that Infer is MIT-licensed, while noting that enabling Java support may require GPL-licensed components.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
What it does: Infer is a static analyzer that reports potential bugs in source code before it ships.fbinfer.com · 2 Oct 2026
Languages: The documentation lists Java, C, C++, Objective-C, and Erlang; the latest release notes also describe Python and Swift frontends and an experimental Rust frontend.fbinfer.com · 2 Oct 2026
Bug detection: Infer can detect issues including null pointer dereferences, data races, and other bugs that may span multiple functions or files.fbinfer.com · 2 Oct 2026
Analysis workflow: Infer captures compilation commands, analyzes the captured files, and writes reports that can be explored with infer explore.fbinfer.com · 2 Oct 2026
CI use: The recommended CI flow is to identify modified files and run analysis in reactive mode starting from those files.fbinfer.com · 2 Oct 2026
Build integrations: Documented build system integrations include ant, Buck, CMake, Gradle, Make, Maven, xcodebuild, and xctool.fbinfer.com · 2 Oct 2026
Checker features: Available checkers include Pulse for general-purpose memory and value analysis and RacerD for thread-safety analysis.fbinfer.com · 2 Oct 2026
Download options: Users can download binary releases, build Infer from source, or use a Docker image; the getting-started guide also offers a small browser example through Codeboard.fbinfer.com · 2 Oct 2026
Supported systems: The latest release is described as a binary release for Linux and macOS, while the support FAQ says Infer is not supported on Windows.github.com · 2 Oct 2026
Limit: Infer analyzes files captured during compilation, so if no file is compiled, no file is analyzed.fbinfer.com · 2 Oct 2026
Maker use: Infer is deployed within Meta's continuous integration pipeline to verify selected properties of code modifications across projects including Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp.fbinfer.com · 2 Oct 2026