Source code manipulation
Coccinelle is a tool for manipulating C source code. Because it really
understands C, you can make complex changes, e.g. If x is an integer,
replace if (!x) with if (x == 0)
This means that you could define some code style rules and automatically check that they’re being used.
Coccinelle uses a transformation language that it applies to C source. The output is a diff that can be applied.
/* Source file to be checked */
int main()
{
char *x = NULL;
if (x == NULL)
something();
}
// Find pointers that are checked against NULL
@@
type T;
identifier I;
statement S1;
@@
T *I;
(
- if (I == NULL)
+ if (!I)
S1
)
# Generate the diff
spatch --sp-file null-check.cocci source.c
--- source.c
+++ source.c
@@ -4,6 +4,6 @@ int main()
{
char *x = NULL;
- if (x == NULL)
+ if (!x)
something();
}
Here are more examples that have been used on NeoMutt:
