# ast-grep vs Black

**Leader by Vioscale score:** Black

| Attribute | ast-grep | Black |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 59.5 (45% (low)) | 72.7 (78% (high)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 49 | 29 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 177 | 105,588 |
| adoption.github_stars | 15,649 | 41,816 |
| adoption.package_downloads_weekly | - | 39,005,228 |
| deployment.options | `{"self_hosted":true}` | `{"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | A structural code search and rewriting tool that uses AST analysis to locate and modify code patterns across thousands of files, with support for linting and programmatic access via Node.js bindings. | An opinionated Python code formatter that automatically reformats code according to a standardized style. It produces minimal diffs for cleaner code review and reduces developer cognitive load by removing formatting decisions, allowing focus on code logic. |
| features.capabilities | `{"autofix":true,"function":"static_analyzer","deployment":"cli_local","open_source":"oss","config_model":"rule_packs","custom_rules":true,"impl_language":"Rust","pricing_model":"free","language_scope":"multi_language","editor_integration":true}` | `{"autofix":true,"metrics":false,"function":"formatter","ci_gating":true,"deployment":"both","incremental":false,"open_source":"oss","config_model":"zero_config","custom_rules":false,"impl_language":"Python","pricing_model":"free","language_scope":"single_language","editor_integration":true}` |
| integrations.count | - | 8 |
| integrations.list | - | `[{"name":"Neovim"},{"name":"conform.nvim"},{"name":"ALE"},{"name":"SublimeText"},{"name":"Pre-commit"},{"name":"Jupyter Notebooks"},{"name":"blacken-docs"},{"name":"blackdoc"}]` |
| language.primary | Rust | Python |
| license.spdx | MIT | MIT |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true}` | `{"cli":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://ast-grep.github.io","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T09:19:23.517Z"}` | `{"type":"open_source","summary":"Free and open source (MIT licensed)","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://black.readthedocs.io/en/stable/","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T13:47:36.307Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | commercial | open_source |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| pricing.transparent | - | yes |
| release.cadence_days | 14 | 31 |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.45.2","date":"2026-08-23T19:48:48Z","type":"stable","version":"0.45.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.45.1","date":"2026-08-07T15:13:34Z","type":"stable","version":"0.45.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.45.0","date":"2026-07-23T16:07:00Z","type":"stable","version":"0.45.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.44.1","date":"2026-07-04T14:06:40Z","type":"stable","version":"0.44.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.44.0","date":"2026-06-22T01:49:47Z","type":"stable","version":"0.44.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.43.0","date":"2026-05-25T17:54:30Z","type":"stable","version":"0.43.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.42.3","date":"2026-05-19T15:18:18Z","type":"stable","version":"0.42.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.42.2","date":"2026-05-10T21:58:34Z","type":"stable","version":"0.42.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.42.1","date":"2026-04-04T16:01:20Z","type":"stable","version":"0.42.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.42.0","date":"2026-03-16T03:29:14Z","type":"stable","version":"0.42.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.41.1","date":"2026-03-10T14:04:27Z","type":"stable","version":"0.41.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.41.0","date":"2026-02-22T18:57:13Z","type":"stable","version":"0.41.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.40.5","date":"2026-01-10T17:57:43Z","type":"stable","version":"0.40.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.40.4","date":"2026-01-05T01:22:05Z","type":"stable","version":"0.40.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.40.3","date":"2025-12-15T15:38:42Z","type":"stable","version":"0.40.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.40.2","date":"2025-12-14T22:38:05Z","type":"stable","version":"0.40.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.40.1","date":"2025-12-11T05:41:28Z","type":"stable","version":"0.40.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.40.0","date":"2025-11-16T04:57:10Z","type":"stable","version":"0.40.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.39.9","date":"2025-11-07T02:08:26Z","type":"stable","version":"0.39.9"},{"url":"https://github.com/ast-grep/ast-grep/releases/tag/0.39.7","date":"2025-10-27T16:06:30Z","type":"stable","version":"0.39.7"}]` | `[{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/26.5.1","date":"2026-05-18T16:52:38Z","type":"stable","version":"26.5.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/26.5.0","date":"2026-05-16T17:56:23Z","type":"stable","version":"26.5.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/26.3.1","date":"2026-03-12T03:35:15Z","type":"stable","version":"26.3.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/26.3.0","date":"2026-03-06T17:41:48Z","type":"stable","version":"26.3.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/26.1.0","date":"2026-01-18T04:49:25Z","type":"stable","version":"26.1.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/26.1a1","date":"2025-12-08T01:46:21Z","type":"prerelease","version":"26.1a1"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/25.12.0","date":"2025-12-08T01:40:32Z","type":"stable","version":"25.12.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/25.11.0","date":"2025-11-10T01:53:31Z","type":"stable","version":"25.11.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/25.9.0","date":"2025-09-19T00:27:15Z","type":"stable","version":"25.9.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/25.1.0","date":"2025-01-29T04:15:11Z","type":"stable","version":"25.1.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/24.10.0","date":"2024-10-07T19:20:06Z","type":"stable","version":"24.10.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/24.8.0","date":"2024-08-02T17:42:53Z","type":"stable","version":"24.8.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/24.4.2","date":"2024-04-26T00:31:27Z","type":"stable","version":"24.4.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/24.4.1","date":"2024-04-24T15:17:30Z","type":"stable","version":"24.4.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/24.4.0","date":"2024-04-12T20:13:48Z","type":"stable","version":"24.4.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/24.3.0","date":"2024-03-15T19:35:14Z","type":"stable","version":"24.3.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/24.2.0","date":"2024-02-12T20:20:40Z","type":"stable","version":"24.2.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/24.1.1","date":"2024-01-28T05:28:09Z","type":"stable","version":"24.1.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/24.1.0","date":"2024-01-26T05:11:50Z","type":"stable","version":"24.1.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/psf/black/releases/tag/23.12.1","date":"2023-12-22T23:05:40Z","type":"stable","version":"23.12.1"}]` |
| security.disclosure_policy | - | yes |
| security.scorecard | - | 7.7 |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=%40ast-grep%2Fnapi&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | `{"count":2,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=pypi&package_name=black&per_page=100","last_12m":1,"max_severity":"HIGH"}` |

## Capabilities (Code Quality Tools)

| Capability | ast-grep | Black |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Function | Static analyzer | Formatter |
| Language scope | Multi-language | Single-language |
| Implementation language | Rust | Python |
| **Capability** |  |  |
| Autofix | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Config** |  |  |
| Config model | Rule packs | Zero-config |
| **Extensibility** |  |  |
| Custom rules | ✓ | ✗ |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Deployment | CLI-local | Both |
| **Delivery** |  |  |
| Editor integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| CI / VCS gating | - | ✓ |
| **Insight** |  |  |
| Code metrics | - | ✗ |
| **Performance** |  |  |
| Incremental / monorepo aware | - | ✗ |
| **Licensing** |  |  |
| Open-source | OSS | OSS |
| **Commercial** |  |  |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T16:58:26.584Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*