# Pylint vs SpotBugs

**Leader by Vioscale score:** Pylint

| Attribute | Pylint | SpotBugs |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 72.2 (54% (medium)) | 53.7 (49% (low)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 96 | 34 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 117,361 | 2,768 |
| adoption.github_stars | 5,715 | 3,925 |
| deployment.options | `{"self_hosted":true}` | `{"on_prem":true,"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | Pylint automatically scans Python source code to identify problems with coding standards compliance, detect runtime errors, and suggest refactoring improvements. It supports extensive customization through configuration files and plugins. | An open-source utility that examines Java source code to identify potential programming issues without executing it. It integrates with build tools and IDEs through plugins and supports community-contributed or custom analysis rules. |
| features.capabilities | `{"autofix":false,"metrics":true,"function":"linter","ci_gating":true,"deployment":"cli_local","open_source":"oss","config_model":"config_file","custom_rules":true,"impl_language":"Python","pricing_model":"free","language_scope":"single_language","editor_integration":true}` | `{"autofix":false,"function":"static_analyzer","deployment":"cli_local","open_source":"oss","config_model":"rule_packs","custom_rules":true,"impl_language":"Java","pricing_model":"free","language_scope":"single_language","editor_integration":true}` |
| integrations.count | 10 | 6 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Vim"},{"name":"Emacs"},{"name":"Eclipse"},{"name":"TextMate"},{"name":"PyDev"},{"name":"Spyder"},{"name":"Editra"},{"name":"Jenkins"},{"name":"Hudson"},{"name":"Apycot"}]` | `[{"name":"Maven"},{"name":"Gradle"},{"name":"Eclipse"},{"name":"Ant"},{"name":"fb-contrib"},{"name":"find-sec-bugs"}]` |
| language.primary | Python | Java |
| license.spdx | GPL-2.0 | LGPL-2.1 |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true,"mac":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` | `{"cli":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"free","summary":"Free and open source. Commercial support services available.","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://www.pylint.org/","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T11:08:27.719Z"}` | `{"type":"open_source","sourceUrl":"https://spotbugs.github.io/","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T08:33:37.010Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | commercial | open_source |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| pricing.transparent | yes | - |
| release.cadence_days | 24 | 24 |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v4.0.7","date":"2026-08-09T19:12:32Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.0.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v4.0.6","date":"2026-06-14T14:42:38Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.0.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v4.0.5","date":"2026-02-20T09:06:45Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.0.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v4.0.4","date":"2025-11-30T13:28:26Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.0.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v4.0.3","date":"2025-11-13T15:53:59Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.0.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v4.0.2","date":"2025-10-20T13:01:44Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.0.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v4.0.1","date":"2025-10-15T05:40:09Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.0.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v4.0.0","date":"2025-10-12T15:16:43Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.0.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v3.3.9","date":"2025-10-05T18:37:27Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.3.9"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v3.3.8","date":"2025-08-09T09:12:00Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.3.8"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v3.3.7","date":"2025-05-04T17:07:12Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.3.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v3.3.6","date":"2025-03-20T11:24:54Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.3.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v3.3.5","date":"2025-03-09T06:47:06Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.3.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v3.3.5a0","date":"2025-03-08T22:20:59Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v3.3.5a0"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v3.3.4","date":"2025-01-28T13:27:51Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.3.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v3.3.3","date":"2024-12-24T02:30:21Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.3.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v3.3.2","date":"2024-12-01T18:45:02Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.3.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v3.3.1","date":"2024-09-24T11:10:22Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.3.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v3.3.0","date":"2024-09-20T13:03:35Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.3.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/pylint-dev/pylint/releases/tag/v3.2.7","date":"2024-08-31T14:25:58Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.2.7"}]` | `[{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.10.4","date":"2026-08-20T03:22:34Z","type":"stable","version":"4.10.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.10.3","date":"2026-07-12T23:54:13Z","type":"stable","version":"4.10.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.10.2","date":"2026-06-09T20:24:17Z","type":"stable","version":"4.10.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.10.1","date":"2026-06-08T13:19:51Z","type":"stable","version":"4.10.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.10.0","date":"2026-06-08T01:28:41Z","type":"stable","version":"4.10.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.9.8","date":"2025-10-18T16:45:29Z","type":"stable","version":"4.9.8"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.9.7","date":"2025-10-14T22:32:35Z","type":"stable","version":"4.9.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.9.6","date":"2025-09-17T02:07:29Z","type":"stable","version":"4.9.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.9.5","date":"2025-09-15T01:58:47Z","type":"stable","version":"4.9.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.9.4","date":"2025-08-10T00:26:10Z","type":"stable","version":"4.9.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.9.3","date":"2025-03-15T19:18:36Z","type":"stable","version":"4.9.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.9.2","date":"2025-03-01T20:12:52Z","type":"stable","version":"4.9.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.9.1","date":"2025-02-05T16:59:04Z","type":"stable","version":"4.9.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.9.0","date":"2025-01-16T05:16:00Z","type":"stable","version":"4.9.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.8.6","date":"2024-06-18T02:46:58Z","type":"stable","version":"4.8.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.8.5","date":"2024-05-03T23:22:14Z","type":"stable","version":"4.8.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.8.4","date":"2024-04-23T13:33:59Z","type":"stable","version":"4.8.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.8.3","date":"2023-12-12T10:47:36Z","type":"stable","version":"4.8.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.8.2","date":"2023-11-29T04:06:02Z","type":"stable","version":"4.8.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/spotbugs/spotbugs/releases/tag/4.8.1","date":"2023-11-07T02:19:27Z","type":"stable","version":"4.8.1"}]` |
| reliability.status_page | - | yes |
| security.scorecard | 8.1 | 5.1 |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=pypi&package_name=pylint&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=maven&package_name=com.github.spotbugs%3Aspotbugs-annotations&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` |

## Capabilities (Code Quality Tools)

| Capability | Pylint | SpotBugs |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Function | Linter | Static analyzer |
| Language scope | Single-language | Single-language |
| Implementation language | Python | Java |
| **Capability** |  |  |
| Autofix | ✗ | ✗ |
| **Config** |  |  |
| Config model | Config file | Rule packs |
| **Extensibility** |  |  |
| Custom rules | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Deployment | CLI-local | CLI-local |
| **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 2026-09-01T17:00:35.514Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*