SonarQube Server Review: Reviewing code quality has never been so easy

In the world of software development, maintaining the highest quality of the generated code is simply fundamental to be able to offer fast and secure applications. Adopting a proactive approach when developing clean code - popularly known as Clean As You Code - is increasingly an indispensable necessity at the business level. However, it is not something easy to assume without help.

In this context stands out SonarQube Server, a code analysis platform designed to evaluate and improve the quality and security of the source code, thus contributing to code security from the early stages of development.

In today's article we will offer you an analysis of SonarQube Server, a continuous inspection platform that helps us detect code errors before they reach production. In this review, we will talk about how we can get the most out of this software and why it is a tool that, due to its versatility and capabilities, should be part of the development workflow in practically any company.

What is SonarQube Server

SonarQube Server is a static code analysis platform that helps us identify bugs, vulnerabilities, and code smells in more than 30 programming languages, including Java, C#, and PHP. It is also compatible with tools and development environments like Visual Studio. It is based on a client-server architecture from which it analyzes the source code and generates reports with the results, including, among others, key quality metrics. User management and creation is essential to access the platform and manage projects.

SonarQube Server stands out for its compliance with security standards, including compatibility with CWE Top 25 and CWE Top 25 On the Cusp, allowing the detection of critical vulnerabilities according to the industry's most recognized standards. Additionally, it incorporates advanced AI capabilities (Sonar AI Codefix) to enhance code quality and security. This facilitates automatic error correction and continuous improvement. The coding rules and best practices implemented in SonarQube Server are aimed at ensuring software security and quality from the ground up.

The interface of SonarQube stands out for its login page and reports page, key elements in the user experience. Unlike the Cloud versions of the tool, such as SonarCloud, the Server edition is installed directly locally or on our company’s private cloud, which translates into full control over both the infrastructure itself and the data of our projects.

The free version of SonarQube Server, SonarQube Community Edition, focuses on open-source projects and small teams. However, to enjoy features like branch analysis or SAST vulnerability detection, we need the Server version. A version where, with its clean interface, we can configure continuous integration pipelines that send the code for analysis. Access to reports and project management is also done through the platform.

Although SonarQube Server is often confused with cloud solutions like SonarCloud, the Server edition does not impose any limits on the size of analyzable code—as long as we have the adequate infrastructure. Compared to alternatives like Kiuwan or Veracode, SonarQube Server offers a truly exceptional combination of analysis capability and protection of our intellectual property, although it may require a considerable investment in hardware resources for larger projects.

In these cases, and depending on the privacy guarantees we need for the code, we can opt for SonarQube Cloud. It offers a SaaS model with billing according to lines of code and managed maintenance. Additionally, it is possible to review the version history and changes to compare differences between SonarQube Server and SonarCloud, facilitating development management and continuous improvement. Without further ado, let’s discuss what makes this software special.

Key Features of SonarQube Server

SonarQube Server offers us a perfectly balanced combination of functionalities designed to ensure thorough control of code quality and everything that entails. The following features stand out:

• Multilanguage Static Analysis (with 27 supported languages): SonarQube Server can analyze projects in Java, C#, JavaScript, Python, C/C++, and much more.
• AI-Generated Code Analysis (Sonar AI CodeFix): SonarQube automatically detects code generated by artificial intelligence and validates it through structured and exhaustive analysis. This improves code security and quality, providing a quick and effective resolution of possible issues caused by it.
• CI/CD Integrations: It offers compatibility with Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps, and Bitbucket Pipelines. Thanks to this, we can implement Quality Gates in SonarQube to block merges if expected quality levels are not met, preventing the accumulation of what is commonly called technical debt.
• Customizable Quality Gates: In relation to the previous point, we can define rules based on different metrics such as test coverage, number of vulnerabilities, or amount of code duplication.
• 30 Supported Languages and Frameworks: Among them are Java, C#, C/C++, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Go, Swift, Azure Resource Manager, etc.
• Vulnerability Detection and SAST: SonarQube can automatically identify risks associated with OWASP Top 10 and SANS Top 25. If detected, it provides detailed information about the location of the issue and suggestions for correction.
• Code Coverage Metrics: Records the percentage of code covered by unit tests, which is key to focusing our analysis on critical areas that require more validation.
• Duplicate Code Detection: Locates blocks of repeated code, which allows us to reduce redundancies and simplify maintenance.
• Secrets Detection: SonarQube is capable of detecting confidential and sensitive information in the source code.
• Plugin Support: Its extensible architecture allows us to install plugins in SonarQube so we can very easily expand rules or add additional languages and integrations, for example.

Pros of SonarQube Server

• Free and open-source Community Edition version to test without commitment what the tool offers us in our projects.
• Extensive multilingual support, with more than 30 languages covered, it adapts to the most heterogeneous environments, which is key to maintaining consistency in quality of full-stack projects.
• Simple integrations with existing pipelines thanks to its compatibility with Jenkins, Azure DevOps, and GitHub Actions allowing us to automate analysis without needing to migrate from the tools we are already using.
• SonarQube Quality Gates to stop projects that do not meet established levels, preventing poor code from advancing without corrections in the development cycle.
• Detection of code smells and SAST vulnerabilities before the testing phase, greatly reducing production risks.
• User interface designed to improve developer productivity and reduce fatigue.
• Active plugin ecosystem. Among them, SonarQube LTS plugins and third-party ones as well.
• Detailed reports and actionable metrics to visualize trends, measure the evolution of technical debt, and assess the return on investment in project quality.

Disadvantages of SonarQube Server

• Requires significant server resources for larger projects, where analysis can consume considerable CPU and memory.
• Considerable initial configuration curve, especially in advanced settings and Quality Gates that require technical knowledge from the DevOps team.
• Some features are only available in commercial editions, such as branch analysis, portfolios, and advanced reporting.
• Possible false positives, although as with other SAST solutions, manual review of certain results is needed to discard irrelevant alerts.
• Dependence on plugins of variable quality for certain very specific functions.

Who is SonarQube Server for?

Practically any company involved in development will benefit from SonarQube Server, but there are certain scenarios where the tool stands out. It is ideal for:

• Backend and frontend developers who use multiple languages (Java, Python, JavaScript, C/C++) in the same project and need unified analysis.
• Quality engineers and testers who seek clear metrics on code coverage and duplication detection to develop more effective and, at the same time, simple testing strategies.
• IT security teams who require SAST implementations integrated into their usual workflow.
• Startups and SMEs looking for an open-source solution to improve their product quality without having to pay large amounts.

Why should my company use SonarQube Server?

During our analysis of SonarQube Server, we spoke with experts and companies that have already implemented this service in their ecosystem. With data in hand, we can highlight several reasons that lead companies to use it. The following stand out:

• SonarQube allows detecting errors and vulnerabilities in each commit, avoiding later correction costs.
• The on-premise installation guarantees total control over data and compliance with privacy regulations.
• Custom rules allow achieving clean and uniform code throughout the project.
• The SonarQube infrastructure easily adapts to the project's growth.
• It integrates into practically any existing DevOps workflow.

Why do some companies not use SonarQube Server?

Despite its advantages, some organizations choose not to implement SonarQube Server. The main reasons are these:

• The cost of maintaining own servers can be too high for environments with more limited resources.
• The configuration and maintenance of SonarQube Server is complex for teams with little DevOps experience.
• The free edition of SonarQube does not cover all needs.
• Some companies prefer to use SaaS solutions to avoid infrastructure management.

SonarQube Server Plans and Pricing

Regarding prices and discounts, SonarQube offers us different plans and a variety of products tailored to each client's needs. They are as follows:

• Free (free): Being clear that this is a cloud solution and not a local installation, it allows us to try the tool's capabilities with no commitment.
• Developer (starting at 720 EUR/year): A plan designed for small teams, with up to 100,000 lines of code. It includes branch analysis, coverage analysis, the error and secret detection system. It includes AI Code Assurance and commercial support, with a single integration with DevOps platforms.
• Enterprise (price upon request): Aimed at companies with more than 1 million lines of code. Adds more advanced security reports, monorepo management, and project health metrics. Incorporates AI CodeFix, 24/7 support, and unlimited DevOps integrations.
• Data Center (price upon request): Intended for organizations with large volumes of code (more than 20 million). Offers high availability, autoscaling, redundancy, and data resilience.

Implementation, training, and documentation

Setting up SonarQube Server requires certain steps that involve adaptations both in the infrastructure and in the project settings itself. By phases, we are at the following:

1. Server installation: We can deploy it on a Linux or Windows virtual machine. SonarQube works with a database (such as PostgreSQL or MySQL) and a Java Runtime, so we will need to install both components.
2. Initial configuration: We edit the sonar.properties file to define the database connection, the server port (usually 9000), and the credentials.
3. Integration with CI/CD: We install the appropriate scanner for the language on our build agents. We configure pipelines to run the analysis and send the results to the SonarQube Server endpoint.
4. Definition of Quality Gates and quality profiles: From the web interface, we create and customize rules according to our internal standards. We can import existing profiles or adapt those that come default with SonarQube.

At any point in the process, keep in mind that SonarSource provides extensive official documentation, webinars, and online courses to facilitate onboarding. Additionally, thanks to the active SonarQube community, we find forums, blogs, and tutorials. For more advanced training, we have the option of hiring the official SonarSource consultancy, with in-person or virtual training tailored to the specific needs of our team and project.

Customer Service: How to contact SonarQube?

While the free edition of SonarQube mainly relies on the community, forums, and public documentation to resolve issues, the Developer, Enterprise, and Data Center editions include official SonarSource support through tickets on the customer portal. 

Response times and level of service vary according to the plan: the Developer Edition offers support via email; the Enterprise Edition adds enhanced SLAs and, if contracted, phone or direct engineer access. The Data Center Edition provides access to priority support and proactive advice.

In all cases, SonarSource keeps the official documentation updated with troubleshooting guides, FAQs, and configuration examples, so support is not always the exclusive resource.

Best Alternatives to SonarQube Server

After thoroughly analyzing this software, you might be thinking that it is not what your business needs. Don’t worry, because there are several alternatives to SonarQube Server on the market that can fit your business model. We highlight the following three:

Veracode vs SonarQube

Veracode is a SaaS application security analysis platform focused on SAST and SCA. Unlike SonarQube Server, Veracode requires no on-premise installation. It stands out for its deeper analysis of third-party libraries, even identifying vulnerabilities in open source dependencies. 

This makes it a very important option when supply chain security is critical. That said, Veracode usually has a higher price compared to SonarQube.

Checkmarx vs SonarQube

Checkmarx stands out for its highly specialized focus on security, with very detailed SAST rules and the option to perform an Infrastructure as Code (IaC) type analysis. We have the option to deploy it on-premise or in the cloud, and in both cases it offers continuous security scanning and helps us comply with regulations such as PCI DSS or GDPR. 

Despite its advantages, SonarQube Server gives us a broader spectrum of code quality analysis, covering maintenance and duplication aspects that Checkmarx does not address.

Coverity vs SonarQube

Coverity, now part of Synopsys, is another static analysis tool used by many large companies to identify bugs in C, C++, and Java code. It is especially known for its accuracy in detecting the most complex errors and for its ability to integrate into large CI/CD pipelines. 

Coverity is, however, a solution with a really high cost, which makes it considerably less attractive for medium-sized projects. SonarQube Server, on the other hand, offers us a free option with the ability to expand through plugins and with a very active community to take this plan further.

SonarQube Server is our best ally for maintaining clean code

All things considered, SonarQube Server is simply essential for teams looking to easily improve code quality. Thanks to its extensive —and extendable through plugins— language support, its integration with CI/CD pipelines, and the option to install it on-premise —crucial for the privacy of certain projects—, SonarQube Server is a benchmark for verifying our developments.

While some companies prefer SaaS solutions for their simplicity in both implementation and maintenance, the Server version of SonarQube offers us flexibility and scalability that few tools allow. With an increasingly active plugin ecosystem and a community ready to support the project, SonarQube Server is a safe bet for us to review our code easily, comprehensively, and above all, reliably.