CodeCompass

Paid APILinuxSelf-hostedWeb

What CodeCompass is

CodeCompass is a free, open-source code comprehension tool for exploring large software codebases. Its web interface lets users move among source-code elements and use text and definition search, file and path filters, and language-specific search options. A file manager, metrics, Git diff, and revision-control navigation support further analysis. Diagrams cover call paths, inheritance, aggregation, and CodeBites. The project describes support for several languages, with deep parsing for C, C++, and Java and more languages planned; its web server also handles some standard and non-standard Language Server Protocol requests for C and C++ projects. CodeCompass says it responds quickly on codebases up to 100Mb. The tool can be self-hosted, with SQLite or PostgreSQL databases; PostgreSQL is recommended for production on medium-size or larger projects. Optional authentication and SSL mode are available in the usage guide, while HTTP is the default. The demonstration server cannot parse private projects, but users can request an open-source project by sharing a source link, such as a GitHub or GitLab repository. Development downloads are listed for Ubuntu 20.04, SUSE 15, and Ubuntu 16.04, alongside previous stable releases.

Who it suits

CodeCompass suits developers and teams who need to navigate and inspect large source codebases through a web interface, especially for C, C++, or Java parsing. It is also relevant to organizations able to host and configure the tool themselves.

What it does well

Free and open source under GPL-3.0.
Web UI combines search, file filters, metrics, and revision navigation.
Includes call path, inheritance, aggregation, and CodeBites diagrams.
Supports SQLite and PostgreSQL database backends.
Optional authentication and SSL mode are described.

What to know first

The demonstration server cannot parse private projects.
Deep parsing is specified for C, C++, and Java.
Production use on medium-size or larger projects is guided toward PostgreSQL.

Limits

The demonstration server cannot parse private projects. The documented deep parsing is for C, C++, and Java, with additional languages planned.

Getting started

Visit https://codecompass.net/ to access the project site.
Choose a listed development release for Ubuntu 20.04, SUSE 15, or Ubuntu 16.04, or use a previous stable release.
Set up a database with SQLite or PostgreSQL; PostgreSQL is recommended for production on medium-size or larger projects.
Configure optional authentication or SSL mode if needed; HTTP is the default.
For an open-source project request, provide a source link such as a GitHub or GitLab repository.

Verdict

Choose CodeCompass if you want a free, self-hosted web tool for exploring source code with search, diagrams, metrics, and revision views. Look elsewhere if your project needs private-code parsing on the demonstration server or deep language parsing beyond C, C++, and Java.

Questions

Is CodeCompass free and open source?

Yes. It is free, and the maker’s GitHub repository identifies it as GPL-3.0 licensed.

Which platforms are listed?

The listed platforms are API, Linux, self-hosted, and web. Development downloads are listed for Ubuntu 20.04, SUSE 15, and Ubuntu 16.04.

Which languages does it parse?

The project describes several languages, with deep parsing for C, C++, and Java. More languages are planned.

Can CodeCompass parse private code on its demonstration server?

No. The demonstration server cannot parse private projects.

Which databases can it use?

CodeCompass supports SQLite and PostgreSQL. Its usage guide recommends PostgreSQL for production on medium-size or larger projects.

How can users report a security issue?

The project asks users to report vulnerabilities through GitHub Security Advisories. Security updates cover the current development release and the last stable version.

Facts from CodeCompass's own pages

Authentication and HTTPS: The usage guide describes optional authentication and SSL mode using a certificate file in the workspace; HTTP is the default. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Databases: CodeCompass supports SQLite and PostgreSQL; its usage guide recommends PostgreSQL for production on medium-size or larger projects. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Demo limitation: The demonstrational server cannot parse private projects. · codecompass.net, 4 Oct 2026
Diagrams: It provides call path, inheritance, aggregation, and CodeBites diagrams. · codecompass.net, 9 Oct 2026
Downloads: The download page lists Linux tarballs for Ubuntu and SUSE, including a development release labeled ubuntu-20.04 dated 2026-04-22. · codecompass.net, 9 Oct 2026
Example projects: The site lists parsed projects including cJSON, cURL, Doxygen, GoogleTest, LLVM-Clang, and Apache Xerces-C. · codecompass.net, 4 Oct 2026
Hosting limitation: The demonstrational server cannot parse private projects, and project requests require a source code link such as a GitHub or GitLab repository. · codecompass.net, 9 Oct 2026
Languages: The official site describes support for C, C++, and Java, with more languages planned. · codecompass.net, 9 Oct 2026
Language server support: The webserver supports some standard and non-standard Language Server Protocol requests for C and C++ projects. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Navigation: It provides fast navigation among source code elements through a web UI. · codecompass.net, 4 Oct 2026
Navigation and analysis: The interface includes a file manager, metrics, diagrams, Git diff, and revision control navigation. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Open source: The Ericsson CodeCompass repository is public and identifies its license as GPL-3.0. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Parsing and search: The frontend guide describes text search, definition search, file and path filters, and language-specific search options. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Product: CodeCompass is a pluggable code comprehension tool for large scale software. · codecompass.net, 4 Oct 2026
Project requests: Users can request an open source project by providing a source code link, including a GitHub or GitLab repository. · codecompass.net, 4 Oct 2026
Purpose: CodeCompass is a pluginable code comprehension tool for large scale software. · codecompass.net, 9 Oct 2026
Scale: The site says CodeCompass responds quickly on source code bases as large as 100Mb. · codecompass.net, 9 Oct 2026
Security reporting: The project asks users to report vulnerabilities through GitHub Security Advisories. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Security support: The security policy says security updates cover the current development release and the last stable version. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Support: The project contact page invites questions by email at [email protected]. · codecompass.net, 9 Oct 2026
Support contact: The project lists [email protected] for questions about the project. · codecompass.net, 4 Oct 2026
Web interface: The product provides a user friendly web UI for navigating source code. · codecompass.net, 9 Oct 2026

Where CodeCompass stands on Freedom251

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