Eclipse Steady

Eclipse Steady is an open-source software-composition analysis system for Java and Python applications. It is best suited to development and security teams that want reachability evidence and can run supporting services themselves. The trade-off is a code-focused workflow with no licence fee, but a backend deployment the project cautions against using as a productive setup.

Overview

Eclipse Steady looks for dependencies on open-source components with known vulnerabilities. It combines static and dynamic analysis to collect evidence about whether vulnerable code is reachable or actually executed in an application context. That usage-based perspective can make findings more actionable than alerts based only on dependency metadata, particularly when developers must prioritise remediation.

The project began in SAP Security Research and was open-sourced in October 2018 under the Apache License 2.0. Its maker labels version 3.2.5 an Incubator Project, which makes it a better fit for teams prepared to follow project documentation and operate evolving infrastructure than for buyers seeking a finished managed service.

Key features

Reachability-focused assessment

Static and dynamic evidence helps distinguish a vulnerable library that is present from affected code that matters in the running application. This is Eclipse Steady's main differentiator and the reason to consider it when metadata-only software composition analysis produces too many findings.

Java and Python workflows

Java documentation covers Maven, Gradle and command-line scans, while Python applications use a documented command-line workflow. Maven users can generate summary reports in HTML, XML or JSON, giving teams options for human review and pipeline processing. Support is centred on these ecosystems rather than a broad list of language integrations.

CI and web assessment

Guidance covers Jenkins and other continuous-integration systems, so recurring scans can be incorporated into development routines. Client tools, server-side REST services and web frontends form one system; developers scan applications and assess findings in the web interface rather than treating the scanner as an isolated command.

Backend and vulnerability knowledge

A Docker Compose backend stores vulnerability information and scan results and must be running during scans. Initial setup downloads and processes code-level vulnerability information from the project's open-source knowledge base, with later updates importing daily deltas. This supports current data, but it also makes backend operation a prerequisite instead of an optional add-on.

Pricing

There is one free, open-source plan and no paid tier described. That makes Eclipse Steady suitable for teams able to provide their own hosting and maintenance without licensing expenditure. The free price does not remove the operational cost of running the backend, loading vulnerability data and integrating scans into CI.

Platforms

Eclipse Steady supports API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted and web environments. Deployment is self-hosted: the documented backend uses Docker Compose, while client workflows target Java and Python projects built with Maven or Gradle and the Python CLI. The deployment tutorial explicitly says its demonstrated setup is not intended for productive scenarios because of security and scalability concerns, so production use requires a deployment approach beyond that example.

Who it's for

Choose Eclipse Steady if your developers work mainly with Java or Python and need code-level reachability evidence to triage dependency vulnerabilities. It fits organisations comfortable operating REST services, a web frontend and a Docker-based backend, and teams that want Jenkins or similar CI automation without a licence charge.

It is a weaker choice for teams wanting a hosted scanner, turnkey production deployment or coverage beyond the documented Java and Python workflows. The incubator status and the warning attached to the sample Docker setup also favour technically capable owners who can evaluate and secure their own deployment.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Reachability evidence: static and dynamic analysis addresses whether vulnerable code is relevant, not merely whether a package appears in a manifest.
• No licence fee: the Apache 2.0 plan costs nothing, making self-hosted adoption possible without subscription spending.
• Useful Java reporting: Maven summaries can be emitted as HTML, XML and JSON for different review and automation needs.
• CI guidance: Jenkins and other continuous-integration workflows are documented for regular scanning.

Cons

• Backend required: scans depend on a running Docker Compose service that stores results and vulnerability data.
• Demonstration deployment only: the documented Docker setup is not intended for productive scenarios because of security and scalability concerns.
• Narrower ecosystem focus: documented build integrations centre on Java, Maven, Gradle and Python CLI use.
• Incubator project: version 3.2.5 is labelled an Incubator Project, which may not suit buyers seeking a mature managed product.

Alternatives

ScanCode.io is another free, Apache-2.0 option that runs as a Docker container or on a Linux server; pick it when that deployment model is preferable to Eclipse Steady's reachability-oriented Java and Python workflow.

Snyk Open Source suits teams wanting a freemium service with a hosted web experience and a Free plan covering five projects, while Eclipse Steady avoids subscription pricing but requires self-hosting.

Sonatype Nexus Repository is worth considering when repository management and CI/CD integration are the priority, with a free Community Edition and paid Pro Edition.

Accessibility Test Framework for Android is an Android-focused testing alternative rather than a dependency reachability platform.

DepWarden offers a free report-only scanner and paid Developer plan; choose it when a lighter report workflow is more important than Eclipse Steady's code-level analysis.

Docker Desktop is a general container environment, not a software-composition analysis product; it may help provide local container tooling but does not replace Eclipse Steady's scanning workflow.

Endor Labs is a freemium dependency-security option with free local scans for individual developers; choose it when that developer-first model fits better.

OpenSCA is a free tool supporting online and offline use, suitable when those operating modes matter more than Eclipse Steady's documented reachability approach.

For more choices, browse Software Composition Analysis Software.

Verdict

Eclipse Steady is a strong fit for Java and Python teams that want reachability-based vulnerability assessment, CI guidance and flexible Java reports at no licence cost. Choose it for the code-centric evidence; look elsewhere if you need a hosted, production-ready service or a broader ecosystem without running and securing a backend yourself.