Side by side
Istanbul vs JaCoCo
Both stand on test coverage tools. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan API
Istanbul provides coverage measurement and reporting for JavaScript projects, with source-mapped coverage also listed for Babel and TypeScript. Consider the lack of pull-request annotations if those are needed in your workflow.
Visit Istanbul Free plan API
Choose JaCoCo if you need a free library to measure Java code coverage and create reports through Ant or Maven. It supports a range of coverage metrics and integrations. Account for the debug information needed for line reporting and the unauthenticated agent interfaces when deciding how to configure it.
Visit JaCoCoThe facts
| Istanbul | JaCoCo | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API | API |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | Free or on request |
| Plans published | None | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | istanbul.js.org | jacoco.org |
| On test coverage tools | #21 of 27 | #17 of 27 |
Istanbul: what it does well
- Tracks line, statement, function, and branch coverage.
- Supports ES5 and ES2015+ JavaScript.
- Produces text, HTML, and lcov reports.
- nyc supports subprocess instrumentation.
- Free and open source under the Revised BSD License.
What to know first
- Does not provide pull-request annotations.
- Listed platform is API.
JaCoCo: what it does well
- Free Java code coverage library under EPL 2.0.
- Measures instruction, branch, line, method, class, and complexity coverage.
- Generates reports in HTML, XML, and CSV.
- Includes Ant tasks and a Maven plug-in.
- Integration matrix includes Gradle, Jenkins, SonarQube, and other tools.
What to know first
- Runtime and tools require Java 1.5 or higher.
- Line coverage and source highlighting need debug line information.
- Agent TCP connections and JMX have no authentication.
- Java 28 support is experimental.
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