Semgrep vs SonarQube: Which SAST Tool for AI Code?

Overview

Semgrep and SonarQube are both static analysis tools but take different approaches. Semgrep is fast, lightweight, and excels at custom pattern matching. SonarQube provides comprehensive code quality metrics alongside security analysis. For AI-generated code, the choice depends on whether you prioritize speed and customization or comprehensive quality tracking.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Semgrep	SonarQube
Speed	Very fast	Moderate
Custom rules	Easy (YAML patterns)	Complex (Java plugins)
Languages	30+	30+
Code quality	Security focused	Quality + security
Dashboard	Semgrep Cloud	Built-in web UI
Self-hosting	OSS engine	Community Edition
CI/CD	Excellent	Good
Learning curve	Low	Moderate

Security Analysis

Semgrep strengths: Lightning-fast scans (seconds, not minutes). Custom rules in simple YAML format let you codify AI-specific security patterns. Community registry with thousands of rules. Autofix capability for automatic remediation. Ideal for CI/CD where speed matters.

SonarQube strengths: Comprehensive quality metrics (bugs, smells, complexity, duplication) alongside security. Historical tracking shows quality trends over time. Quality gates enforce minimum standards. Security hotspot review workflow guides developers through fixes.

For AI-generated code: Semgrep’s custom rules are better for catching AI-specific patterns. SonarQube’s quality metrics are valuable for tracking the technical debt that AI-generated code accumulates. Both catch standard OWASP vulnerabilities effectively.

Verdict

Choose Semgrep for speed, custom AI-specific rules, and CI/CD integration. Choose SonarQube for comprehensive quality tracking and team-wide code health dashboards. For vibe-coded projects, Semgrep’s ability to quickly write custom rules for AI code patterns gives it an edge. For enterprise environments, SonarQube’s quality gates and dashboards provide better governance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is faster for CI/CD?

Semgrep is significantly faster. A typical scan takes seconds compared to SonarQube’s minutes. For CI/CD pipelines where speed matters, Semgrep adds minimal overhead. SonarQube scans are better suited for nightly builds or async analysis rather than blocking PR checks.

Can I write custom rules for AI code patterns?

Semgrep makes custom rules easy with its YAML-based pattern syntax. Writing a rule to detect ’eval() with user input’ takes minutes. SonarQube custom rules require Java plugins, which is significantly more complex. For AI-specific patterns, Semgrep is the clear winner.

Should I use both?

They can complement each other. Use Semgrep in CI/CD for fast security scanning with custom AI-code rules, and SonarQube for comprehensive quality tracking and technical debt management. However, for most teams, choosing one and combining it with SCA (Snyk/Trivy) provides good coverage.