SonarLint (now branded as SonarQube for IDE) is a free IDE plugin that brings security and code quality analysis directly into your development environment. With support for VS Code, Visual Studio, Eclipse, and JetBrains IDEs, it provides real-time feedback as you write code.
As a SAST tool integrated into the developer workflow, SonarLint catches security issues and code smells before they reach version control.
What is SonarLint?
SonarLint analyzes code in real-time as you type, highlighting security vulnerabilities, bugs, and code quality issues directly in your editor. Unlike CI-based scanners that run after you commit, SonarLint provides instant feedback—often within seconds of writing problematic code.
The plugin explains each finding with detailed descriptions of why the issue is harmful and how to fix it. For many issues, SonarLint offers quick fixes that automatically generate corrected code.
In 2025, SonarSource added AI-powered quick fix generation, which adapts fixes to your specific code context rather than using generic templates.
SonarLint works across 20+ programming languages including Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, C#, C++, PHP, and Go. Additional languages like COBOL, Apex, and PL/SQL are supported when using Connected Mode with commercial SonarQube editions.
Key features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Supported IDEs | VS Code, Visual Studio, Eclipse, JetBrains (IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm), Cursor, Windsurf, Trae |
| Languages | 20+ including Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, C#, C++, PHP, Go, Kotlin, Ruby, Scala, Swift |
| Additional languages (Connected Mode) | COBOL, Apex, ABAP, PL/SQL, VB.NET |
| Analysis mode | Real-time (as you type), offline by default |
| Connected Mode | Syncs rules and quality gates with SonarQube Server or SonarCloud |
| AI quick fixes | Context-aware code generation for detected issues |
| License | Free (LGPL-3.0), advanced features with commercial SonarQube editions |
IDE platform support
SonarLint runs in Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio, Eclipse, and all JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, etc.). Recent versions also support AI-native editors built on VS Code architecture, including Cursor, Windsurf, and Trae.
Install from your IDE’s marketplace or plugin repository. The plugin activates automatically when you open supported project types.
Connected Mode integration
Connect SonarLint to SonarQube Server or SonarCloud to enforce your team’s quality standards. Connected Mode syncs rule configurations, quality gates, and custom rule parameters.
When your team modifies quality gate settings in SonarQube, all developers’ IDEs receive the updates automatically.
Smart notifications alert you when new issues are introduced in your code or when Quality Gate status changes.
AI-assisted remediation
SonarLint generates AI-powered quick fixes for detected issues. Click a suggestion and the plugin writes corrected code that preserves your logic while removing the vulnerability or code smell.
These fixes adapt to your code style and context. An injection vulnerability fix in a Java Spring application generates different code than the same issue in a plain Java application, because SonarLint understands framework-specific patterns.
Offline operation
SonarLint performs all analysis locally with no cloud services required (unless you enable Connected Mode). Your code never leaves your machine.
This works for air-gapped environments and projects with strict data residency requirements.
Support for AI-generated code
SonarLint analyzes AI-generated suggestions from tools like GitHub Copilot for security issues and code quality problems. This catches vulnerabilities that AI coding assistants might introduce.
Getting started
When to use SonarLint
SonarLint catches security and quality issues while you’re still writing code, not after you’ve pushed a commit and waited for CI. For teams already using SonarQube, Connected Mode syncs your server rules into every developer’s IDE automatically.
The free plugin covers 20+ languages out of the box. Connected Mode with commercial SonarQube editions adds enterprise languages (COBOL, Apex, ABAP) and custom rule creation.
For CI/CD-level scanning and project-wide reporting, pair SonarLint with SonarQube on the server side.
Note: SonarLint was rebranded to SonarQube for IDE in 2025.
