cccc
cccc: An open-source analyzer for mixed-language code, complexity rankings, and threshold-based CI checks. Ranked #13 of 18 in Code Complexity Analyzers by our editors (6.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for teams needing free complexity checks in CI.
At a glance
- Editor score6.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forTeams needing free complexity checks in CI
- Free planYes
- Paid fromNone
- Facts checked27 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Measures cognitive and cyclomatic complexity in one tool
- Analyzes mixed-language source trees in one invocation
- Ranks functions and can fail CI when thresholds are exceeded
Where it doesn't
- Language-specific parsers limit analysis to the documented 20 languages
- GitHub Actions is the only listed integration
- Focused on complexity metrics rather than broader code-quality analysis
Our verdict on cccc
For teams that want complexity checks in a command-line workflow, cccc is an open-source tool and Rust library that measures cognitive and cyclomatic complexity. Its CLI can analyze files or directories, including mixed-language source trees in one invocation. It reports per-function and aggregate metrics, making it suited to developers and teams who want visibility into complex functions without adopting a broader code-quality suite.
The metrics offer two complementary views: cognitive complexity follows SonarSource rules, while cyclomatic complexity uses McCabe’s method. Results can be emitted as JSON or human-readable tables, and functions can be ranked by either metric. cccc also caches results for unchanged files. For CI, configurable thresholds can trigger a non-zero exit status, so a workflow can stop when complexity exceeds the team's chosen limits. The repository documents support for 20 programming languages, routed through language-specific parsers; teams should check that their languages are covered before adopting it.
cccc is open source and listed as free, with prebuilt binaries for Linux, macOS, and Windows and installation through Cargo. It can also run in self-hosted environments, and GitHub Actions is the listed integration. This makes it a practical fit for teams comfortable wiring a CLI into their own checks, particularly when ranking and gating complexity are the main requirements. It is less suitable for buyers seeking a broad quality dashboard or a range of verified workflow integrations beyond GitHub Actions.
cccc pricing
cccc fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | None |
| Complexity metrics | Both |
| Supported languages | 20 |
| Hotspot detection | Not verified |
| IDE feedback | Not verified |
| Pull-request gates | Yes |
| Trend history | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 1 integrations: GitHub Actions |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | github.com |
| Facts checked | 27 Sep 2026 |
cccc integrations
cccc lists 1 integrations on its own site.
- GitHub Actions
Alternatives to cccc
- QodanaBroad static analysis with quality gates, security checks and cloud or self-hosted deployment.9.0
- CodeSceneCodeScene connects code-health scores and hotspots to reviews, IDE feedback, and team insights.8.4
- CodacyAffordable cloud analysis spanning code quality, security, coverage, and pull requests.7.9
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
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