Cognitive Code Analysis
Cognitive Code Analysis: A free, self-hosted PHP analyzer for complexity metrics, baselines, and hotspots. Ranked #10 of 18 in Code Complexity Analyzers by our editors (6.3/10); pricing: Free plan; best for teams wanting free complexity and churn reports.
At a glance
- Editor score6.3 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forTeams wanting free complexity and churn reports
- Free planYes
- Paid fromNone
- Hotspot detectionYes
- Facts checked27 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Measures cognitive complexity, with cyclomatic and Halstead metrics available.
- Baseline comparisons and churn analysis help surface code hotspots.
- Exports to JSON, CSV, HTML, Markdown, SARIF, and CI report formats.
Where it doesn't
- Analyzes PHP only; C# and Java versions are separate tools.
- Self-hosted deployment requires running the command-line tool.
- No IDE feedback or pull-request gates are listed.
Our verdict on Cognitive Code Analysis
Cognitive Code Analysis is an open-source command-line tool from Phauthentic for analyzing PHP codebases. It calculates cognitive complexity at class and method level, and can also calculate cyclomatic and Halstead metrics when enabled. Its focus is useful for solo developers and teams that want complexity and churn reports without a paid plan, provided they are comfortable running analysis in a self-hosted workflow.
The analysis goes beyond a single complexity score. Configurable thresholds and weights let teams shape how results are assessed, while baseline comparisons show changes against an earlier result. Churn analysis uses version-control history, such as Git, to identify hotspots where complexity and code changes meet. An optional result cache is available. Together, these features suit teams that want to inspect code health over time; it is less suited to buyers seeking an IDE-based feedback loop or built-in pull-request gates.
Reporting is a notable strength for teams with existing pipelines: outputs include JSON, CSV, HTML, Markdown, Checkstyle XML, JUnit XML, SARIF, GitLab Code Quality, and GitHub Actions formats. The tool is self-hosted, with community support, and its PHP scope means projects in other languages need a separate option; the repository points to distinct C# and Java versions. Choose it for configurable PHP analysis and portable reports, but look elsewhere if one analyzer must cover multiple languages or provide IDE feedback and pull-request gating.
Cognitive Code Analysis pricing
Cognitive Code Analysis fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | None |
| Complexity metrics | Both |
| Supported languages | 1 |
| Hotspot detection | Yes |
| IDE feedback | No |
| Pull-request gates | No |
| Trend history | Yes |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Support | Community |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 2 integrations: GitHub Actions, GitLab Code Quality |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | github.com |
| Facts checked | 27 Sep 2026 |
Cognitive Code Analysis integrations
Cognitive Code Analysis lists 2 integrations on its own site.
- GitHub Actions
- GitLab Code Quality
Alternatives to Cognitive Code Analysis
- 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
See all Cognitive Code Analysis alternatives →
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Featured on iTechGuides
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
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