CodeQL

CodeQL is a semantic code analysis engine that enables developers and security researchers to query code as if it were data. This powerful tool allows users to identify vulnerabilities and complex patterns across codebases, enhancing the security and quality of software projects.

Key features:
- Semantic Code Analysis: Allows users to write queries to analyze code, treating the codebase as a database for identifying complex patterns and vulnerabilities.
- Vulnerability Detection: Enables creation of custom queries to find specific types of vulnerabilities, such as unsafe deserialization and SQL injection.
- Reusable Queries: Allows sharing and reuse of queries across different projects, standardizing vulnerability detection practices.
- Visual Studio Code Extension: Integrates with Visual Studio Code for running queries directly within the IDE.
- CodeQL CLI: Provides advanced users with tools to create and manage CodeQL databases and run queries.
- Educational Challenges: Offers Capture the Flag challenges to help users improve their bug-finding skills and learn about CodeQL's features.

How it works:
1. Install the CodeQL extension for Visual Studio Code from the marketplace.
2. Obtain a CodeQL database by searching GitHub for an open source project or creating one using the CodeQL CLI.
3. Open the CodeQL starter workspace in Visual Studio Code.
4. Right-click on a query and select "Run Query" to analyze the codebase for vulnerabilities.

Integrations:
Visual Studio Code, GitHub

Use of AI:
CodeQL uses advanced semantic analysis techniques to understand and query codebases. While it does not explicitly use generative AI models, its ability to analyze code as data and identify complex patterns is similar to capabilities provided by modern AI-driven tools.

Target users:
- Security researchers conducting security research on open source projects
- Developers looking to improve the security of their codebases
- Educational institutions teaching code security and vulnerability detection

How to access:
CodeQL is available as a Visual Studio Code extension and a CLI tool. It is free for use in open source projects and academic research, but it is not itself open source.