The architecture of SAST tools: An explainer for developers

In the evolving landscape of software development, the "shift left" approach emphasizes incorporating security measures early in the software development lifecycle, which places a significant demand on developers to become adept at using security tools, notably Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tools. These tools automate source code scanning to detect vulnerabilities early, facilitate broader vulnerability detection through variant analysis, and support manual code reviews by treating code as data, as exemplified by GitHub's CodeQL. Despite the potential for false positives, advanced SAST tools can integrate directly into CI/CD pipelines, automatically scanning code for vulnerabilities with each push or build, and providing detailed alerts to aid developers in vulnerability remediation. The integration of SAST tools like CodeQL into projects like Wordplay, an educational programming language platform, demonstrates their utility in expanding developers' expertise and capacity to manage security risks, ultimately empowering them to contribute more effectively to security discussions and decisions, enhancing overall organizational security posture.