Speed is critical for Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tools as it enables real-time feedback, improves development velocity, and enhances developer adoption. A fast SAST tool can provide developers with instantaneous feedback while coding, reducing friction and encouraging more frequent scanning of code. This allows developers to remediate issues on the spot, shortening the development lifecycle and improving overall development velocity. In contrast, slow SAST tools may cause developers to push code less frequently or scan their code less often, leading to a slower development process and potentially compromising security. By balancing speed with accuracy and breadth, an effective SAST tool can integrate security directly into existing workflows, ensuring developer adoption and improving the security posture of an application.