What does SAST cover in practice?
SAST: The practical scope is SAST definitions, source patterns, data-flow boundaries, reports, and local-to-CI adoption.. Start with the listed entities or files and confirm the result on representative code.
What is SAST?
See how What is SAST? fits local review, which evidence Code Radar produces, where coverage ends, and how trusted findings move into CI.
radar scan . --quickWhat SAST means here.
This guide answers what is sast directly, separates the concept from adjacent categories, and connects the decision to a practical local review workflow without overstating Code Radar coverage.
Guide
Evidence to inspect
Verify the input scope, finding detail, workflow handoff, and product boundary before you install or buy.
CriterionEvidence to inspectBoundary
Input scopeSelected files, configuration, scan mode, and enabled rules.Only included paths and configured checks are evaluated.
Finding detailFile, line, rule ID, severity, explanation, and repair direction.Illustrative output is not a result from your repository.
Workflow handoffLocal result, report format, agent context, and optional CI signal.Enable exports or CI only when the workflow needs them.
Decision fitUse the same criteria on a real repository before choosing a plan or tool.No universal winner or guaranteed outcome is claimed.
The problem this page helps clarify
The useful question is where SAST changes the review loop: what enters the scan, who acts on a finding, and which evidence moves forward. SAST definitions, source patterns, data-flow boundaries, reports, and local-to-CI adoption.
- Audience: Readers deciding whether source-level static analysis belongs in the developer workflow.
- Focus: SAST definitions, source patterns, data-flow boundaries, reports, and local-to-CI adoption.
- Review question: What does SAST cover in practice?
Coverage and concrete signals
For SAST, inspect the concrete scope below instead of relying on a category label. A concrete finding with file, line, rule, explanation, and a fix direction.
- Focus: SAST definitions, source patterns, data-flow boundaries, reports, and local-to-CI adoption.
- Workflow: Workflow: source patterns · data flow · severity · SARIF
- Coverage and concrete signals: source patterns, data flow, severity, SARIF
FocusExact file location, rule context, severity, confidence, and remediation guidance.Boundary
SAST definitions, source patterns, data-flow boundaries, reports, and local-to-CI adoption.A concrete finding with file, line, rule, explanation, and a fix direction.SAST is not runtime testing, penetration testing, or a guarantee that an issue is exploitable.
From local signal to shared gate.
SAST: Use the smallest workflow that proves value. Each later step should reuse evidence the team already understands. SAST definitions, source patterns, data-flow boundaries, reports, and local-to-CI adoption.
StepCommand or actionDecision
1Run a quick local scanIs the signal useful?
2Inspect and repair findingsIs the fix specific and reproducible?
3Export portable evidenceDoes the reviewer need SARIF, JSON, or HTML?
4Promote the trusted threshold to CIWhich severity should block a pull request?
radar scan . --quick
radar scan . --format sarif --fail-on highEvidence to inspect before you trust the result.
SAST: A useful result must be explainable to a developer and portable to the next review surface. Inspect the concrete evidence below before changing team policy. A concrete finding with file, line, rule, explanation, and a fix direction.
- Workflow: source patterns · data flow · severity · SARIF
- Exact file location, rule context, severity, confidence, and remediation guidance.
- Terminal output, SARIF, JSON, or HTML artifacts generated from the same finding set.
- Source stays in the workspace or CI runner where the scan executes.
Good fit and limits
Use SAST when Readers deciding whether source-level static analysis belongs in the developer workflow. Keep the boundary explicit: SAST is not runtime testing, penetration testing, or a guarantee that an issue is exploitable.
Run the local proof before adopting a shared gate.
- Good fit: Readers deciding whether source-level static analysis belongs in the developer workflow.
- Not a fit / do not overreach: SAST is not runtime testing, penetration testing, or a guarantee that an issue is exploitable.
Questions to verify before rollout
These questions keep the decision tied to observable evidence rather than a broad product promise.
Which evidence should I inspect for SAST?
SAST: Inspect A concrete finding with file, line, rule, explanation, and a fix direction. Keep the source location, rule or comparison context, and exported artifact together.
What should I not infer from SAST?
SAST: Do not infer universal coverage. SAST is not runtime testing, penetration testing, or a guarantee that an issue is exploitable. Use the relevant comparison or workflow page to test the boundary before changing policy.
What should I try first for SAST?
SAST: Start with a local run, review one real finding, then choose the linked report, agent, CI, or trust workflow that matches the next decision.
Validate the workflow on your own code.
Start with one local scan, inspect the evidence, and expand to reports, agents, or CI only when the signal is useful.