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Comby

comby.dev

WindowsmacOSLinuxAPISelf-hosted
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Spec score 7.7 #15 of 42 in Code Search Tools

What it is

Comby is a free, open-source tool for searching and changing code structure with lightweight templates. It recognizes basic syntax in code, strings, and comments across many languages, with parsers listed for C/C++, C#, Go, Java, JavaScript, Python, Rust, Swift, and TypeScript, plus a generic matcher for other formats. The project targets large refactors and one-off changes, and an interactive review mode lets users inspect proposed edits. Comby can run from its command line, Python bindings, or HTTP requests sent to a server on your machine. Installation instructions cover macOS with Homebrew, Ubuntu, Windows through Ubuntu on WSL, and Docker; building from source is also described. Linked projects include an Emacs package and a prototype VS Code extension. Other uses include structural code search, compiler fuzzing, test-case reduction, editor find and replace, and academic research. Comby matches balanced delimiters while accounting for comments and string literals, and supports regex search. It is self-hosted and available for API, Linux, macOS, and Windows use. The Apache-2.0 license is identified in the public repository.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Comby is a tool for searching and changing code structure using lightweight templates.Read 8 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
Support
The help page directs users to the Gitter channel for usage questions and pattern-writing help, and to GitHub issues for installation problems.Read 8 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
License
The public comby-tools/comby GitHub repository identifies its license as Apache-2.0.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
API limitation
The API documentation says rewrite ranges currently report line and column as -1, and repeated hole identifiers in a rewrite template currently report only the first range.Read 4 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
Best-fit work
Comby is suited to coarse syntactic matching and refactoring, while the FAQ says it is not well-suited to styling or formatting changes such as inserting line breaks at a set width.Read 8 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
Editor integrations
The projects page links to an Emacs package and a prototype VS Code extension.Read 4 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
Install options
The site provides installation instructions for macOS, Ubuntu, Windows through Ubuntu on WSL, and Docker, and also describes building from source.Read 4 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
Installation
The getting-started page documents installation on macOS with Homebrew, Ubuntu with a shell installer, Windows through Ubuntu on WSL, and Docker.Read 8 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
Integration
Comby can be used through Python bindings, its command line, or HTTP requests to a server run on the user's machine.Read 4 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
Integration options
Comby provides an API reference for building or integrating other tools, and the projects page lists an Emacs package and a prototype VS Code extension.Read 8 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
Interactive review
Comby supports an interactive review mode for proposed changes.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Language awareness
Comby understands basic syntax for code, strings, and comments in many languages.Read 8 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
Language coverage
Comby lists basic parsers for languages including C/C++, Go, JavaScript, Python, Rust, and TypeScript, with a generic matcher for other formats.Read 4 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
Language support
Comby has basic parsers for languages including C/C++, C#, Go, Java, JavaScript, Python, Rust, Swift, and TypeScript, plus a generic matcher for other formats and languages.Read 8 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
Notable limitation
Comby does not currently treat indentation as significant, which limits support for matching indentation-sensitive structures such as Python blocks.Read 8 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
Refactoring
The site describes Comby as useful for large scale refactoring and one off code changes.Read 4 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
Rewrite helpers
Built-in rewrite properties can change letter case and provide match lengths, positions, and file context.Read 8 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
Security and compliance
The opened product and documentation pages do not state security certifications or compliance claims.Read 4 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
Self hosting
The project can be built from source, and the getting-started page describes building it for other platforms or local development.Read 8 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
Structural matching
Comby matches balanced delimiters such as parentheses, brackets, and braces while accounting for comments and string literals.Read 8 Oct 2026 · comby.dev
Use cases
Documented uses include large-scale refactoring, structural code search, fuzzing, editor find-and-replace, and academic research.Read 8 Oct 2026 · comby.dev

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and open source under Apache-2.0
  • Matches balanced code delimiters
  • Interactive review for proposed rewrites
  • Command-line, Python, and HTTP interfaces
  • Installations for macOS, Ubuntu, WSL, and Docker

Limits

  • Indentation is not treated as significant
  • Not suited to formatting changes such as line wrapping
  • API rewrite ranges report line and column as -1
  • Windows use is documented through Ubuntu on WSL

Who it suits

Comby suits developers performing structural code search, broad refactoring, or targeted code changes across a codebase. It also fits users who want command-line, Python, HTTP, or self-hosted integration.

Verdict

Comby provides syntax-aware template matching for refactoring and code search without requiring a full language-specific toolchain. Its indentation and API range limitations matter for formatting-sensitive work and integrations that need exact positions.

Where Specifiction places it

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