ast-grep vs CodeRush

ast-grep is a free, open-source tool for structural code search, linting, and rewriting. It matches patterns against syntax-tree nodes, helping developers locate and change code across a codebase rather than searching plain text. Its CLI can preview and apply rewrites interactively, and scan configurable YAML rules with error, warning, info, or hint severity. Rules can combine pattern, kind, regex, relational, and composite conditions, and CLI commands help create and snapshot-test them. The project says it supports more than 20 languages and can load custom languages. JavaScript and WebAssembly APIs allow programmatic syntax-tree work; a browser playground offers a way to try patterns without local installation. Editor options include a VS Code extension and language-server setups, including for Vim and Neovim. The tool is free, has a web interface, and is distributed through package managers or built from source. Its FAQ notes that some advanced static-analysis information is unsupported, and one rule cannot target multiple languages at once.

CodeRush is a Visual Studio extension for code generation, refactoring, navigation, formatting, debugging, testing, and code coverage. It includes more than 100 refactorings and intelligent code providers, with refactoring support described for C#, Visual Basic, and XAML. Its test runner supports NUnit, MSTest, xUnit, and MSpec without configuration, plus .NET Core, .NET Framework, and multi-target projects. Code style can be set for an individual developer, a solution, or a team, and cleanup can run when documents are saved. The listed IDEs are Visual Studio 2026 and Visual Studio 2022. CodeRush is available free for commercial use, with the same features and updates across free and paid subscriptions. A paid plan is listed from $249.99/user/yr, and a 30-day trial is listed. AI features require an OpenAI API key; voice input requires an Azure Cognitive Services Speech API key. Technical support is available to owners of qualifying DevExpress subscriptions; free users can search the support database.