Question 1

How does ast-grep compare to jscodeshift for JavaScript refactoring?

Accepted Answer

ast-grep offers a more intuitive pattern syntax and multi-language support, while jscodeshift is JavaScript-specific with a programmable API. For cross-language tasks or simpler patterns, ast-grep is better; for complex JavaScript transformations, jscodeshift might provide more flexibility.

Question 2

How to write a custom lint rule with ast-grep?

Accepted Answer

Define a YAML file with pattern and fix keys, similar to the examples in the README. Use the sg scan command to apply it, allowing reusable rule sets for enforcing code best practices across projects.

Question 3

What languages does ast-grep support?

Accepted Answer

ast-grep supports all languages with tree-sitter parsers, including JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Rust, and more, as it leverages tree-sitter grammars for parsing, making it versatile for multi-language codebases.

Question 4

Is ast-grep good for large codebases?

Accepted Answer

Yes, its Rust-based implementation and multi-core utilization ensure high performance for scanning and transforming large amounts of code efficiently, as noted in the feature highlights.

Question 5

Can ast-grep replace ESLint?

Accepted Answer

For custom structural rules or cross-language linting, yes, but ESLint has a vast ecosystem of plugins and community rules. ast-grep is better for writing new, pattern-based rules from scratch.

Question 6

How to install ast-grep on Windows?

Accepted Answer

Use scoop with 'scoop install main/ast-grep', or install via npm, pip, or other methods listed in the README, ensuring it's accessible on multiple platforms including Windows.

ast-grep

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