lint
classic static analysis tool for C programs
TLDR
Check C program
$ lint [program.c]
Check with library$ lint -l[library] [program.c]
Suppress specific warnings$ lint -e[code] [program.c]
Portable mode$ lint -p [program.c]
SYNOPSIS
lint [options] files...
DESCRIPTION
lint is a classic static analysis tool for C programs. It checks source code for potential bugs, stylistic errors, and suspicious constructs that are syntactically valid but likely incorrect.lint performs deeper analysis than the compiler, catching type mismatches, unused variables, and problematic patterns.
PARAMETERS
-a
Report assignments in conditionals.-b
Report break statements.-c
Produce .ln files.-e code
Suppress error code.-l lib
Include lint library.-p
Portable C checking.-v
Verbose output.
COMMON CHECKS
$ - Type consistency
- Unused variables
- Unreachable code
- Format string issues
- Missing return values
- Unused variables
- Unreachable code
- Format string issues
- Missing return values
CAVEATS
Original lint largely replaced by compiler warnings and modern tools like clang-tidy, cppcheck. Traditional lint may not be available on all systems.
HISTORY
lint was written by Stephen C. Johnson at Bell Labs in 1978. The name comes from the lint (fluff) it picks from programs. It pioneered static analysis tools.
SEE ALSO
cppcheck(1), clang-tidy(1), gcc(1)
