How do we install semantic more easily?

[dylanirlbeck]

Hi all. I'm not seeing any installation instructions in the README. I do, however, see a Development section. Am I right to assume that we have to build from source in order to use the CLI? Or, is there another, easier way -- i.e. Homebrew -- through which I can get access to the CLI tool?

Thanks so much!

[patrickt]

Hi there 👋🏻 Thanks for your interest in this project. The short answer is that you currently have to compile this project from source. The longer answer, and the one that is probably most helpful for you is that semantic is currently in flux, as we’re both redesigning its data model and, in our production systems, focusing on stack graphs rather than abstract interpretation. If you have a particular use case in mind, I might be able to point you to a project that’s more active/suited for your uses; let me know.

[dylanirlbeck]

Hi @patrickt -- thanks for the quick response! That makes sense: I'm excited to read about stack graphs and how you all are implementing them.

My primary use case (and do correct me if semantic was never designed to do this) was to inspect the AST of code written in an arbitrary programming language, mostly for curiosity/learning. I've always thought about what an AST-based code review tool would look like as well, so I suppose another use case might be building that. Happy to hear about any tools besides semantic that you have in mind.

[Gusabary]

@dylanirlbeck maybe you can try this: https://github.com/tree-sitter/tree-sitter
here is the playground: https://tree-sitter.github.io/tree-sitter/playground