The administration framework for Ruby on Rails applications.
This report summarizes scanner evidence for activeadmin/activeadmin, a Ruby project with 9,714 GitHub stars. SynthScan examined 42,332 lines of code across 417 source files, recording 129 pattern matches distributed across 8 syntactic categories. The legacy adjusted pattern signal is 4.4 (Low pattern signal); it is not an authorship estimate.
Use the findings to ask whether maintainers can explain intent, verify dependencies, simplify unnecessary scaffolding, and focus review effort. Risk Payload v1 adds ownership, supply-chain, over-engineering, and review-effort vectors when available. These are prompts for human verification, not probabilities, security findings, or measured maintenance costs.
Use each vector to guide manual verification of the underlying findings.
Can maintainers explain intent, assumptions, and trade-offs? 106 finding(s).
Are imports declared and package/API names verified? 23 finding(s).
Are wrappers, guards, and repeated structures necessary? 17 finding(s).
Which changes need focused human review? 129 finding(s).
This chart tracks the legacy adjusted pattern score across scan runs. Changes can reflect source changes, scan coverage, or detector/scoring versions; they do not measure AI adoption or prove that a team refactored code. Compare runs only when their scoring versions are compatible. The dashed line tracks the raw pattern-hit count.
Groups findings by configured severity weight. Severity is not a confidence estimate, security rating, or proof that a package is missing. Verify imports against the project's manifests and inspect each finding in its local design context.
This horizontal bar chart shows where configured pattern scores accumulate across directories. Treat the bars as locations to inspect, not as evidence of authorship or code quality. Use the file-level findings to decide whether a directory needs a focused ownership, dependency, complexity, or review check.
The scanner identified 129 distinct pattern matches across 8 syntactic categories. Each entry below represents a discrete location in the source code where the engine recorded a detector match to inspect in context. Expand any category row to inspect the individual file paths, line numbers, code snippets, and the lexical context (CODE, COMMENT, or STRING) in which each match was detected.
Reading the findings table: The Severity column indicates the configured finding weight (CRITICAL / HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW). The Context column identifies whether the match occurred inside executable code, an inline comment, or a string literal — legacy comment-context matches receive a ×1.5 score weight. The ⚡ bolt icon marks clustered matches: three or more patterns within a 10-line window, each receiving an additional ×1.5 density multiplier under the legacy scoring model.
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | …ollers/active_admin/resource_controller/data_access.rb | 61 | end | COMMENT |
| LOW | …ollers/active_admin/resource_controller/data_access.rb | 121 | # method uses the finder method as defined in InheritedResources. | COMMENT |
| LOW | …trollers/active_admin/base_controller/authorization.rb | 21 | helper_method :authorize! | COMMENT |
| LOW | …trollers/active_admin/base_controller/authorization.rb | 41 | COMMENT | |
| LOW | app/assets/config/active_admin_manifest.js | 1 | //= link_tree ../../javascript .js | COMMENT |
| LOW | spec/tasks/gemfile_spec.rb | 1 | # frozen_string_literal: true | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin.rb | 81 | COMMENT | |
| LOW | lib/active_admin.rb | 101 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/scope.rb | 1 | # frozen_string_literal: true | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/scope.rb | 21 | # # => Scope with name 'Published' that does not display a count | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/page_dsl.rb | 1 | # frozen_string_literal: true | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/authorization_adapter.rb | 21 | class AuthorizationAdapter | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/authorization_adapter.rb | 41 | # the action on the subject. | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/authorization_adapter.rb | 61 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/authorization_adapter.rb | 81 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/authorization_adapter.rb | 101 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/namespace.rb | 1 | # frozen_string_literal: true | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/dependency.rb | 1 | # frozen_string_literal: true | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/dependency.rb | 21 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/callbacks.rb | 41 | # before_save do |arg1, arg2| | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/csv_builder.rb | 1 | # frozen_string_literal: true | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/menu.rb | 1 | # frozen_string_literal: true | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/application.rb | 161 | COMMENT | |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/page.rb | 1 | # frozen_string_literal: true | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/resource.rb | 21 | # Resource is the primary data storage for resource configuration in Active Admin | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/resource_dsl.rb | 1 | # frozen_string_literal: true | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/resource_dsl.rb | 41 | # Store relations that should be included | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/resource_dsl.rb | 101 | # For example: | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/resource_dsl.rb | 121 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/resource_dsl.rb | 161 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/resource_dsl.rb | 181 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/page_presenter.rb | 1 | # frozen_string_literal: true | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/menu_item.rb | 1 | # frozen_string_literal: true | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/menu_item.rb | 21 | # Default: underscored_resource_name | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/dsl.rb | 21 | # modify options: | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/dsl.rb | 41 | # dsl.sidebar "Help" do | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/dsl.rb | 61 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/dsl.rb | 81 | # @param [Symbol] name | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/dsl.rb | 121 | def menu(options = {}) | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/dsl.rb | 141 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/view_helpers/method_or_proc_helper.rb | 1 | # frozen_string_literal: true | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/view_helpers/method_or_proc_helper.rb | 21 | when Symbol, String | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/view_helpers/method_or_proc_helper.rb | 41 | # call_method_or_proc_on(@my_obj, proc) | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/batch_actions/resource_extension.rb | 81 | COMMENT | |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/batch_actions/resource_extension.rb | 101 | # => You can create batch actions with a title instead of a Symbol | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/resource/action_items.rb | 21 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/resource/scope_to.rb | 1 | # frozen_string_literal: true | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/resource/scope_to.rb | 21 | # method to call as the association. If its different, you can | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/views/index_as_table.rb | 1 | # frozen_string_literal: true | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/views/index_as_table.rb | 21 | # ``` | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/views/index_as_table.rb | 41 | # Sometimes that just isn't enough and you need to write some view-specific code. | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/views/index_as_table.rb | 61 | # index do | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/views/index_as_table.rb | 81 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/views/index_as_table.rb | 101 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/views/index_as_table.rb | 121 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/views/index_as_table.rb | 141 | # ```ruby | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/views/index_as_table.rb | 161 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/views/index_as_table.rb | 181 | # column :publisher, sortable: 'publishers.name' | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/views/index_as_table.rb | 201 | # In order to add HTML attributes to the tbody use the `:tbody_html` option. | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/views/index_as_table.rb | 281 | # actions | COMMENT |
| 8 more matches not shown… | ||||
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRITICAL | spec/unit/action_builder_spec.rb | 36 | expect(Rails.application.routes.url_helpers.methods.collect(&:to_s)).to include("comment_admin_post_path") | CODE |
| CRITICAL | spec/unit/action_builder_spec.rb | 92 | expect(Rails.application.routes.url_helpers.methods.collect(&:to_s)).to include("comments_admin_posts_path") | CODE |
| CRITICAL | …/active_admin/views/components/paginated_collection.rb | 127 | entry_name = I18n.translate key, count: 1, default: @collection.first.class.name.underscore.sub("_", " ") | CODE |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEDIUM | …ollers/active_admin/resource_controller/data_access.rb | 102 | # This method is used on all the member actions: | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | …ollers/active_admin/resource_controller/data_access.rb | 132 | # This method is used to instantiate and authorize new resources in the | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | lib/active_admin/scope.rb | 7 | # Create a Scope | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | lib/active_admin/pundit_adapter.rb | 63 | # This method is needed to fallback to our previous policy searching logic. | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | lib/active_admin/callbacks.rb | 32 | # Define a new callback. | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | lib/active_admin/resource_dsl.rb | 36 | # Create a scope | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | lib/active_admin/view_helpers/method_or_proc_helper.rb | 87 | # This method is different from the others in that it calls `instance_exec` on the receiver, | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | lib/active_admin/batch_actions/resource_extension.rb | 90 | # Create a Batch Action | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | lib/active_admin/resource/scopes.rb | 27 | # Create a new scope object for this resource. | COMMENT |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | tasks/bug_report_template.rb | 119 | User.create! full_name: "John Doe" | CODE |
| LOW | tasks/bug_report_template.rb | 121 | assert_match "John Doe", response.body # has created row | CODE |
| LOW⚡ | features/step_definitions/user_steps.rb | 12 | login_as ensure_user_created("admin@example.com"), scope: :admin_user | CODE |
| LOW⚡ | features/step_definitions/user_steps.rb | 16 | ensure_user_created "admin@example.com" | CODE |
| LOW⚡ | features/step_definitions/user_steps.rb | 20 | fill_in "Email", with: "admin@example.com" | CODE |
| LOW | spec/unit/comments_spec.rb | 172 | body: "Lorem Ipsum", | CODE |
| LOW | spec/unit/views/components/attributes_table_spec.rb | 152 | expect(table.find_by_tag("td").first.content).to eq "John Doe" | CODE |
| LOW | spec/support/rails_template_with_data.rb | 18 | "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.", | CODE |
| LOW | spec/support/rails_template_with_data.rb | 18 | "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.", | CODE |
| LOW | spec/support/templates_with_data/admin/posts.rb | 120 | f.input :category, hint: "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras tincidunt porttitor massa | CODE |
| LOW | spec/support/templates_with_data/admin/posts.rb | 120 | f.input :category, hint: "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras tincidunt porttitor massa | CODE |
| LOW | spec/helpers/breadcrumb_helper_spec.rb | 8 | let(:user) { double display_name: "Jane Doe" } | CODE |
| LOW | spec/helpers/breadcrumb_helper_spec.rb | 111 | expect(trail[2][:name]).to eq "Jane Doe" | CODE |
| LOW | spec/helpers/breadcrumb_helper_spec.rb | 209 | expect(trail[2][:name]).to eq "Jane Doe" | CODE |
| LOW | spec/helpers/breadcrumb_helper_spec.rb | 237 | expect(trail[2][:name]).to eq "Jane Doe" | CODE |
| LOW | spec/helpers/filter_form_helper_spec.rb | 540 | expect(body).to have_css("option[value='#{@john.id}']", text: "John Doe") | CODE |
| LOW | spec/helpers/filter_form_helper_spec.rb | 541 | expect(body).to have_css("option[value='#{@jane.id}']", text: "Jane Doe") | CODE |
| LOW | spec/helpers/filter_form_helper_spec.rb | 641 | expect(body).to have_css("option[value='#{john.id}']", text: "John Doe") | CODE |
| LOW | spec/helpers/filter_form_helper_spec.rb | 642 | expect(body).to have_css("option[value='#{jane.id}']", text: "Jane Doe") | CODE |
| LOW | lib/generators/active_admin/devise/devise_generator.rb | 63 | create_user_code = "#{class_name}.create!(email: 'admin@example.com', password: 'password', password_confirmatio | CODE |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | …rollers/active_admin/resource_controller/decorators.rb | 12 | def apply_collection_decorator(collection) | CODE |
| LOW | …ollers/active_admin/resource_controller/data_access.rb | 225 | def apply_authorization_scope(collection) | CODE |
| LOW | …trollers/active_admin/base_controller/authorization.rb | 104 | def dispatch_active_admin_access_denied(exception) | CODE |
| LOW | …trollers/active_admin/base_controller/authorization.rb | 108 | def rescue_active_admin_access_denied(exception) | CODE |
| LOW | app/helpers/active_admin/form_helper.rb | 62 | def active_admin_filters_form_for(search, filters, options = {}) | CODE |
| LOW | app/helpers/active_admin/auto_link_helper.rb | 60 | def active_admin_resource_for(klass) | CODE |
| LOW | spec/unit/devise_spec.rb | 17 | def with_temp_relative_url_root(relative_url_root) | CODE |
| LOW | spec/requests/default_namespace_spec.rb | 65 | def with_custom_default_namespace(namespace) | CODE |
| LOW | spec/support/active_admin_integration_spec_helper.rb | 66 | def controller_with_decorator(action, decorator_class) | CODE |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/namespace.rb | 194 | def register_resource_controller(config) | CODE |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/namespace.rb | 204 | def parse_page_registration_block(config, &block) | CODE |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/callbacks.rb | 61 | def define_active_admin_callbacks(*names) | CODE |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/resource.rb | 127 | def resource_quoted_column_name(column) | CODE |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/resource.rb | 221 | def define_resource_name_extension(resource) | CODE |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/view_helpers/method_or_proc_helper.rb | 78 | def render_or_call_method_or_proc_on(obj, string_symbol_or_proc, options = {}) | CODE |
| LOW | …/active_admin/views/components/paginated_collection.rb | 65 | def build_pagination_with_formats(options) | CODE |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/views/components/status_tag.rb | 60 | def convert_to_boolean_status(status) | CODE |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | …ollers/active_admin/resource_controller/data_access.rb | 237 | chain # just return the chain | CODE |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/authorization_adapter.rb | 59 | # default, we just return the same collection. The returned scope is used | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/application.rb | 109 | # To reload everything simply call `ActiveAdmin.unload!` | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | lib/active_admin/dsl.rb | 125 | # Set the name of the navigation menu to display. This is mainly used in conjunction with the | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/view_helpers/method_or_proc_helper.rb | 44 | # not instance exec, but just call the Proc, then pass along `exec: false` in | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/views/index_as_table.rb | 13 | # To display an attribute or a method on a resource, simply pass a symbol into the | COMMENT |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | features/step_definitions/table_steps.rb | 102 | # Usage: | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/csv_builder.rb | 5 | # Usage example: | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/application.rb | 144 | # Example usage: | COMMENT |
| LOW | lib/active_admin/page_presenter.rb | 9 | # Usage: | COMMENT |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEDIUM | lib/active_admin/resource/scope_to.rb | 30 | # To conditionally use this scope, you can use conditional procs | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | lib/active_admin/resource/scopes.rb | 28 | # If you want to internationalize the scope name, you can add | COMMENT |