Modern C++ Terminal Emulator
This report summarizes scanner evidence for contour-terminal/contour, a C++ project with 3,042 GitHub stars. SynthScan examined 290,822 lines of code across 1003 source files, recording 1508 pattern matches distributed across 11 syntactic categories. The legacy adjusted pattern signal is 5.3 (Moderate 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? 1492 finding(s).
Are imports declared and package/API names verified? 4 finding(s).
Are wrappers, guards, and repeated structures necessary? 14 finding(s).
Which changes need focused human review? 1508 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 1508 distinct pattern matches across 11 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 | _typos.toml | 1 | # Spell-check configuration. Run it with `scripts/check-spelling.py`, or via `ctest -L lint`. | COMMENT |
| LOW | CMakeLists.txt | 21 | if (NOT(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD)) | COMMENT |
| LOW | test/DECAC.sh | 1 | #! /bin/bash | COMMENT |
| LOW | test/colors-256.sh | 1 | #!/usr/bin/env bash | COMMENT |
| LOW | test/DECATC.sh | 1 | #! /bin/bash | COMMENT |
| LOW | test/decoration.sh | 41 | # decoration 25 "Not blinking" | COMMENT |
| LOW | examples/regis-animation.cpp | 1 | // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 | COMMENT |
| LOW | examples/text-sizing-demo.cpp | 1 | // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 | COMMENT |
| LOW | examples/text-sizing-demo.cpp | 21 | /// | `h` | 0..2 | horizontal alignment: left/right/center | | COMMENT |
| LOW | examples/multi-page-demo.cpp | 1 | // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 | COMMENT |
| LOW | examples/regis-plot3d.cpp | 1 | // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 | COMMENT |
| LOW | examples/regis-primitives.cpp | 1 | // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 | COMMENT |
| LOW | examples/watch-mouse-events.cpp | 1 | // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 | COMMENT |
| LOW | examples/watch-dec-locator.cpp | 1 | // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 | COMMENT |
| LOW | examples/watch-dec-locator.cpp | 81 | /// Decodes the parameter string of a DECLRP report into its five fields. | COMMENT |
| LOW | examples/drcs-demo.cpp | 1 | // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 | COMMENT |
| LOW | examples/drcs-demo.cpp | 141 | COMMENT | |
| LOW | scripts/run-display-tests.sh | 1 | #! /bin/bash | COMMENT |
| LOW | scripts/apt-update.sh | 1 | #! /bin/bash | COMMENT |
| LOW | scripts/fetch-vttest.sh | 1 | #!/usr/bin/env bash | COMMENT |
| LOW | scripts/fetch-vttest.sh | 21 | # leaves it fully buffered, and only `Wait:`/`Done:`, give_up() and menu2() ever flush -- so a | COMMENT |
| LOW | scripts/fetch-esctest.sh | 1 | #!/usr/bin/env bash | COMMENT |
| LOW | scripts/check-clang-tidy-config.sh | 1 | #! /bin/bash | COMMENT |
| LOW | scripts/ci/vttest-install.sh | 1 | #! /bin/bash | COMMENT |
| LOW | scripts/ci/notcurses-install-deps.sh | 1 | #! /bin/bash | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/docs.yml | 41 | # C driver has to exist under that name too (g++-14 does depend on it, but the build should | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/spelling.yml | 1 | # Spell check. | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/build.yml | 221 | fi | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/build.yml | 361 | # fedora: | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/build.yml | 381 | # shell: bash | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/build.yml | 401 | # - name: "Post-fix embedded dependency permissions." | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/build.yml | 421 | # set -x | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/build.yml | 441 | # echo "pwd: `pwd`" && ls -hla | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/build.yml | 481 | env | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/build.yml | 681 | key: vcpkg-macos-${{ hashFiles('vcpkg.json', 'vcpkg-configuration.json', 'cmake/vcpkg-triplets/arm64-osx-conto | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/build.yml | 701 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/build.yml | 721 | # width does not enter into it. Stated on both platforms so they build the same binary. | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/build.yml | 761 | } | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/build.yml | 841 | # The image ships the app and nothing else -- plus the /Applications symlink the | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/build.yml | 941 | with: | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/build.yml | 1021 | # Windows is the ONLY validation the daemon's Windows transport gets -- nobody develops it | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/build.yml | 1141 | # coverage `vthost/tmux/ControlModeSpawn.cpp` gets at all. | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/build.yml | 1241 | --preset gcc-debug | COMMENT |
| LOW | .github/workflows/build.yml | 1261 | sleep 10 | COMMENT |
| LOW | src/vtrasterizer/TextureAtlas.hpp | 1 | // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 | COMMENT |
| LOW | src/vtrasterizer/TextureAtlas.hpp | 21 | COMMENT | |
| LOW | src/vtrasterizer/TextureAtlas.hpp | 121 | // Size in pixels of a tile. | COMMENT |
| LOW | src/vtrasterizer/TextureAtlas.hpp | 481 | /// This used to return `width + (width % tileWidth)`, which is neither the width nor a slice | COMMENT |
| LOW | src/vtrasterizer/BoxDrawingRenderer.cpp | 1 | // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 | COMMENT |
| LOW | src/vtrasterizer/BoxDrawingRenderer.cpp | 1061 | /// | COMMENT |
| LOW | src/vtrasterizer/BoxDrawingRenderer.cpp | 2261 | // TODO: ▢ U+25A2 WHITE SQUARE WITH ROUNDED CORNERS | COMMENT |
| LOW | src/vtrasterizer/BoxDrawingRenderer.cpp | 2281 | // TODO: ▷ U+25B7 WHITE RIGHT-POINTING TRIANGLE | COMMENT |
| LOW | src/vtrasterizer/BoxDrawingRenderer.cpp | 2301 | // TODO: ◌ U+25CC DOTTED CIRCLE | COMMENT |
| LOW | src/vtrasterizer/BoxDrawingRenderer.cpp | 2321 | // TODO: ◠ U+25E0 UPPER HALF CIRCLE | COMMENT |
| LOW | src/vtrasterizer/BoxDrawingRenderer.cpp | 2341 | // TODO: ◴ U+25F4 WHITE CIRCLE WITH UPPER LEFT QUADRANT | COMMENT |
| LOW | src/vtrasterizer/TextRenderer.hpp | 1 | // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 | COMMENT |
| LOW | src/vtrasterizer/TextRenderer.hpp | 81 | COMMENT | |
| LOW | src/vtrasterizer/GlyphSlicing.hpp | 1 | // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 | COMMENT |
| LOW | src/vtrasterizer/GlyphSlicing.hpp | 141 | COMMENT | |
| LOW | src/vtrasterizer/GlyphSlicing.hpp | 221 | }; | COMMENT |
| 1398 more matches not shown… | ||||
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEDIUM | CMakeLists.txt | 156 | # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | CMakeLists.txt | 236 | # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | CMakeLists.txt | 273 | # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | test/demo_math_symbols.py | 316 | # = 1 - ───── + ───── - ───── + ... | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | test/demo_parenthesis_pieces.py | 338 | # sin(x) = x · ⎜ 1 - ────── ⎟ | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | .github/workflows/build.yml | 1928 | # ------------------------------------------------------------- | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | src/crispy/CMakeLists.txt | 5 | # -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | src/crispy/CMakeLists.txt | 127 | # -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | src/contour/CMakeLists.txt | 961 | # ==================================================================================== | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | src/contour/CMakeLists.txt | 963 | # ==================================================================================== | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | src/vtbackend/CMakeLists.txt | 189 | # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | src/vtbackend/core/Color.hpp | 312 | // ╞═════════════╪═════════╪════════╪════════╡ | COMMENT |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEDIUM | test/demo_parenthesis_pieces.py | 218 | """Verify seamless junction between hooks and extensions.""" | STRING |
| MEDIUM | scripts/fetch-vttest.sh | 13 | # conformance harness is happy with either: it takes whatever is on PATH unless told otherwise with | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | scripts/fetch-esctest.sh | 52 | # The suite's entry point lives one level down; that is the directory the harness runs it from. | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM⚡ | scripts/ci/vttest-install.sh | 5 | # Installs vttest, the VT test program the conformance harness drives. | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM⚡ | scripts/ci/vttest-install.sh | 7 | # vttest is a TEST-ONLY dependency: nothing of it is compiled, linked or shipped. The harness spawns | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM⚡ | scripts/ci/vttest-install.sh | 13 | # out of step: vttest runs off the end of the file, never reaches its exit, and the harness reports a | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | scripts/ci/notcurses-install-deps.sh | 4 | # Installs ONLY the test-harness runtime dependencies for the notcurses-demo / quick-shell-exit CI | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | src/vthost/client/LayoutReconstruction_test.cpp | 183 | // the converter must be robust on its own too: a split node missing a child | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | src/vtconformance/Report.hpp | 128 | std::string_view { "# VT sequences Contour does not yet honour, as reported by the conformance harness.\n" | CODE |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | test/demo_math_symbols.py | 67 | CODE | |
| LOW | test/demo_math_symbols.py | 84 | CODE | |
| LOW | test/demo_math_symbols.py | 205 | CODE | |
| LOW | test/demo_math_symbols.py | 261 | CODE | |
| LOW | test/demo_parenthesis_pieces.py | 99 | CODE | |
| LOW | test/demo_parenthesis_pieces.py | 116 | CODE | |
| LOW | test/demo_parenthesis_pieces.py | 188 | CODE | |
| LOW | scripts/check-spelling.py | 53 | CODE | |
| LOW | scripts/macos-bundle.py | 633 | CODE | |
| LOW | scripts/macos-bundle.py | 216 | CODE | |
| LOW | scripts/extract-changelog-from-metainfo.py | 42 | CODE | |
| LOW | scripts/lib/toolcache.py | 119 | CODE |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEDIUM | …c/contour/cli/shell-integration/shell-integration.bash | 135 | # This function is installed as part of the PROMPT_COMMAND; | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | …c/contour/cli/shell-integration/shell-integration.bash | 143 | # This function is installed as part of the PROMPT_COMMAND. | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | …c/contour/cli/shell-integration/shell-integration.bash | 203 | # This function is installed as the DEBUG trap. It is invoked before each | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | src/vtconformance/Report.hpp | 130 | "# This file is a RATCHET, not a suppression list:\n" | CODE |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | src/vtrasterizer/GridMetrics.hpp | 51 | CellMargin cellMargin {}; // TODO: implement respecting cell margins. | CODE |
| LOW | src/vtpty/SshSession.cpp | 993 | // TODO: implement | COMMENT |
| LOW | src/contour/session/SessionFactory.cpp | 82 | // TODO: implement SSH host key verification dialog | COMMENT |
| LOW | src/vtbackend/input/InputGenerator.cpp | 537 | // TODO: implement me | COMMENT |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | scripts/check-spelling.py | 17 | CODE | |
| LOW | scripts/check-workflows.py | 18 | CODE | |
| LOW | scripts/macos-bundle.py | 48 | CODE | |
| LOW | scripts/lib/toolcache.py | 16 | CODE |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | scripts/extract-changelog-from-metainfo.py | 42 | def extract_changelog_from_metainfo(metainfo_file: str) -> list[Release]: | CODE |
| LOW | src/contour/test/QmlComponents_test.cpp | 2935 | " function onCommandPaletteRequested() { paletteItem.open(); }\n" | CODE |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | test/display-modes.sh | 32 | # Check if we got the terminator | COMMENT |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | …c/contour/cli/shell-integration/shell-integration.bash | 56 | # WARNING: This variable is no longer used and should not be relied upon. | COMMENT |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | metainfo.xml | 94 | <!-- unreleased: TODO: Don't forget to add date attribute to it. --> | CODE |