canonical libwebsockets.org networking library
This report summarizes scanner evidence for warmcat/libwebsockets, a C project with 5,347 GitHub stars. SynthScan examined 1,025,451 lines of code across 2742 source files, recording 812 pattern matches distributed across 11 syntactic categories. The legacy adjusted pattern signal is 0.8 (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.
Payload schema: 1.0.0 · Engine: 2.0.0 · Scoring: heuristic-density-v1 · Scan date: 2026-10-31.
Can maintainers explain intent, assumptions, and trade-offs? 801 finding(s).
Are imports declared and package/API names verified? 8 finding(s).
Are wrappers, guards, and repeated structures necessary? 7 finding(s).
Which changes need focused human review? 812 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 812 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 | .sai.json | 261 | "cmake": "-DLWS_WITH_SECURE_STREAMS=1 -DLWS_WITH_SECURE_STREAMS_PROXY_API=1 -DLWS_WITH_MINIMAL_EXAMPLES=1 -DLWS_WITH_ | COMMENT |
| LOW | .sai.json | 401 | "cmake": "-DLWS_WITH_SECURE_STREAMS_STATIC_POLICY_ONLY=1 -DLWS_WITH_SECURE_STREAMS_AUTH_SIGV4=1 -DLWS_WITH_SS_DIRECT_ | COMMENT |
| LOW | .sai.json | 461 | # qpack / jose / cose / ws-pmd targets if it can't see them, so | COMMENT |
| LOW | .sai.json | 481 | # "coverity-mbedtls": { | COMMENT |
| LOW | CMakeLists.txt | 1 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | CMakeLists.txt | 1481 | COMMENT | |
| LOW | CMakeLists-implied-options.txt | 1 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | CMakeLists-implied-options.txt | 21 | # FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS | COMMENT |
| LOW | test-apps/CMakeLists.txt | 1 | # | COMMENT |
| LOW | test-apps/CMakeLists.txt | 21 | # FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS | COMMENT |
| LOW | test-apps/test-server.c | 21 | #include <libwebsockets.h> | COMMENT |
| LOW | test-apps/test-client.c | 21 | #include "lws_config.h" | COMMENT |
| LOW | plugin-standalone/protocol_example_standalone.c | 21 | * "example-standalone-protocol", to show how to build protocol plugins | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/win32helpers/gettimeofday.h | 1 | #ifndef _GET_TIME_OF_DAY_H | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/dirent/dirent-win32.h | 21 | /* | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/dirent/dirent-win32.h | 41 | #define _DIRENT_HAVE_D_TYPE | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/dirent/dirent-win32.h | 61 | /* Character device bit */ | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/dirent/dirent-win32.h | 81 | /* Write permission */ | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/dirent/dirent-win32.h | 101 | /* Link */ | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/dirent/dirent-win32.h | 121 | /* Execute user permission */ | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/dirent/dirent-win32.h | 141 | /* Read others permission */ | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/dirent/dirent-win32.h | 161 | # define FILENAME_MAX MAX_PATH | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/dirent/dirent-win32.h | 181 | /* | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/dirent/dirent-win32.h | 201 | #endif | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zutil.h | 21 | COMMENT | |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zutil.h | 61 | #else | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zutil.h | 81 | # if defined(__TURBOC__) || defined(__BORLANDC__) | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zutil.h | 101 | fopen((name), (mode), "mbc=60", "ctx=stm", "rfm=fix", "mrs=512") | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zutil.h | 121 | # define fdopen(fd,mode) NULL /* No fdopen() */ | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zutil.h | 141 | # define fdopen(fd,mode) NULL /* No fdopen() */ | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zutil.h | 181 | # ifndef HAVE_VSNPRINTF | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zutil.h | 201 | # if !defined(vsnprintf) && !defined(NO_vsnprintf) | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zutil.h | 221 | * The __SC__ check is for Symantec. | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zutil.h | 241 | void ZLIB_INTERNAL zmemzero OF((Bytef* dest, uInt len)); | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/inflate.c | 81 | */ | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/crc32.c | 21 | COMMENT | |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/crc32.c | 41 | # if (ULONG_MAX == 0xffffffffUL) | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zutil.c | 61 | #ifdef DEBUG | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zutil.c | 81 | #endif | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zutil.c | 101 | # ifdef NO_snprintf | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/gzguts.h | 1 | /* gzguts.h -- zlib internal header definitions for gz* operations | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/gzguts.h | 21 | #include <stdio.h> | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/gzguts.h | 41 | #endif | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zlib.h | 161 | COMMENT | |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zlib.h | 181 | #define Z_VERSION_ERROR (-6) | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zconf.h | 21 | # define _length_code z__length_code | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zconf.h | 41 | # define deflateInit_ z_deflateInit_ | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zconf.h | 61 | # define gzeof z_gzeof | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zconf.h | 81 | # define gzwrite z_gzwrite | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zconf.h | 101 | # define inflate_table z_inflate_table | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zconf.h | 121 | # define uInt z_uInt | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zconf.h | 141 | #if defined(_WINDOWS) && !defined(WINDOWS) | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zconf.h | 161 | #ifdef SYS16BIT | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zconf.h | 181 | #if !defined(STDC) && (defined(__GNUC__) || defined(__BORLANDC__)) | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zconf.h | 201 | /* Some Mac compilers merge all .h files incorrectly: */ | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zconf.h | 241 | # define OF(args) args | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zconf.h | 261 | # endif | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zconf.h | 281 | # define ZEXTERN extern __declspec(dllexport) | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zconf.h | 301 | # else | COMMENT |
| LOW | win32port/zlib/zconf.h | 321 | #endif | COMMENT |
| 717 more matches not shown… | ||||
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | READMEs/README.crypto-dnssec.md | 16 | ### Step 1: Create an Unsigned DNS Zone File | COMMENT |
| LOW | READMEs/README.crypto-dnssec.md | 48 | ### Step 2: Generate the Cryptographic Keys | COMMENT |
| LOW | READMEs/README.crypto-dnssec.md | 86 | ### Step 3: Extract DS Information for the Registrar | COMMENT |
| LOW | READMEs/README.crypto-dnssec.md | 103 | ### Step 4: Sign the Zone File | COMMENT |
| LOW⚡ | READMEs/README.plugin-sshd-base.md | 116 | ### Step 0: Build and install libwebsockets | COMMENT |
| LOW⚡ | READMEs/README.plugin-sshd-base.md | 123 | ### Step 1: make the code available in your app | COMMENT |
| LOW⚡ | READMEs/README.plugin-sshd-base.md | 133 | ### Step 2: define your `struct lws_ssh_ops` | COMMENT |
| LOW | READMEs/README.plugin-sshd-base.md | 164 | ### Step 3: enable `lws-ssh-base` protocol to a vhost and configure using pvo | COMMENT |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEDIUM | plugins/protocol_lws_webrtc_mixer/assets/main.js | 755 | // Update Icon (optional, but color change via CSS is robust) | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | fuzz/run.sh | 56 | # The same build also provides fast smoke tests of every harness against its | COMMENT |
| LOW | fuzz/run.sh | 106 | # finding); its default of 20 minutes would just use up the slice | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | fuzz/gen-dicts.py | 124 | # quic: the harness' op bytes, versions, long header first bytes, frame | COMMENT |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIGH | scripts/coverage-report.py | 44 | except OSError: | CODE |
| HIGH | …-lowlevel/api-tests/api-test-ws-close/proxy-fixture.py | 73 | except OSError: | CODE |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | …gins/protocol_lws_dht_dnssec_monitor/assets/index.html | 213 | <input type="email" id="acme-email" placeholder="admin@example.com"> | CODE |
| LOW | …s/protocol_lws_acme_client/protocol_lws_acme_client.md | 198 | "email": "admin@example.com", | CODE |
| LOW | …xamples-lowlevel/api-tests/api-test-smtp-client/main.c | 91 | .from = "other@example.org", | CODE |
| LOW | …xamples-lowlevel/api-tests/api-test-smtp-client/main.c | 1269 | queue_from_to("other@example.org", "reject@example.net") || | CODE |
| LOW | …xamples-lowlevel/api-tests/api-test-smtp-client/main.c | 1289 | queue_from_to("greylist@example.org", "rcpt@example.net"); | CODE |
| LOW | …xamples-lowlevel/api-tests/api-test-smtp-client/main.c | 1305 | queue_from_to("always451@example.org", "rcpt@example.net"); | CODE |
| LOW | …-lowlevel/api-tests/api-test-openhitls-acme-csr/main.c | 173 | elements[LWS_TLS_REQ_ELEMENT_EMAIL] = "admin@example.com"; | CODE |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEDIUM | fuzz/gen-dicts.py | 7 | # This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 | COMMENT |
| MEDIUM | fuzz/fuzz-quic/gen-seeds.py | 7 | # This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 | COMMENT |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | …gins/protocol_lws_dht_dnssec_monitor/assets/monitor.js | 819 | function downloadProvisioningBundle(domain, subdomain) { | CODE |
| LOW | plugins/protocol_lws_webrtc_mixer/assets/main.js | 526 | async function discoverLocalCapabilities() { | CODE |
| LOW | include/libwebsockets/lws-ws-ext.h | 85 | * typedef lws_extension_callback_function() - Hooks to allow extensions to operate | COMMENT |
| LOW | …-server/minimal-http-server-hls/mount-origin/player.js | 1163 | function ensureSubTrackHiddenRetry() { | CODE |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | scripts/coverage-report.py | 34 | CODE | |
| LOW | scripts/coverage-report.py | 162 | CODE | |
| LOW | scripts/coverage-report.py | 222 | CODE | |
| LOW | …-lowlevel/api-tests/api-test-ws-close/proxy-fixture.py | 236 | CODE |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | contrib/lws_ota-manifest.sh | 3 | # Usage: | COMMENT |
| LOW | fuzz/run.sh | 5 | # Usage: | COMMENT |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | fuzz/gen-dicts.py | 15 | CODE |
| Severity | File | Line | Snippet | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW | …-lowlevel/api-tests/api-test-ws-close/proxy-fixture.py | 205 | except Exception as e: | CODE |