Repository Analysis

xournalpp/xournalpp

Xournal++ is a handwriting notetaking software with PDF annotation support. Written in C++ with GTK3, supporting Linux (e.g. Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, SUSE), macOS and Windows 10. Supports pen input from devices such as Wacom Tablets.

2.3 Likely human-written View on GitHub

Analysis Overview

This report presents the forensic synthetic code analysis of xournalpp/xournalpp, a C++ project with 15,014 GitHub stars. SynthScan v2.0 examined 115,298 lines of code across 964 source files, recording 238 pattern matches distributed across 9 syntactic categories. The overall adjusted score of 2.3 places this repository in the Likely human-written band.

The scanner applied 160+ deterministic lexical heuristics, multi-line block detectors, abstract syntax tree depth profilers, and a cross-file Jaccard similarity matrix to construct a statistically normalised synthetic code estimate. All matches are individually weighted by severity coefficient and contextual multiplier before summation, and the resulting headline score is temporally discounted to account for the repository's development history relative to the commercial emergence of large language model coding tooling (November 2022 onward).

2.3
Adjusted Score
2.3
Raw Score
100%
Time Factor
2026-07-14
Last Push
15.0K
Stars
C++
Language
115.3K
Lines of Code
964
Files
238
Pattern Hits
2026-07-14
Scan Date
0.00
HC Hit Rate

What These Metrics Mean

Adjusted Score
Primary synthetic code indicator. Raw score normalised per 1,000 lines of code and multiplied by the temporal discount factor. This is the definitive comparative metric — use it to rank repositories by AI authorship density.
Raw Score
The unmodified sum of all severity-weighted, context-multiplied pattern match scores before temporal discounting. Reflects the absolute signal strength independent of when the repository was last active.
Time Factor
The temporal discount multiplier (0–100%) applied to the raw score. Repositories last updated before ChatGPT's launch (Nov 2022) receive a 5% factor. Full signal is only assigned to repositories active in the post-adoption era (Jan 2024+).
Pattern Hits
Total count of individual pattern matches across all files and categories. A high hit count with a low score may indicate a very large codebase with isolated AI snippets; a low count with a high score indicates dense, concentrated AI signatures.
HC Hit Rate
High+Critical pattern hits per file, averaged across the repository. This orthogonal signal catches repositories where a few files are densely packed with high-severity AI tells — a strong indicator even when the normalised score appears moderate due to codebase size.
Lines of Code / Files
Total lines and files analysed. The scanner examines 94 file extensions. These denominators are used to normalise the score, enabling fair comparison between repositories of vastly different sizes.

Score History

This chart maps the temporal evolution of the adjusted synthetic code score across successive scan runs. An upward trajectory indicates ongoing incorporation of AI-generated code or expanding LLM-assisted scaffolding; a stable or declining trajectory may reflect active human refactoring, code removal, or the adoption of stricter authorship policies. The dashed secondary line (right axis) independently tracks total raw pattern hit count, which can diverge from the normalised score when codebase size changes significantly between scans.

Severity Breakdown

Classifies detected patterns by their diagnostic confidence and structural impact. CRITICAL patterns (coefficient 10) represent definitive synthetic signatures — hallucinated imports, explicit LLM attribution metadata — virtually never produced by human authors. HIGH (5) indicates strong structural tells such as cross-file repetition or cross-linguistic idioms. MEDIUM (2) covers recognisable conversational padding and AI-specific vocabulary. LOW (1) captures subtle indicators like tautological comments and generic boilerplate that require density to carry independent signal.

CRITICAL 0HIGH 0MEDIUM 3LOW 235

Directory Score Breakdown

This horizontal bar chart decomposes the repository's raw synthetic code score by top-level directory, allowing you to pinpoint precisely which modules or components carry the highest AI authorship density. Directories with disproportionately high scores relative to their size warrant targeted manual review: concentrated AI signatures often trace back to mass-generated configuration layers, auto-ported test suites, LLM-scaffolded boilerplate classes, or entire subsystems authored under heavy copilot assistance. Use this view to prioritise your human code-review effort.

Pattern Findings

The scanner identified 238 distinct pattern matches across 9 syntactic categories. Each entry below represents a discrete location in the source code where the engine recorded a statistically significant AI authorship indicator. 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 diagnostic confidence level (CRITICAL / HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW). The Context column identifies whether the match occurred inside executable code, an inline comment, or a string literal — comment-context matches receive a ×1.5 weight because LLMs systematically over-annotate. The ⚡ bolt icon marks clustered matches: three or more patterns within a 10-line window, each receiving an additional ×1.5 density multiplier as dense clusters constitute far stronger evidence of synthetic authorship than isolated hits.

Over-Commented Block202 hits · 202 pts
SeverityFileLineSnippetContext
LOWtest/unit_tests/util/ObjectIOStreamTest.cpp1#include <array>COMMENT
LOWtest/unit_tests/control/LoadHandlerTest.cpp21#include <vector>COMMENT
LOW.github/workflows/create-installers.yml1name: Create InstallersCOMMENT
LOWsrc/CMakeLists.txt101# Generate iconsCOMMENT
LOWsrc/core/plugin/Plugin.cpp1#include "Plugin.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/plugin/PluginController.cpp1#include "PluginController.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/plugin/luapi_application.h21#include <pango/pango.h>COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/plugin/luapi_application.h41#include "gui/MainWindow.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/plugin/luapi_application.h61#include "util/PathUtil.h" // for clea...COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/plugin/luapi_application.h1561 // stack now has following:COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/plugin/luapi_application.h3021 lua_getfield(L, 1, "pngDpi");COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/plugin/luapi_application.h3201COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/pdf/popplerapi/PopplerGlibPage.cpp1#include "PopplerGlibPage.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/pdf/base/HybridPdfExport.cpp1#include "HybridPdfExport.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/pdf/base/XojPdfPage.h81 /// selection style.COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/pdf/base/QPdfExport.cpp1#include "QPdfExport.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/pdf/base/XojCairoPdfExport.cpp1#include "XojCairoPdfExport.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/undo/FontUndoAction.cpp1#include "FontUndoAction.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/undo/RecognizerUndoAction.cpp1#include "RecognizerUndoAction.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/undo/InsertUndoAction.cpp1#include "InsertUndoAction.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/undo/TextBoxUndoAction.cpp1#include "TextBoxUndoAction.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/undo/ScaleUndoAction.cpp1#include "ScaleUndoAction.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/undo/EraseUndoAction.cpp1#include "EraseUndoAction.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/undo/MoveSelectionToLayerUndoAction.cpp1#include "MoveSelectionToLayerUndoAction.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/undo/LineStyleUndoAction.cpp1#include "LineStyleUndoAction.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/undo/MoveUndoAction.cpp1#include "MoveUndoAction.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/undo/UndoRedoHandler.cpp1#include "UndoRedoHandler.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/undo/SizeUndoAction.cpp1#include "SizeUndoAction.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/audio/PortAudioConsumer.cpp1#include "PortAudioConsumer.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/audio/VorbisConsumer.cpp1#include "VorbisConsumer.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/audio/VorbisProducer.cpp1#include "VorbisProducer.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/Layout.cpp1#include "Layout.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/PageView.cpp1#include "PageView.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/PageView.cpp21#include "control/Control.h" // for ControlCOMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/PageView.cpp41#include "control/tools/PdfElemSelection.h" // for PdfElemSelectionCOMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/PageView.cpp61#include "model/TexImage.h" // for TexImageCOMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/PageView.cpp81#include "util/safe_casts.h" // for ceil_cast, floor_cast, round_castCOMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/MainWindow.cpp1#include "MainWindow.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/MainWindow.cpp21#include "gui/GladeGui.h" // for GladeGuiCOMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/MainWindow.cpp41#include "util/gtk4_helper.h" // for gtk_widget_get_widthCOMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/PdfFloatingToolbox.cpp1#include "PdfFloatingToolbox.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/PdfFloatingToolbox.cpp21#include "model/Layer.h" // for LayerCOMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/SearchBar.cpp1#include "SearchBar.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/FloatingToolbox.cpp1#include "FloatingToolbox.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/XournalView.cpp1#include "XournalView.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/XournalView.cpp21#include "control/tools/CursorSelectionType.h" // for CURSOR_SELECTION_NONECOMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/PageView.h21#include <gdk/gdk.h> // for GdkEventKey, GdkRGBA, GdkRectangleCOMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/XournalppCursor.cpp1#include "XournalppCursor.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/sidebar/Sidebar.cpp1#include "Sidebar.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/sidebar/indextree/SidebarIndexPage.cpp1#include "SidebarIndexPage.h"COMMENT
LOW…core/gui/sidebar/previews/page/SidebarPreviewPages.cpp1#include "SidebarPreviewPages.h"COMMENT
LOW…re/gui/sidebar/previews/layer/SidebarPreviewLayers.cpp1#include "SidebarPreviewLayers.h"COMMENT
LOW…/gui/sidebar/previews/base/SidebarPreviewBaseEntry.cpp1#include "SidebarPreviewBaseEntry.h"COMMENT
LOW…/core/gui/sidebar/previews/base/SidebarPreviewBase.cpp1#include "SidebarPreviewBase.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/inputdevices/StylusInputHandler.cpp1//COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/inputdevices/MouseInputHandler.cpp1//COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/inputdevices/TouchDrawingInputHandler.cpp1//COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/inputdevices/GeometryToolInputHandler.cpp1#include "GeometryToolInputHandler.h"COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/inputdevices/TouchInputHandler.cpp1//COMMENT
LOWsrc/core/gui/inputdevices/HandRecognition.cpp1#include "HandRecognition.h"COMMENT
142 more matches not shown…
Structural Annotation Overuse11 hits · 20 pts
SeverityFileLineSnippetContext
LOWmac-setup/CI_jhbuild.sh6### Step 1: install jhbuildCOMMENT
LOWmac-setup/CI_jhbuild.sh119### Step 2: Download modules' sourcesCOMMENT
LOWmac-setup/CI_jhbuild.sh130### Step 3: bootstrapCOMMENT
LOWmac-setup/CI_jhbuild.sh139### Step 4: build gtk (~15 minutes on a Mac Mini M1 w/ 8 cores)COMMENT
LOWmac-setup/CI_jhbuild.sh149### Step 5: build xournalpp depsCOMMENT
LOWmac-setup/CI_jhbuild.sh159### Step 6: build binary blobCOMMENT
LOWreadme/MacBuild.md107### Step 1: Install jhbuildCOMMENT
LOWreadme/MacBuild.md141### Step 2: Set up custom modulesets and configure jhbuildCOMMENT
LOWreadme/MacBuild.md201### Step 3: Build required dependencies from gtk-osxCOMMENT
LOWreadme/MacBuild.md216### Step 4: Clone the Xournal++ codeCOMMENT
LOWreadme/MacBuild.md225### Step 5: Build required dependencies not in gtk-osxCOMMENT
Verbosity Indicators6 hits · 13 pts
SeverityFileLineSnippetContext
LOWmac-setup/CI_jhbuild.sh6### Step 1: install jhbuildCOMMENT
LOWmac-setup/CI_jhbuild.sh119### Step 2: Download modules' sourcesCOMMENT
LOWmac-setup/CI_jhbuild.sh130### Step 3: bootstrapCOMMENT
LOWmac-setup/CI_jhbuild.sh139### Step 4: build gtk (~15 minutes on a Mac Mini M1 w/ 8 cores)COMMENT
LOWmac-setup/CI_jhbuild.sh149### Step 5: build xournalpp depsCOMMENT
LOWmac-setup/CI_jhbuild.sh159### Step 6: build binary blobCOMMENT
Redundant / Tautological Comments6 hits · 12 pts
SeverityFileLineSnippetContext
LOWmac-setup/CI_jhbuild.sh15 # Print the value corresponding to the provided lockfile key to stdoutCOMMENT
LOWscripts/release_helper.sh91# Check if branch already existsCOMMENT
LOWscripts/release_helper.sh101# Check if release already existsCOMMENT
LOWscripts/release_helper.sh111# Check if git is in detached head modeCOMMENT
LOWscripts/release_helper.sh268 # Check if branch already existsCOMMENT
LOWscripts/release_helper.sh273 # Check if hotfix was already releasedCOMMENT
Self-Referential Comments3 hits · 9 pts
SeverityFileLineSnippetContext
MEDIUMmac-setup/build-dmg.sh14# Create the image.COMMENT
MEDIUMscripts/release_helper.sh388 # Create the commit-msg hookCOMMENT
MEDIUMscripts/release_helper.sh464 # Create the pre-commit hookCOMMENT
Hyper-Verbose Identifiers4 hits · 4 pts
SeverityFileLineSnippetContext
LOWtest/unit_tests/util/RAIIWrappersTest.cpp20class TestDataHandler {CODE
LOWscripts/compare_license.py32def get_files_from_copyright_format(file: str) -> Set[str]:CODE
LOWscripts/compare_license.py52def get_files_containing_copyright_or_license():CODE
LOWscripts/compare_license.py73def get_source_files_missing_license_of_header(scanned_files:Set[str], all_files:Set[str]) -> Set[str]:CODE
Deep Nesting3 hits · 3 pts
SeverityFileLineSnippetContext
LOWscripts/lua_def_file.py8CODE
LOWscripts/lua_def_file.py47CODE
LOWscripts/lua_def_file.py159CODE
Slop Phrases2 hits · 3 pts
SeverityFileLineSnippetContext
LOWsrc/core/gui/toolbarMenubar/AbstractToolItem.h25 // If you add a category, don't forget to give it a label in ToolbarCustomizeDialog.cpp.COMMENT
LOWsrc/util/include/util/GtkUtil.h44 * To circumvent this, we make our own GAction/RadioButton interactions. Don't forget to group the buttons together.COMMENT
Unused Imports1 hit · 1 pts
SeverityFileLineSnippetContext
LOWscripts/compare_license.py30CODE