Scores every Python file from 0 to 100 based on how hard it is to understand, using code metrics, git signals, and optional AI.
Project description
DevLens
Codebase comprehension scanner + AI slop detector
Installation . Usage . Configuration . Contributing . License
What it does
Lost in a new codebase? DevLens scans your Python project and scores every file from 0 to 100 based on how hard it is to understand. It uses code complexity metrics, git history signals, and optional AI judgment to pinpoint the files your team will struggle with. It also shows project statistics (languages, lines, directories) and can summarize each file with AI.
DevLens also detects AI-generated or low-effort pull requests using pure heuristic signals: no LLM calls, no API costs, fully deterministic. Drop it in CI to catch slop before it merges.
Why this is useful
- Onboarding a new developer? They know which files to ask about first.
- Planning a sprint? You see which files got worse since the last scan.
- Reporting to a manager? You show a trend line: "Our codebase went from 45 to 62 this quarter."
Quick start
pip install devlens-tool
Set your API key (for AI features):
export LLM_API_KEY=your_key_here
Run a scan:
cd my-project
devlens -scan .
Commands
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| devlens -scan <PATH> | Full scan with all three layers (needs API key) |
| devlens -scan <PATH> --no-llm | Scan without AI (deterministic, works in CI) |
| devlens -scan <PATH> --trend | Show how the project score changed over time |
| devlens -scan <PATH> --regression | List files that got worse since the last scan |
| devlens -scan <PATH> --since 14 | Compare against a scan from 14 days ago |
| devlens -st <PATH> | Project statistics: files, lines, languages, directories |
| devlens -an <PATH> | AI-generated one-paragraph summary of each file |
| devlens check-pr | Detect AI-generated or low-effort PRs (no LLM needed) |
Scan output example
Project Score: 62
Files Analyzed: 47
High Risk Files: 3
Bus Factor Risks: 2
File Comprehension Scores:
Risk File Score CC MI Docs Git
high src/parser/lexer.py 34 +- 8 18 28 0% 340d solo
med src/api/handler.py 52 +- 5 12 45 10% 120d ago
low src/models/user.py 72 +- 2 3 82 90% 5d ago
good tests/test_utils.py 88 +- 2 1 95 100% 1d ago
Each score has a confidence band (+-2, +-5, or +-8) that tells you how much the three layers agree. A high spread means be skeptical of the number.
Slop Detection
DevLens detects likely AI-generated or low-effort pull requests using 6 heuristic signals: zero LLM calls, zero API cost, fully deterministic.
Signals
| Signal | Weight | What it catches |
|---|---|---|
docstring_uniformity |
20% | AI-templated docstrings (TF-IDF cosine similarity) |
identifier_entropy |
15% | Suspicious naming patterns (too random or too repetitive) |
comment_to_code_ratio |
15% | Over-commented AI code (>35% comment lines) |
diff_size_vs_description_ratio |
20% | Large diff with tiny description + AI filler phrases |
churn_pattern |
15% | High rewrite ratio (adding lines = deleting lines) |
new_author_large_diff |
15% | New contributor dumping 100+ lines |
Usage
# Check a PR branch against main
devlens check-pr --repo . --base main --head my-feature
# With PR description (for diff/description ratio)
devlens check-pr --repo . --base main --head feature --pr-body "Adds user login"
# JSON output for CI parsing
devlens check-pr --repo . --base main --head feature --output json
# Fail CI if slop score >= threshold
devlens check-pr --repo . --base main --head feature --fail-on-slop --threshold 65
Slop output example
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ DEVENS SLOP REPORT: POSSIBLE AI SLOP ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Slop Score: 73/100 (threshold: 65)
╭─────────────────────────────┬─────────┬──────────┬─────────────╮
│ Signal │ Raw Val │ Weighted │ Verdict │
├─────────────────────────────┼─────────┼──────────┼─────────────┤
│ docstring uniformity │ 87.0 │ 17.4 │ FAIL │
│ identifier entropy │ 12.3 │ 1.8 │ PASS │
│ comment to code ratio │ 55.0 │ 8.3 │ WARN │
│ diff size vs description │ 90.0 │ 18.0 │ FAIL │
│ churn pattern │ 45.0 │ 6.8 │ WARN │
│ new author large diff │ 80.0 │ 12.0 │ FAIL │
├─────────────────────────────┼─────────┼──────────┼─────────────┤
│ Total │ │ 73.0 │ POSSIBLE AI │
╰─────────────────────────────┴─────────┴──────────┴─────────────╯
CI integration
Add this to .github/workflows/devlens-slop-check.yml:
name: DevLens Slop Check
on:
pull_request:
types: [opened, synchronize, reopened]
jobs:
slop-check:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
with:
fetch-depth: 0
- uses: actions/setup-python@v5
with:
python-version: '3.11'
- name: Install DevLens
run: pip install devlens-tool
- name: Save PR body
run: echo "${{ github.event.pull_request.body }}" > .pr_body.txt
- name: Run slop check
run: |
devlens check-pr \
--repo . \
--base ${{ github.event.pull_request.base.ref }} \
--head ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }} \
--output json --fail-on-slop --threshold 65
Configuration
You can change how scores are calculated by adding this to your pyproject.toml:
[tool.devlens]
weights = { metrics = 0.70, git = 0.10, llm = 0.20 }
The defaults are 50/30/20. The three weights must add up to 1.0.
Using a different AI provider
DevLens works with any OpenAI-compatible API. Set these environment variables:
# For OpenAI
LLM_API_URL=https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions
LLM_API_KEY=sk-your-key
LLM_MODEL=gpt-4o-mini
# For local models (Ollama)
LLM_API_URL=http://localhost:11434/v1/chat/completions
LLM_API_KEY=ollama
LLM_MODEL=llama3.2
# For Groq (default)
LLM_API_URL=https://api.groq.com/openai/v1/chat/completions
LLM_API_KEY=your_groq_key
CI integration
Add this to your CI pipeline:
- name: Check code comprehension
run: devlens -scan . --no-llm
The --no-llm flag makes it fast and deterministic -- no API calls, no network, no randomness.
Roadmap
- Project statistics and language breakdown
- AI-powered file analysis
- Comprehension debt scanning (0-100 scoring)
- Score trend tracking over time
- Configurable scoring weights
- Confidence bands on scores
- Multi-provider LLM support
- AI slop detection (heuristic, zero LLM cost)
- Dependency graph visualization
Contributing
Contributions are welcome. See CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.
- Fork the repository
- Create your feature branch (
git checkout -b feature/new-thing) - Commit your changes (
git commit -m 'Add new thing') - Push to the branch (
git push origin feature/new-thing) - Open a Pull Request
License
MIT. See LICENSE.
Built by Younes Bensafia
If DevLens helps you, consider giving it a star.
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