So you have a new website up and running, but what is its performance and security levels with regards to global best practice? Well, wonder no more! Microsoft has launched a new tool, Sonar, that lets you test the performance and security levels of your new site.
Sonar is an open-source linting tool by Microsoft that the company first donated to the JS Foundation back in June this year. It is part of Microsoft broader plan to befriend the open source community, and now, the company is extending that generosity to everyone across the globe. Developers coding intranets, online stores, and any other internet platform are welcome to give Sonar a go.
How to use Sonar
Go to Sonar, and simply enter the URL of the project you want to be tested. Sonar will then take it from there; combing through your site and running benchmarks on factors such as accessibility, performance, interoperability, security, and even progressive web app-related issues. After a comprehensive scan, Sonar will list all the errors (if any) and go ahead to explain what was done wrong by highlighting the errant code and the possible rectifications.
A senior program manager for Microsoft Edge, Antón Molleda explained that Sonar improves the capabilities of other linting tools by executing the website code in a container, which offers a more accurate test as opposed to performing static analysis. That mode also allows easier integration with other services.
Sonar is already up and running. You can go ahead and give it a go, and already other features are being planned to be added on the Sonar. Features such as Visual Studio Code plug-in, customization rules in the web apps, and support for more rules for testing performance, security, and accessibility.