Prbl vs GitHub Advanced Security (CodeQL)

CodeQL is GitHub's semantic code analysis engine, bundled into GitHub Advanced Security. It's deep and well-integrated into GitHub's ecosystem. Prbl is a smaller, faster, AI-pattern-specific scanner you can run on any repo without an Advanced Security license.

Feature	Prbl	Them
Pricing	Free tier available	Requires GitHub Advanced Security license (paid for private repos)
Setup	Paste a repo URL, no GitHub Action required for first scan	Requires Actions workflow configuration
Semantic/dataflow analysis depth	Pattern-based, not full dataflow	Deep semantic dataflow analysis
AI-generated file detection	Yes, built in	No native concept of this
Auto-fix with behavior preservation	Yes, rewriter + baseline tests	Suggested fixes, no behavioral baseline
Runs outside GitHub	Yes	Tightly coupled to GitHub

Where GitHub Advanced Security wins

CodeQL’s dataflow analysis is genuinely deep, it can trace how untrusted input flows through a codebase in ways pattern-matching scanners can’t. If you’re already paying for GitHub Advanced Security, CodeQL is a strong, well-integrated default.

Where Prbl is different

Prbl doesn’t require an Advanced Security license, works the same whether your repo lives on GitHub, GitLab, or locally, and is specifically tuned to catch what AI coding tools produce, JWT verification gaps, hardcoded secrets in scaffolding, and missing authorization checks on freshly generated routes.

Run both

If you already have GitHub Advanced Security, keep CodeQL running, it’s not redundant. Add Prbl specifically for the AI-generated slice of your codebase that general semantic analysis wasn’t tuned to prioritize.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a GitHub Advanced Security license to use Prbl?

No. Prbl works the same whether your repo is on GitHub, GitLab, or local, with no Advanced Security license or Actions workflow required for a first scan.

Is Prbl's analysis as deep as CodeQL's dataflow analysis?

No, and it isn't trying to be. CodeQL traces how untrusted input flows through a codebase, which is genuinely deep. Prbl is pattern-based and specifically tuned to what AI coding tools produce, like hardcoded secrets in scaffolding and missing authorization on freshly generated routes.

Should I drop GitHub Advanced Security if I add Prbl?

No, keep both if you already have it. Add Prbl specifically for the AI-generated slice of your codebase that general semantic analysis wasn't tuned to prioritize.