OctoCounts vs cloc, scc, and tokei
OctoCounts is not a replacement for every SLOC workflow. This page explains how it differs from popular local line counters so you can choose the right tool for the job.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Type | Best for | Install required | Private repos | Shareable URL / badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OctoCounts | Web app + extensions + API | Quick public-repo reports, README badges, comparisons, sharing | No | No | Yes |
| cloc | Command-line (Perl) | Local analysis, CI scripts, widest language support | Yes | Yes | No |
| tokei | Command-line (Rust) | Fast local counting, large repositories | Yes | Yes | No |
| scc | Command-line (Go) | Local counting with complexity estimates and license detection | Yes | Yes | No |
OctoCounts
OctoCounts is a free SLOC counter for public GitHub repositories. You paste a GitHub URL, optionally pick a branch, tag, or commit SHA, and OctoCounts downloads the source archive, runs tokei, and returns a cached, shareable report.
- No install: works in a browser.
- Archive download: no full git clone, so it is fast for a quick check.
- Commit pinning: reports are tied to a specific commit SHA, making them reproducible and citable.
- Sharing: stable report URLs, README badges, PNG cards, JSON export, and an API.
- Integrations: browser extensions, CLI, GitHub Action, and MCP server.
- Limitation: public GitHub repositories only.
cloc
cloc is a mature command-line tool written in Perl. It counts blank, comment, and code lines across hundreds of languages and is widely used in CI pipelines and audits.
- Best for: local analysis, scripting, and environments where you can install Perl.
- Strengths: extremely broad language support, battle-tested, easy to run in CI.
- Trade-off: you need a local clone and must share output by hand.
tokei
tokei is a fast, Rust-based line counter. It is the same engine OctoCounts runs on the server. tokei is a great choice when you want speed and accuracy on a local machine.
- Best for: fast local counting, especially on large repositories.
- Strengths: Rust performance, clean output, 200+ languages.
- Trade-off: requires a local clone and Rust toolchain or package manager install.
scc
scc is a Go-based line counter that adds complexity estimates, license detection, and COCOMO estimates on top of basic counts.
- Best for: local analysis where you also want complexity or license insights.
- Strengths: very fast, additional metrics beyond raw line counts.
- Trade-off: additional metrics may not match OctoCounts/tokei figures exactly.
Which one should I use?
| Scenario | Recommended tool |
|---|---|
| Quick public-repo size check in a browser | OctoCounts |
| README badge that updates from a live report | OctoCounts |
| Comparing two public repositories side by side | OctoCounts /compare |
| Private repository or sensitive code | tokei, cloc, or scc locally |
| CI pipeline with custom rules | tokei, cloc, or scc |
| Need complexity estimates or license detection | scc |
| Widest possible language support | cloc |
| Fastest local counting on large codebases | tokei or scc |
Bottom line: OctoCounts is the right choice when you want a fast, shareable, no-install SLOC report for a public GitHub repository. For private code, offline environments, or highly customized analysis, run tokei, cloc, or scc locally.