ICCheck: A Portable, Language-Agnostic Tool for Synchronizing Code Clones

Inconsistent modifications to code clones can lead to software defects. Many approaches exist to support consistent modifications based on clone detection and/or change pattern extraction. However, no tool currently supports synchronization of code clones across diverse programming languages and development environments. We propose ICCheck, a tool designed to be language-agnostic and portable across various environments. By leveraging an existing language-agnostic clone search technique and limiting the tool's external dependency to an existing Git repository, we developed a tool that can assist in synchronizing code clones in diverse environments. We validated the tool's functionality in multiple open-source repositories, demonstrating its language independence. Furthermore, by supporting the Language Server Protocol, we confirmed that ICCheck can be integrated into multiple development environments with minimal effort. ICCheck is available at https://github.com/salab/iccheck