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Comparison · Infra & APIs

Dust vs Semgrep

A side-by-side editorial comparison of Dust and Semgrep — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

Dust vs Semgrep: at a glance

FeatureDustSemgrep
SectorInfra & APIsInfra & APIs
Velocity score8.85.0
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesmcp, multi-model, enterprise, agent-capabilitiessast, supply-chain, static-analysis, performance
Last editorial update1mo ago18h ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is Dust?

Dust doubles down on MCP-native agents with multi-model routing and enterprise guardrails.

Dust is building an MCP-native agent platform with broad model coverage and growing enterprise depth. The May cadence shows parallel investment in agent capability (vision via MCP tools, context compaction, frame editing/export) and operational readiness (audit logs, SIEM streaming, protocol migrations). Mobile is getting a voice-first input redesign.

Read the full Dust trajectory →

What is Semgrep?

Semgrep grinds out weekly gains in language coverage, scan speed, and supply-chain depth

Semgrep is on a steady weekly release train dominated by language-parser fidelity (Dart, Scala, PHP, Python, Java), engine startup and scan performance, and supply-chain plus secrets tooling. Recent releases added transitive dependency-path reporting, binary-file skipping by default, and configurable rule validation, alongside repeated hardening against credential leaks in CI output and telemetry.

Read the full Semgrep trajectory →

Dust vs Semgrep: editorial side-by-side

D
Dust
INFRA · APIS
8.8

Dust doubles down on MCP-native agents with multi-model routing and enterprise guardrails.

◆ Current state

Dust is building an MCP-native agent platform with broad model coverage and growing enterprise depth. The May cadence shows parallel investment in agent capability (vision via MCP tools, context compaction, frame editing/export) and operational readiness (audit logs, SIEM streaming, protocol migrations). Mobile is getting a voice-first input redesign.

◆ Where it's heading

The product is converging on agents-in-the-enterprise via MCP, with multi-model routing as table stakes. MCP V2 migrations and image returns from MCP tools point to the protocol becoming Dust's integration backbone. The model-refresh cadence — three vendors in 48 hours — suggests model routing is now a core competency, not a feature.

◆ Prediction

Expect more MCP V2 connector migrations and richer MCP return types beyond images. The voice-first mobile input bar likely precedes a deeper voice-mode agent surface.

S
Semgrep
INFRA · APIS
5.0

Semgrep grinds out weekly gains in language coverage, scan speed, and supply-chain depth

◆ Current state

Semgrep is on a steady weekly release train dominated by language-parser fidelity (Dart, Scala, PHP, Python, Java), engine startup and scan performance, and supply-chain plus secrets tooling. Recent releases added transitive dependency-path reporting, binary-file skipping by default, and configurable rule validation, alongside repeated hardening against credential leaks in CI output and telemetry.

◆ Where it's heading

The direction is incremental breadth and speed rather than new product surface: more languages parsed accurately, faster rule loading and parsing, and deeper Pro interfile taint analysis. Supply-chain reachability and secrets validation keep getting attention, signaling those remain the commercial focus over the open-source CLI.

◆ Prediction

Expect continued weekly point releases extending interfile and taint analysis to more languages and further trimming scan startup time; no single release in view signals a directional shift.

Alternatives to Dust and Semgrep

Other Infra & APIs products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Dust or Semgrep.

See all Dust alternatives → · See all Semgrep alternatives →

Recent activity from Dust and Semgrep

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 1d agoSemgrepDart parser updated to a newer upstream version
  2. 15d agoSemgrepTransitive supply-chain dependency paths; libpcre2 replaces libpcre
  3. 22d agoSemgrepSkips binary files by default; org-wide nosemgrep control
  4. 28d agoSemgrepExperimental cross-file taint for Gosu; parsing and token fixes
  5. 1mo agoSemgrepMatch-context size limit and configurable rule validation
  6. 1mo agoSemgrepDart typed metavariables; cgroup-aware memory for Pro scans
  7. 1mo agoDustCompact mobile input bar goes voice-first
  8. 1mo agoDustFrames export as PDF or PNG
  9. 1mo agoDustInline text editing in frames
  10. 1mo agoDustGemini 3.5 Flash now available
  11. 1mo agoDustGrok 4.3 upgrade and Anthropic model migrations
  12. 1mo agoDustAsana MCP update

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Dust and Semgrep?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Dust is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 8.8 vs 5.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is Dust better than Semgrep?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Dust is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 8.8 vs 5.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Infra & APIs products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to Dust?

Top Dust alternatives in Infra & APIs are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Dust alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/dust for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to Semgrep?

Top Semgrep alternatives in Infra & APIs are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Semgrep alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/semgrep for the full list with editorial commentary on each.