ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Coccinelle (software)

Coccinelle is a special computer program that helps other programs work better. You know how you need to follow rules to play a game properly, like throwing the ball in the hoop in basketball? Well, computer programs also have rules they need to follow to work right. Sometimes, people forget to follow these rules, or they don't even realize they exist!

This is where Coccinelle comes in. It is like a teacher for programs, reminding them of the rules or helping them fix mistakes. It looks for patterns in the program's code, which is like a special language computers use to communicate. Then, it suggests changes to the code, like moving something to a different spot or adding a missing piece.

This might sound like a small thing, but it can make a big difference in how the program works. Imagine if you were playing a game, and the hoop was too high for you to reach. You would have a hard time playing, right? But if someone helped you lower the hoop, you could play much better. That's kind of what Coccinelle does for programs. It helps them work better by fixing things that might be causing problems.