Fallow sweeps dead code. Codeward guards every pull request.
Fallow is a free Rust-native CLI for JavaScript and TypeScript codebase health. Codeward is a hosted or self-hosted multi-agent platform. They overlap on dead code, and complement each other well.
Unlike traditional AI review tools that spam pull requests with unverified comments, Codeward executes real tests inside isolated Firecracker microVMs before opening a fix. Only verified, non-breaking code reaches your repository (86.3% merge acceptance rate).
Use Fallow if you want a free, instant, local tool to find unused files, exports and dependencies, circular imports, duplication and complexity in a JS/TS codebase. Use Codeward if you want PR-time review across security, runtime, architecture and compliance, with sandbox execution and merge gating. Running both is reasonable: Fallow locally and in CI, Codeward on PRs.
| Feature | Fallow | Codeward |
|---|---|---|
| Unused files, exports, dependencies | ✔ core strength | ✔ 18 bloat checks (Tree-sitter AST) |
| Circular dependencies | ✔ | ✔ architecture agent |
| Code duplication | ✔ | ✔ AST-based |
| Complexity hotspots | ✔ | ✔ |
| Speed on a laptop | ✔ very fast, local | Slower; boots a sandbox |
| Cost | ✔ free CLI | ✔ self-host free; cloud priced |
| Auto-remove dead code | ✔ built-in command | Suggested diffs |
| Languages | JavaScript and TypeScript only | Broader; confirm list |
| Security scanning | ✕ | ✔ |
| Runtime and flaky tests | ✕ | ✔ |
| AI-era and compliance checks | ✕ | ✔ |
| PR comments and merge gate | Via GitHub Action and SARIF | ✔ native Check Run |
| AI reasoning about findings | ✕ deterministic analysis | ✔ |
| Works offline / no code leaves machine | ✔ | ✔ if self-hosted |
Fallow is excellent at its narrow job. Its output is deterministic and fast, which makes it a great fit for pre-commit hooks and CI. A Fallow report on an AI-written repo will usually find dead exports and duplicates quickly.
Codeward is not a faster Fallow. Its value starts where static graph analysis ends: security, runtime failures, architecture and compliance. A practical setup is Fallow for cheap local hygiene and Codeward for PR-time depth.
Fallow: free, open source. Codeward: open source, with managed cloud at codeward.cloud.
If dead code and duplication are your only problems, you probably should. Add Codeward when you also need security, runtime and compliance coverage.
No. Fallow runs locally or in CI; Codeward runs on PR events.
It reports bloat with suggested diffs. Automated one-click refactoring PRs are on the roadmap.
Fallow cleans the yard. Codeward guards the gate.
Try Codeward Free →