In what context is static code analysis primarily used?

Static code analysis is primarily used earlier in the development cycle to identify defects, making it integral to the software development process. This practice is conducted before code execution, allowing developers and testers to examine the source code for vulnerabilities, potential bugs, and adherence to coding standards. By identifying issues at this stage, teams can address them early on when the cost and effort to fix defects is generally lower, thus improving overall software quality.

Utilizing static code analysis early helps in establishing a clearer understanding of code quality and facilitates better design decisions, which can contribute to more efficient testing phases later in the process. It provides feedback on the code's structure and performance potential, ensuring that issues can be resolved before the code progresses to testing phases or product deployment.

The other options reflect contexts where static code analysis would not be the primary focus. For example, conducting static analysis during the final stages of deployment does not leverage its strengths, as most defects should ideally be resolved much earlier in the development cycle. Similarly, while performance tuning is an important aspect of software development, static code analysis is not exclusively aimed at this objective. Lastly, static analysis does not serve as a replacement for dynamic testing methods; instead, it complements them by providing an additional layer of analysis to catch issues