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LXR Cross Referencer
What it is
LXR Cross Referencer indexes source code and links identifiers to their definitions and uses, making code browsable on the web. The project says it can handle projects beyond the Linux kernel and describes uses such as monitoring development and studying source code. LXR produces regular HTML for available web browsers, and its project says any web server with CGI-script capability should work. Setup involves installing LXR, configuring a database, loading source-tree data, and configuring the server. Listed database choices are MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, and SQLite; source-tree storage options include files, CVS, Git, Subversion, and BitKeeper. Version 2.3 adds full-text search for source management repositories other than CVS and BitKeeper, if users accept checking out repository sources. Its parsers identify character sequences that resemble identifiers rather than providing compiler-grade parsing. Database browsing access is read-only, with write access reserved for genxref. The tool is free, open-source, and self-installed. The project directs users to its forum and trackers for contacting developers and reporting issues, and says new releases are moving to Codeberg.
For and against
For
- Links identifiers to definitions and uses
- Can cross-reference projects beyond the Linux kernel
- Supports several listed database options
- Provides full-text search for supported repositories
Against
- Requires self-installation and web server configuration
- Language parsers are not compiler-grade
- Full-text search excludes CVS and BitKeeper repositories
The verdict
LXR provides web-based code navigation with configurable source storage and database options. Its setup requires server and database work, and its parsers do not provide compiler-grade analysis.
Who it suits
LXR suits developers and readers who want to browse a source tree through a web browser, including people monitoring a project or studying its code. It requires users to install and configure the software, database, and web server.
Plans and prices
LXR Cross Referencer
Open-source software; self-installed
Read 4 Oct 2026 · lxr.sourceforge.io
On the record
- Browser output
- LXR produces regular HTML that can be viewed in available web browsers.lxr.sourceforge.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Database access
- The feature log says browsing access to the database is read-only, with write access reserved for genxref.lxr.sourceforge.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Database choices
- The configuration guide lists MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, and SQLite as database choices.lxr.sourceforge.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The installation guide instructs users to install LXR source, configure a database, populate it with source-tree data, and configure a web server.lxr.sourceforge.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Intended use
- The project describes LXR as useful for monitoring a project during development and studying source code from scratch.lxr.sourceforge.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Parser limits
- The limitations page says language parsers are not compiler-grade and lexically extract character sequences that look like identifiers.lxr.sourceforge.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Project scope
- The project says it can cross-reference projects beyond the Linux kernel.lxr.sourceforge.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- LXR indexes and cross-references source code for web browsing, linking identifiers to their definitions and uses.lxr.sourceforge.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Release location
- The official site says new releases are being migrated to Codeberg and will only be posted there.lxr.sourceforge.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Search
- LXR 2.3 adds full-text search for source management repositories except CVS and BitKeeper, if users accept checking out repository sources.lxr.sourceforge.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- The feature log says release 2.3 added protection against a vulnerability that allowed arbitrary command execution.lxr.sourceforge.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Server requirement
- The project says any web server with CGI-script capability should work.lxr.sourceforge.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs users to its forum and trackers to contact developers and report issues.lxr.sourceforge.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Version control
- The installation configuration lists files, CVS, Git, Subversion, and BitKeeper as source-tree storage options.lxr.sourceforge.io · read 4 Oct 2026
