Thuban vs ESLint
ESLint catches syntax. Thuban catches what AI broke.
ESLint is the gold standard for JavaScript linting. But it was built before AI wrote half your codebase. Thuban detects the problems ESLint was never designed to find: phantom imports, hallucinated APIs, architecture drift, and AI-generated tech debt.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Thuban | ESLint |
|---|---|---|
| Zero config setup | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI hallucination detection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Phantom import detection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Deprecated API detection | ✓ | Limited |
| Mother Code DNA | ✓ | ✗ |
| Codebase comparison (Compare) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Health score + grade | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tech debt cost (£/month) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Auto-fix | ✓ | ✓ |
| CI/CD integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dashboard / report | ✓ | Limited |
| Price | Free / £19/mo | Free (OSS) |
What ESLint Can't Detect
ESLint was built for human-written code. These AI-era problems slip right through:
Phantom Imports
AI confidently imports packages that don't exist in your node_modules. ESLint sees valid syntax and moves on. Thuban checks every import against your declared dependencies.
Invented APIs
AI hallucinates function signatures, method names, and parameters that look correct but don't exist. ESLint can't verify runtime APIs.
Deprecated Patterns from AI
AI models trained on old data generate deprecated code patterns. ESLint only catches what you've configured rules for.
Architecture Drift
AI doesn't understand your architecture. It generates code that works in isolation but drifts from your patterns. ESLint has no concept of architectural intent.
AI Copy-Paste Duplication
AI generates similar solutions across files instead of reusing existing utilities. ESLint doesn't detect cross-file duplication patterns.
Why Developers Add Thuban
Zero Config, Instant Results
No .eslintrc, no plugin hunting, no config inheritance headaches. Run npx thuban scan . and get results in seconds. ESLint setup can take hours for a new project.
AI-Era Detection
Thuban was built specifically for the problems AI creates: hallucinated imports, invented APIs, deprecated patterns, and code that looks right but isn't. ESLint was built for a pre-AI world.
Health Score & Cost
Get a single health grade (A-F) and a monthly tech debt cost in pounds. Know exactly where you stand and what it's costing you. ESLint gives you a list of warnings with no prioritisation.
Mother Code DNA
Thuban learns your codebase's patterns and flags when AI-generated code deviates from your established architecture. ESLint enforces generic rules, not your specific patterns.
Compare Feature
Compare two codebases or two points in time. See exactly what changed, what degraded, and what improved. No other tool offers this.
Works Alongside ESLint
You don't have to choose. Keep ESLint for style and syntax. Add Thuban for AI hallucination detection and code health. They solve different problems.
Better Together
ESLint + Thuban = Complete Coverage
ESLint handles code style, formatting rules, and syntax enforcement. Thuban handles AI hallucination detection, phantom imports, health scoring, and architecture drift. Use both. Your CI pipeline will thank you.
See What ESLint Misses
Run Thuban on any codebase with AI-generated code. No signup, no config, no credit card.