Moss (Measure of Software Similarity)
A System for Detecting Software Plagiarism.
Overview
Moss (Measure of Software Similarity) is an automatic system for determining the similarity of programs. Developed at Stanford University, it is a long-standing and widely respected tool used by instructors to detect plagiarism in programming assignments. Users can register for an account and then submit batches of code via a script. Moss analyzes the code for structural similarity, meaning it is effective at detecting plagiarism even when variable names and comments have been changed. It supports a wide variety of programming languages.
✨ Key Features
- Detects plagiarism in source code
- Analyzes code structure, not just text similarity
- Supports many programming languages (C, C++, Java, Python, etc.)
- Batch processing of assignments
- Free for instructors and researchers
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Specialized in code plagiarism, not text.
- Highly effective at detecting structural and algorithmic similarity.
- Long-standing reputation in the computer science academic community.
- Completely free for its intended purpose.
Unique Value: Provides a powerful, specialized, and free tool for educators to effectively detect plagiarism in programming assignments, going beyond simple text matching to understand the underlying structure of the code.
🎯 Use Cases (3)
✅ Best For
- Identifying structurally similar code submissions in an academic setting.
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Checking for plagiarism in natural language text (essays, articles).
- Users who require a graphical user interface for uploads.
- Commercial or enterprise use without permission.
🏆 Alternatives
Far more effective for code than text-based checkers like Turnitin or Grammarly. It is the established, trusted tool in its niche.
💻 Platforms
🔌 Integrations
🛟 Support Options
- ✓ Email Support
- ✓ Dedicated Support (N/A tier)
💰 Pricing
Free tier: Free for use in programming courses. Not for commercial purposes.
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