Moss (Measure of Software Similarity)
A System for Detecting Software Plagiarism.
Overview
Moss (for a Measure of Software Similarity) is an automatic system for determining the similarity of programs. It is a long-standing and widely respected tool used by computer science instructors to detect plagiarism in programming assignments. Users submit code, and Moss analyzes it for structural similarities, highlighting suspicious pairs of submissions.
✨ Key Features
- Detects similarity in program structure, not just text
- Supports a wide range of programming languages (C, C++, Java, Python, etc.)
- Highlights similar code passages side-by-side
- Free for instructional use
- Batch processing of an entire class's submissions
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Highly effective at detecting algorithmic and structural similarity, not just text matching
- Long-standing reputation and trust within the CS 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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