PRODUCING ROBUST PROGRAMS

PRODUCING ROBUST PROGRAMS

1. Definitions

   • Data Validation
     • Check to ensure that the data entered is sensible and reasonable. It does not check the accuracy of data.
   • Authentication
     • The process of verifying the identity of a user or process
   • Data Sanitisation
     • Trims or strips strings, removing unwanted characters to make sure it contains only permitted characters .
   • Maintainability
     • Updating code so that it is compatible with current requirements
   • Comments
     • To help describe the code and structures in a program using #
   • Indentation
     • used to show the programs structure e.g. where selection or iteration or functions are used

2. Contingency Planning

   • Once a programmer has anticipated the misuse they can then plan for the these issues. For example: Limiting the number of logon attempts. Ensuring the code is robust in validating the data entered

3. Anticipating Misuse

   • Defensive program design will consider and anticipate misuse. Misuse may be in the form of a brute force attack on the program. E.G Many programs and systems only allow a user to enter a password three or four times before it locks out the system.

4. Definitions

   • Iterative testing
     • This happens overtime and is repeated throughout the development of the program
   • Test Data
     • Something which has been specifically identified for use in tests, typically of a computer program
   • Final/terminal testing
     • is when the product is released and real end users begin using it. Very often, end users find things wrong with systems that the programmers did not expect.
   • Logic Errors
     • The program is written to do something other than what the programmer intended E.g Resetting only the first 9 elements in an array instead of all 10
   • Syntax Errors
     • An error in the rules/grammar of the language E.G a missing colon/spelling mistake