Engineering Practices

Test-Driven Development in Real Projects Test-Driven Development (TDD) is a disciplined approach to building software. In real projects, teams often see faster delivery and fewer regressions when tests guide design. Some fear that writing tests first slows them down, but with steady habits, tests pay back through clearer intent and safer refactors. TDD asks you to write a failing test before you write the code, then make the test pass, and finally improve the code through refactoring. This red-green-refactor cycle keeps you focused on what the feature should do and how it behaves, not just how it is implemented. Tests become living documentation that teams can read to understand behavior, edge cases, and error paths. ...

Network Security Essentials for Engineers Keeping networks safe is a practical skill. Engineers design and run systems that people rely on every day. A clear security plan focuses on risk and resilience, not on chasing every new threat. Core practices Security works best when it is built into the design. A simple, repeatable approach helps teams stay safe without slowing work. Defense in depth: use multiple layers—perimeter controls, internal segmentation, host hardening, and centralized monitoring. Secure by design: minimize exposed services, apply default deny, and perform regular configuration reviews. Identity and access: enforce MFA, least privilege, role-based access, and quick revocation. Data protection: encrypt data in transit with TLS, and at rest with strong keys; manage certificates and rotate credentials. Threat modeling helps focus effort. Start with what would hurt most: data loss, downtime, or loss of trust. Then map who can access what, and how misuse could occur. ...