Software Safety

Smart contracts: building safe and reliable code Smart contracts run on trustless networks. They automate agreements, but a single bug can trap funds or leak data. Building safe contracts means more than writing clean code; it means designing for failure, protecting users, and supporting easy audits. Clear assumptions and good habits save time in the long run. Start with a simple design. Keep functions small, minimize external calls, and favor clear state changes. The most common safety wins come from predictable flow and strict access control. Use explicit checks, and write the contract so errors are obvious and easy to detect during review. ...

Smart Contracts: Security and Practicalities Smart contracts run on the blockchain and handle money or valuable data. Security is essential because bugs can be permanent and costly. This article reviews common risks and practical steps for building safer contracts that work in the real world. Common risks Reentrancy and external calls can let a malicious contract call back into yours and drain funds. Arithmetic errors and overflows were a bigger issue in the past; newer Solidity versions help, but logic mistakes still slip in. Access control mistakes, such as missing checks or weak admin rights, open doors to unauthorized actions. Time and randomness manipulation by miners or data feeds can tilt outcomes. Front-running and gas price tricks can affect user experience and fairness. Upgradeability and admin keys raise risk: a single compromised key can change logic. Dependency risk from libraries, oracles, or other external contracts. Denial of service through heavy gas usage or blocking calls. Practical steps ...