In a world of hackers and malicious software designed to pervert and infiltrate even the best of applications out there, design methods that serve to protect the integrity of data within an application should be a developer’s best friend. Not to worry though, the really smart guys have figured out a few pertinent things to help us along on our IT developer journey.
What is that you ask… well obfuscation of course!
Data transmission methods and applications should be secure enough to prevent them from being exploited by not so well intended people and their desires to bring the walls tumbling down of even the most well written software, interfaces, peripherals and the like. So, the application of coded and otherwise encrypted methods of securing data should be of the utmost priority when it comes to the design trends of applications development and data transmission methods.
The Thick Of IT – Obfuscation is, in a broader sense, the means by which a developer builds a layer of protection or security within an application by obscuring its literal meaning or purpose using methods of indirection in data transmission and design that only the developer or those who are privy to the coded application or interface have the tools to de-obfuscate or decode to render as useful information.
The process of obfuscating data serves as the building blocks of data integrity in that it allows communicatory information between either a single node to be translated by a user, or likewise the safe communication from node to node within an application or on a network.
Methods Of Obfuscation – Applications and interfaces can be secured with the application of cryptic cyphers or keys, or the use of indexing and likewise manufactured dictionaries of coded data that serve to provide special meaning to otherwise simple programming concepts and information.
These methods of obfuscating or otherwise obscuring pertinent or valued information and data, like our literal dictionaries of the English language, allow developers to procure specialized and unique meanings of data within the range of functionality that a programming language’s syntax and semantics are constructed for.
The Benefits – While simplistic application and data transmission methods have their specific place in applications and software design practices, their use can prove ineffective in a range of pragmatic or practical developer design goals, especially those that involve sensitive data or in instances where confidentiality in data communication is required.
As such, the benefits of utilizing data obfuscation methods and design techniques are the addition of safety and security within application design, that mightn’t otherwise be afforded without the means of using obscure programming methods, allowing developers to maintain the data integrity of their applications and data, thus keeping them safe from possible intrusions, breaches or malicious and otherwise harmful data applications.
Where Things Get Tough – As in any other complex method of design, such as in the construction of composite dwellings or other design intricacies, when the levels of complexity within a project increase, so does the level of talent required, along with significant time constraints in developing the software or interface. Likewise, developers should be especially cautious that they don’t manufacture an overly cumbersome application that is painstakingly more difficult to decode than its design needs call for.
Further, as complexity is ingrained within an application, as some obfuscation methods can prove conceptually difficult both to code and decode, an error anywhere in an application can cause strange or otherwise divergent behavior to occur elsewhere, provoking a programmer treasure hunt of sorts, to track down a specific anomaly or problem within an application for revisioning.
So…..For all the technophiles and self-proclaimed tech gurus out there, code and code a lot. And as you do, know that learning obfuscation techniques will prove to be one of the most valued talents you could learn in your developer journey towards greatness… so go for it.
Here’s A Few Noteworthy Projects As You Do
Recoding The ASCII Alphabet
User Defined Data Types Instead Of Primitive Types In Tasks
Coding A Dictionary Of Key-Value Pairs
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