The role static analysis tools play in uncovering elements of design

[jsteven at cigital.com (John Steven)]

Jeff,

An unpopular opinion I?ve held is that static analysis tools, while very
helpful in finding problems, inhibit a reviewer?s ability to find collect as
much information about the structure, flow, and idiom of code?s design as
the reviewer might find if he/she spelunks the code manually.

I find it difficult to use tools other than source code navigators (source
insight) and scripts to facilitate my code understanding (at the
design-level). 

Perhaps you can give some examples of static analysis library/tool use that
overcomes my prejudice<or are you referring to the navigator tools as well?

-----
John Steven        
Principal, Software Security Group
Technical Director, Office of the CTO
703 404 5726 - Direct | 703 727 4034 - Cell
Cigital Inc.          | jsteven at cigital.com

4772 F7F3 1019 4668 62AD  94B0 AE7F EEF4 62D5 F908

  
----snipped----
Static analysis tools can help a lot here. Used properly, they can provide
design-level insight into a software baseline. The huge advantage is that
it's correct.

--Jeff 
----snipped----



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