🚜 Code Like It Matters: A Guide to Secure Coding (from someone who broke it before fixing it)

💥 Why Secure Coding Even Matters

Let’s be real: most devs (including my past self) treat security like a “last-minute sprinkle.” But in the real world, one insecure line of code = open door for hackers.

Think SQL injection. XSS. Buffer overflows. Yeah, they’re old school. And still very much alive thanks to sloppy coding.

Writing secure code isn’t a “bonus.” It’s basic hygiene.

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🔑 The 7 Commandments of Secure Coding

1. Validate All Input. No Excuses.

Never trust the user. Ever.
Sanitize form inputs. Use allow-lists. Reject sketchy data.
"DROP TABLE users;" should never be accepted. Period.

2. Escape Output Like Your Life Depends on It

Especially when displaying user content (chat apps, forums, comments).
Escape HTML to prevent XSS (Cross Site Scripting).
Because <script>alert(“hacked”)</script> is not cute.

3. Use Prepared Statements for DB Queries

Never build SQL queries like you're writing a tweet.
Use parameterized queries to stop SQL injections dead.

4. Hash Passwords Like a Pro

Plaintext passwords? You're asking to be roasted online.
Use strong hashing algorithms (e.g., bcrypt, Argon2) with salt.

5. Don’t Roll Your Own Crypto

Unless you’re a PhD in cryptography, stick to well-vetted libraries.
Seriously—don’t be “that guy.”

6. Keep Secrets Out of Code

API keys, DB passwords, tokens—keep them in env vars or vaults.
Never hardcode them. And no, .gitignore is not a magic shield.

7. Update Dependencies. Religiously.

Vulnerabilities in libraries = vulnerabilities in your app.
Use tools like npm audit, pip-audit, OWASP Dependency-Check.

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🧪 Real Talk: How I Screwed Up Once

I once left a debug mode ON in production. The app exposed system paths, user tokens, and a free pass to attack.
Luckily, I caught it before anyone else did—but it was humbling.
Now? I double check config files like my life depends on it.

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🧰 Tools I Use for Staying Clean

• SonarQube – Code smells, bugs, and security issues

• OWASP ZAP – Web app scanner

• GitHub Advanced Security – Secrets scanning, dependency alerts

• Semgrep – Lightweight, dev-friendly static analysis

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TL;DR 🚀

Secure coding isn’t just for security folks—it’s for everyone writing code. You wouldn’t ship software with broken features. Why ship it with open security holes?

Code responsibly. Your future self (and your users) will thank you.

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