Why Is Source Code Analysis Valuable?

Why Conduct a Source Code Analysis?

20:59 10 September 2024

There are times in managing your software business when it makes sense to conduct a source code analysis, either for your own product or the product of a close competitor. But how exactly does a source code analysis work? Why is it valuable? And how should you use this procedural tool?

The Basics of Source Code Analysis

Source code analysis, sometimes called static code analysis, is a process originally designed to analyze source code for the purposes of finding vulnerabilities, defects, and other issues with quality. It's also an excellent way to examine a piece of software for potential intellectual property infringements. Overall, it's one of the best ways to audit a piece of software and it's commonly employed as part of code review.

Source code analysis is also valuable in legal matters.A source code analysis expert can thoroughly analyze a piece of software to help a participant in a legal matter build their case. For example, they might be able to make a case that a software developer is complying with regulations by proving that the source code was programmed responsibly. They may also investigate a competing software product to investigate an intellectual property dispute.

Benefits of Source Code Analysis

Why exactly is source code analysis so valuable?

• Code quality improvement. Some organizations are interested in source code analysis as a way to improve code quality. This is an opportunity to view issues in the source code that aren't immediately visible. Once you find them, you can correct them in the next patch. Depending on your findings, this could also motivate changes in your internal processes to prevent similar issues from arising in the future.
• Time and monetary savings. For many organizations, source code analysis is a way to save both time and money. Yes, it does cost time and money to conduct a source code analysis, but this investment is often worth it. Imagine that you catch a major issue with your software before it's used by your users; not only can this prevent a user turnover catastrophe, but it could also prevent a devastating bug from entering the market and opening your organization to liability. Also, catching an issue early often means you're able to fix it much faster and more easily.
• Developer skill development. Source code analysis is a process that can aid in the development of software developer skills as well. Developers can participate in the source code analysis, under the guidance of an expert, to better learn how the source code works. If there are specific issues flagged, they can learn about them and refine their skills accordingly. If you're interested in building the most talented, capable team of internal software developers, periodic source code analysis is a practical necessity.
• Improved security. This is also a great way to support secure coding. One of the responsibilities of a source code analyst is to evaluate the source code for its ability to keep data private and secure. There's no such thing as perfect software; however, software developers owe it to their clients and users to make every reasonable effort to keep things secure. Source code analysis, especially when done proactively, is an excellent opportunity to review potential security issues and fix them.
• Better quality consistency. Software development companies pride themselves on their reputations. With better software products and consistent attention to quality, they can preserve their existing clients and continue attracting new ones. Occasional source code analysis is ideal for improving quality consistency, especially if you're working with good, experienced analysts. If there are any glaring issues with the code, your analysts should be able to find them. Just keep in mind that source code analysis is only one part of your overall quality assurance and quality control strategies; it's still a good idea to incorporate other measures, such as user testing, to improve the quality of your product.
• Faster issue resolution. Every piece of software is going to have some bugs. But in the interest of better serving your customers and maintaining a better product, it's important to be able to find and eliminate those bugs as quickly and efficiently as possible. With source code analysis, you should be entitled to faster issue resolution.
• Intellectual property protection. Source code analysis is also useful for protecting and preserving intellectual property rights. If you suspect that a competitor or another player on the market has violated your trademarks, patents, or other intellectual property, a source code analysis can help you formally determine that infraction. It's also valuable for gathering evidence if you choose to pursue legal action.

As we've seen, there are many ways to employ a source code analysis, and there are different motivations that can drive its employment. As long as you have reliable experts doing the analysis, the results should help you advance your goals.