Vigilant Software Blog
Blog Archive
Below you'll find links to all of our blog articles, most recent first.
January 3, 2012
Defect Spotlight: Useless checks
Sentry's new scanner for a simple mistake yields some interesting real world results.
Sentry's new scanner for a simple mistake yields some interesting real world results.
December 26, 2011
Happy holidays from Vigilant
A quick holiday message and a new bug-fix release posted!
A quick holiday message and a new bug-fix release posted!
October 31, 2011
Why ease of use is so important
Ease of use is one of our primary missions in developing software tools; why is it so important to us?
Ease of use is one of our primary missions in developing software tools; why is it so important to us?
October 24, 2011
How to actually fix a bug
Fix bugs and prevent them from coming back by applying the TDD philosophy.
Fix bugs and prevent them from coming back by applying the TDD philosophy.
October 17, 2011
Sentry 3.1 released!
We're excited to announce the availability of Sentry 3.1, our extensible static code analyzer!
We're excited to announce the availability of Sentry 3.1, our extensible static code analyzer!
September 13, 2011
Obstacles are a productivity killer
Every once in a while, you'll hit obstacles in your software processes. Let's look at what problems they can cause, and how to avoid them.
Every once in a while, you'll hit obstacles in your software processes. Let's look at what problems they can cause, and how to avoid them.
August 24, 2011
Reports of C++'s death greatly exaggerated
InfoWorld hails the return of native code and the resurgence of C++.
InfoWorld hails the return of native code and the resurgence of C++.
August 8, 2011
Learn To Love Your Tests
Code quality still matters, even when it's "only" test code. Here's why:
Code quality still matters, even when it's "only" test code. Here's why:
August 3, 2011
Make Inertia Work For You
Using automation in your development process to increase stability, predictability, and productivity.
Using automation in your development process to increase stability, predictability, and productivity.
July 28, 2011
Defect Spotlight: Hiding in plain sight
Sometimes bugs can hide in plain sight; Sentry finds a bug in Audacity that's been around since 2003!
Sometimes bugs can hide in plain sight; Sentry finds a bug in Audacity that's been around since 2003!
July 25, 2011
Surprise! (You're relying on compiler-specific behavior)
Taking a look at a surprising bug that cropped up when compiling for 32-bit x86.
Taking a look at a surprising bug that cropped up when compiling for 32-bit x86.
July 20, 2011
Getting Agile: Fine-grained analysis control at run time
Explains how the new plugin system and analysis profiles let you customize analysis behavior to your liking.
Explains how the new plugin system and analysis profiles let you customize analysis behavior to your liking.
July 5, 2011
Plugging static analysis into your CI process
Static analysis fits nicely into the continuous integration process with Sentry's command line interface.
Static analysis fits nicely into the continuous integration process with Sentry's command line interface.
June 27, 2011
Scaling up our open source analysis
We're ramping up our open source analysis efforts to help improve the quality of free software.
We're ramping up our open source analysis efforts to help improve the quality of free software.
May 30, 2011
Sentry 3.0 released!
We're excited to announce the availability of Sentry 3.0, our extensible static analyzer!
We're excited to announce the availability of Sentry 3.0, our extensible static analyzer!
September 7, 2010
Defect Spotlight: Conflicting assumptions
Sometimes source code can tell us what the programmer was thinking, and we can use that to identify defects!
Sometimes source code can tell us what the programmer was thinking, and we can use that to identify defects!
August 9, 2010
Sentry 2.3.0 available in two editions
Sentry 2.3.0 is officially released, and is now available in both Enterprise and Small Business editions.
Sentry 2.3.0 is officially released, and is now available in both Enterprise and Small Business editions.
July 26, 2010
Defect Spotlight: Error handling
Defect Spotlight: Error-handling paths are frequently unreached in normal usage, and often hide serious defects.
Defect Spotlight: Error-handling paths are frequently unreached in normal usage, and often hide serious defects.
June 18, 2010
Defect Spotlight: The Root Cause
Automating static analysis can help you find the root cause of defects, before they are forgotten.
Automating static analysis can help you find the root cause of defects, before they are forgotten.
May 27, 2010
Sentry 2.2.0 released!
Announcing the release of Sentry 2.2.0, our latest static analyzer.
Announcing the release of Sentry 2.2.0, our latest static analyzer.
May 17, 2010
Defect Spotlight: Code smell
Defect Spotlight: We take a look at some dead code that may indicate a serious problem.
Defect Spotlight: We take a look at some dead code that may indicate a serious problem.
March 4, 2010
Sentry 2.1 released!
Announcing the release of Sentry 2.1, our latest static analyzer.
Announcing the release of Sentry 2.1, our latest static analyzer.
December 29, 2009
Sentry 2.0 released!
Announcing the release of Sentry v2.0.0, our latest static analyzer.
Announcing the release of Sentry v2.0.0, our latest static analyzer.
December 21, 2009
Snowball Effect
Small mistakes can seem harmless, but in the wrong context, their impact may be severe.
Small mistakes can seem harmless, but in the wrong context, their impact may be severe.
December 14, 2009
Undefined Behavior
The effects of undefined behavior vary from compiler to compiler, and just might surprise you.
The effects of undefined behavior vary from compiler to compiler, and just might surprise you.
November 29, 2009
Just your average memory leak
Memory leaks are a common but easily-missed problem. Let's look at one example...
Memory leaks are a common but easily-missed problem. Let's look at one example...
