Hard coding: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:04, 18 June 2024

Revision as of 13:28, 16 July 2024

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Hard-coded data typically can only be modified by editing the source code and [[Compiling|recompiling]] the executable, although it can be changed in [[Volatile memory|memory]] or on disk using a [[debugger]] or [[hex editor]].

Data that is hard-coded is best suited for unchanging pieces of information, such as [[physical constant|physical constants]]s, [[Version number|version numbers]], and static text elements.

Softcoded data, on the other hand, encodes arbitrary information through [[user input]], [[text files]], [[INI file]]s, HTTP server responses, configuration files, preprocessor macros, external constants, databases, [[command-line argument]]s, and is determined at runtime.

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== Hardcoding and backdoors ==

Hardcoding credentials is a popular way of creating a [[Backdoor (computing)|backdoor]]. Hardcoded credentials are usually not visible in configuration files or the output of account-enumeration commands and cannot be easily changed or bypassed by users. If discovered, a user might be able to disable such a backdoor by modifying and rebuilding the program from its [[source code]] ([[FLOSS|if source is publicly available]]), [[decompiler|decompiling]], or [[reverse-engineering]] [[software]], [[hex editor|directly editing]] the program's [[binary code]], or instituting an integrity check (such as digital signatures, anti-tamper, and [[anti-cheat]]) to prevent the unexpected access, but such actions are often prohibited by an [[end-user license agreement]].

==Hardcoding and DRM==

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==Softcoding==

'''Softcoding''' is a [[computer programming|computer coding]] term that refers to obtaining a value or function from some external resource, such as [[text files]], [[INI file]]s, [[preprocessor]] [[Macro (computer science)|macros]], external constants, [[configuration file]]s, [[command-line argument]]s, databases, user input, HTTP server responses. It is the opposite of [[hardcoding]], which refers to coding values and functions in the source code.

===Programming practice===