Technology of Object-Oriented Languages and Systems
A Comparison of Defensive Development and Design by Contract
Santa Barbara, California
August 01-August 05
ISBN: 0-7695-0278-4
This paper briefly defines and discusses assertions and their uses before summarizing Design by Contract and Defensive Development. This provides a foundation for the following comparison of their similarities as well as their respective strengths and weaknesses. The paper concludes by arguing that Defensive Development is superior to Design by Contract, largely because of how they differ in assigning the responsibility for checking and ensuring preconditions.