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INT. PROJECT ARCHIVE — STORYBOARD ROOM
The USER opens Mini-LOP.
DIVAKAR DESSAI
Let's run through the shots.
CASE FILE / COMP3142 / Security / Software Testing
Mini-LOPCoverage-Guided Software Fuzzer
Built a small AFL-inspired coverage-guided fuzzer that mutates program inputs and retains test cases that discover new execution behaviour.
01–02 / OPENING SEQUENCE
Establishing the world
01 / Establishing Shot
The Problem
Manually selected test inputs can miss unexpected execution paths, particularly in software with large or unusual input spaces.
02 / Wide Shot
The Context
The project explored coverage-guided fuzzing inspired by AFL-style security-testing systems.
03 / CHARACTER NOTE
DIVAKAR'S ROLE
Subject
Divakar Dessai
Production
Mini-LOP
Take
03 / Role
Role notes
DIVAKAR DESSAI
I worked on the input mutation, execution and feedback loop used to automatically explore target program behaviour.
04 / CLOSE-UP
THE ENGINEERING CHALLENGE
Generating random inputs alone is inefficient; the system needed a mechanism for recognising which mutations were worth exploring further.
05 / TRACKING SHOT
THE APPROACH
A plan emerges.
The fuzzer repeatedly selected corpus inputs, mutated them, executed the target and used coverage information to determine whether the generated input should be retained.
06 / INSERT SHOTS
KEY FEATURES
The system takes shape.
07 / DIRECTOR'S NOTES
DESIGN DECISIONS
Things we decided along the way
01
Used coverage feedback to guide exploration.
02
Retained only mutations that contributed useful new behaviour.
03
Repeated mutation of promising inputs to progressively expand coverage.
design decisions
somewhere mid-build
08 / RETAKES
WHAT WENT WRONG
Naturally, not everything cooperates.
09 / FINAL SHOT
THE OUTCOME
ProblemBuildOutcome
01
Built a small coverage-guided fuzzing system.
02
Gained practical exposure to automated security testing.
03
Learned how feedback can transform random mutation into directed program exploration.
10 / PRODUCTION NOTES
TECH STACK
The tools behind the scenes.
PythonFuzzingCoverage InstrumentationSoftware Testing
11 / BEHIND THE SCENES
LINKS
FADE OUT.
USER closes the file.
One project down. A few more stories left.
DIVAKAR DESSAI
Pick another?