Sense and (path) sensitivity: My experience adding a new feature as a Semgrep intern

During a 10-week internship at Semgrep, Katrina Liu, a rising senior majoring in Computer Science at the University of Pennsylvania, gained valuable experience in software engineering while contributing a new feature called path sensitivity to Semgrep's code analysis engine. This feature enhances the tool's ability to reduce false positives by analyzing different execution paths within code, leveraging control flow graphs. Throughout her internship, Katrina engaged in the full engineering process, from attending stand-ups and retrospectives to navigating code reviews and implementing her feature under a feature flag. The experience enriched her ability to communicate technical ideas and break down complex tasks. Katrina not only applied her programming language research knowledge practically but also appreciated Semgrep’s emphasis on continual improvement and research culture. Beyond technical achievements, she enjoyed the team dynamics, which included engaging discussions, fun activities, and traditions like "clapping out" at meetings, making the internship a well-rounded and memorable learning experience.