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Payment SmartCards

Ever had the chance to develop a proprietary operating system for smartcards?
Programming a high‑security microcontroller equipped with its own crypto‑coprocessor?
Writing code in assembly because if offers some major performance improvements?
Guaranteeing the execution of security and data‑integrity checks under extremely limited resources (RAM/FLASH)?
While still meeting the strict timing requirements needed for processing payment transactions?
Running the whole system through DFA (Differential Fault Analysis) tests and then passing VISA or MasterCard type approval?

All of that? No problem.
That was my daily routine during five years at a Munich‑based company specializing in banknote production, cash‑handling machines, and smartcard systems.
Coordinating with semiconductor manufacturers during the design phase of new chips? Absolutely part of the job.
Meeting demanding quality‑management requirements? Of course.
Distributed software development across several continents and time zones? Coordination and communication overhead included — already been there.

And shall we talk about cryptography next?…