Config Transcription Verification

Config Transcription Verification

The Problem

When extracting hardcoded data to JSON, field values silently drift:

// Original code
const buttons = [
  { icon: 'play', label: 'Start', action: 'start' },
  { icon: 'stop', label: 'Stop', action: 'stop' }
];

// Transcribed JSON (with typos)
{
  "buttons": [
    { "icon": "play", "label": "Start", "action": "begin" },
    { "icon": "pause", "label": "Stop", "action": "stop" }
  ]
}

Two errors: action: "begin" instead of "start", icon: "pause" instead of "stop".

The Solution

Cross-check every field against the source.

Manual Verification Checklist

## Transcription Verification

Source: `src/buttons.js` lines 12-18

| Field | Original | JSON | ✓ |
|-------|----------|------|---|
| button[0].icon | play | play | ✅ |
| button[0].label | Start | Start | ✅ |
| button[0].action | start | start | ✅ |
| button[1].icon | stop | stop | ✅ |
| button[1].label | Stop | Stop | ✅ |
| button[1].action | stop | stop | ✅ |

Automated Verification Script

// scripts/verify-transcription.cjs
const source = require('../src/buttons.js').buttons;
const transcribed = require('../config/buttons.json').buttons;

source.forEach((srcItem, i) => {
  const jsonItem = transcribed[i];
  Object.keys(srcItem).forEach(key => {
    if (srcItem[key] !== jsonItem[key]) {
      console.error(`Mismatch at [${i}].${key}: "${srcItem[key]}" vs "${jsonItem[key]}"`);
      process.exitCode = 1;
    }
  });
});

if (!process.exitCode) console.log('Transcription verified ✓');

High-Risk Fields

Verification

1. Every field in original has matching field in JSON
2. No extra fields added
3. Order preserved where it matters
4. Verification script passes

When to Apply

• Extracting config from code
• Migrating between formats
• Manual data entry from specs
• Any transcription task

Tags

build configuration verification migration