Worked on the libretro/RetroArch project to enhance stability and memory safety in path resolution and updater processes. Addressed a critical bug by implementing dynamic memory allocation for realpath results, ensuring safe copying to the caller’s buffer and preventing crashes when buffers were smaller than PATH_MAX. This approach eliminated aborts under fortified libc checks, improving reliability for end users and reducing downstream maintenance. The solution involved careful buffer management, defensive programming, and dynamic memory strategies in C, with some C++ context. The work focused on core system programming challenges, resulting in safer path handling without altering external APIs or interfaces.