Program Analysis: A Hierarchy
Andreas Zeller
Saarland University – Computer Science
Campus E1 3
66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
E-mail: zeller @ cs.uni-saarland.de
Phone: +49 (0) 681 302-64011
"Program analysis tools can be classified into a hierarchy along the used reasoning techniques - deduction, observation, induction, and experimentation. Each class is defined by the used knowledge sources which impose capabilities and limits. This allows for a finer distinction of dynamic analysis techniques; names like observation, induction, or experimentation link directly to the techniques that programmers use in program comprehension." (Conclusion)
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Abstract
Program analysis tools are based on four reasoning techniques: (1) deduction from code to concrete runs, (2) observation of concrete runs, (3) induction from observations into abstractions, and (4) experimentation to find causes for specific effects. These techniques form a hierarchy, where each technique can make use of lower levels, and where each technique induces capabilities and limits of the associated tools.Contents
- Introduction
- Deduction
- Observation
- Induction
- Experimentation
- A Hierarchy of Program Analysis
- Conclusion and Future Work
- References
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- Paper in PDF format (4 pages, 46k)
- Presentation at FSE 2002 (14 PDF slides, 370k)