Automatic Validation of Improving Transformations and Related Applications

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Proposal Number: CCR-9904943Title: Automatic Validation of Code Improving Transformations and Related ApplicationsInvestigators: Robert van Engelen, David Whalley, and Xin YuanAbstract:Ensuring that software systems execute correctly is vital. One portionof this process is to ensure that the compiler produces machine codethat accurately represents the algorithms specified at the source codelevel. This is a formidable task since an optimizing compiler not onlytranslates the source code to machine code, it may apply hundreds orthousands of code improving transformations to even a relatively smallprogram. This project will use two approaches that dramatically simplifythe validation of code improving transformations. First, the equivalenceof the program representation before and after each improvingtransformation will be checked, rather than attempting to equate thesource and object programs directly. Each individual code improvingtransformation typically consists of only a few changes. Second, onlythe region of the program that has changed, as opposed to the entireprogram representation, will be checked. The regions of the programrepresentation that are changed by an improving transformation aretypically quite small. The equivalence will be shown by demonstratingthat the effects of the region on the rest of the program will remain thesame before and after the improving transformation. The benefits includesimpler diagnosis of compiler errors and more reliable compilers.