ExPert: dynamic analysis based fault location via Execution Perturbations

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ExPert: dynamic analysis based fault location via Execution PerturbationsAbstractThis project is studying dynamic characteristics of runs of faulty programs anddesigning promising dynamic analysis techniques to identify executed programstatements where a fault lies, i.e. the fault candidate set. To narrow the set ofstatements in the fault candidate set, an array of automated dynamic analyses arebeing used in conjunction with each other. These analyses consider not only thefailed run but also execution perturbations of this faulty run. The goal of thiswork is to focus the users attention on a small subset of statements in thefault candidate state. Identification of fault candidate set is based uponuncovering of two types of evidence: negative evidence and positive evidence. A negative evidence is considered as an indicator that leads to the conclusion that a value encountered during a failed program run is related to the program's failure. Positive evidence on the other hand indicates that some of the values computed during a failed run are in fact correct. Through a combination of negativeand positive evidence we aim to produce a small fault candidate set. As part of this work we are identifying new sources of evidence. We are also carrying out a systematic integration of above dynamic analyses technology into a practical debugging environment.