Career: Reusable Specifications for Retargetability

本研究解决了用于翻译、分析、仪器、改进和迁移程序的重新定位工具的问题。这些工具不仅包括编译器，还包括汇编器、链接器、调试器、二进制代码修饰器和二进制翻译器。应用的主要重定向技术是从紧凑的、可重用的机器属性描述生成与机器相关的组件。研究目标是清晰简洁地描述机器属性，以支持重定向的方式表示指令语义，重用规范以重定向各种工具，以及重用规范分析以派生多机器的组件。指令语义分为三层。整个指令集的描述将使用元语言层编写。这些描述将被机械地转换为寄存器传输层，该层以易于分析的形式定义每个指令的语义。解释层将提供寄存器传输的语义解释；不同的解释支持不同的分析和组件生成器。这项研究的主要成果是开发了机器规格方面的新功能；它应该加深我们对机器特性的理解，促进机器级工具的创新，并帮助其他人在开发具有科学和实用价值的工具时节省精力、成本和时间。

This research addresses the problem of retargeting tools used to translate, analyze, instrument, improve, and migrate programs. Such tools include not only compilers, but also assemblers, linkers, debuggers, binary-code modifiers, and binary translators. The primary retargeting technique being applied is the generation of machine-dependent components from compact, reusable descriptions of machine properties. The research objectives are to describe machine properties clearly and concisely, to represent instruction semantics in a way that supports retargeting, to reuse specifications to retarget a variety of tools, and to reuse analyses of specifications to derive components for multiple machines. Instruction semantics are specified in three layers. Descriptions of whole instruction sets will be written using the metalanguage layer. These descriptions will be mechanically transformed into the register-transfer layer, which defines each instruction's semantics in a form that is easy to analyze. The interpretation layer will provide semantic interpretations of register transfers; different interpretations support different analyses and component generators. The major payoff of this research is in developing new capabilities in machine specification; it should deepen our understanding of properties of machines, foster innovation in machine-level tools, and help others save effort, cost, and time in developing tools of scientific and practical value.