Level by level: making flow- and context-sensitive pointer analysis scalable for millions of lines of code

We present a practical and scalable method for flow- and contextsensitive (FSCS) pointer analysis for C programs. Our method analyzes the pointers in a program level by level in terms of their points-to levels, allowing the points-to relations of the pointers at a particular level to be discovered based on the points-to relations of the pointers at this level and higher levels. This level-by-level strategy can enhance the scalability of the FSCS pointer analysis in two fundamental ways, by enabling (1) fast and accurate flowsensitive analysis on full sparse SSA form using a flow-insensitive algorithm and (2) fast and accurate context-sensitive analysis using a full transfer function and a meet function for each procedure. Our level-by-level algorithm, LevPA, gives rises to (1) a precise and compact SSA representation for subsequent program analysis and optimization tasks and (2) a flow- and context-sensitive MAY / MUST mod (modification) set and read set for each procedure. Our p...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2010
• Where: CGO
• Authors: Hongtao Yu, Jingling Xue, Wei Huo, Xiaobing Feng 0002, Zhaoqing Zhang
• Keywords: CGO 2010, FSCS Pointer Analysis, Pointer Analysis, Program Analysis, Software Engineering