A Framework for Partial Data Flow Analysis

Although data pow analysis was first developed for use in compilers, its usefulness is now recognized in many software tools. Because of its compiler origins, the computation of data pow for software tools is based on the traditional exhaustive data flow framework. However, although this framework is useful for computing data pow for compilers, it is not the most appropriate for sofsware tools, particularly those used in the maintenance stage. In maintenance, testing and debugging is typically performed in response to program changes. As such, the data pow required is demand driven from the changed program points. Rather than compute the data flow exhaustively using the traditional data flow framework, we present a framework for partial analysis. The framework includes a specification language enabling the specification of the demand driven data flow desired by a user. From the specification, a partial analysis algorithm is automatically generated using an L-attributed definition for ...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1994
• Where: ICSM
• Authors: Rajiv Gupta, Mary Lou Soffa
• Keywords: Data Flow, Data Flow Framework, Data Pow, ICSM 1994, Software Engineering