Validation of Code-Improving Transformations for Embedded Systems

Programmers of embedded systems often develop software in assembly code due to inadequate support from compilers and the need to meet critical speed and/or space constraints. Many embedded applications are being used as a component of an increasing number of critical systems. While achieving high performance for these systems is important, ensuring that these systems execute correctly is vital. One portion of this process is to ensure that codeimproving transformations applied to a program will not change the program’s semantic behavior, which may be jeopardized when transformations are specified manually. This paper describes a general approach for validation of many low-level code-improving transformations made either by a compiler or specified by hand. Initially, we associate a region of the program representation with a code-improving transformation. Afterwards, we calculate the region’s effects on the rest of the program before and after the transformation. The transformati...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: SAC
• Authors: Robert van Engelen, David B. Whalley, Xin Yuan
• Keywords: Applied Computing, Code-improving Transformations, Low-level Code-improving Transformations, Many Embedded Applications, SAC 2003