Use of stack depth to identify machine code mistakes

Details Use of stack depth to identify machine code mistakes Use of stack depth to identify machine code mistakes

1991-03-07

1995-09-12

Baker, Stephen M.

Boots, shoes, and leggings

364DIG1, 36426791, 3642804, 395775, 39518314, G06F 1100, G06F 945

Patent

active

054505755

ABSTRACT:
A code translator, constructed similar to a compiler, accepts as an input to be translated the assembly code written for one architecture (e.g., VAX), and produces as an output object code for a different machine architecture (e.g., RISC). The input code is converted into an intermediate language, and a flow graph is constructed. The flow graph is referenced by a flow analyzer for recognizing certain architecture-specific and calling standard-specific coding practices or idioms that can produce mistakes if not revised before converting, particularly relating to stack usage. By tracking stack usage within and across routines, the compiler can distinguish up-level stack and return address references from valid local references. Also, it can inform the user of stack misalignment, which has a severe performance penalty, and can detect code segments where different flow paths may result in different stack depths at runtime, which may indicate a source code error.

REFERENCES:
patent: 5127103 (1992-06-01), Hill et al.
patent: 5132972 (1992-07-01), Hansen
Schneider, Y., "Converting a Portable Pascal P-Code Interpreter to a Code Generator", Software Practice and Experience, 1989, pp. 1111-1113.
Banning, "The XDOS Binary Code Conversion System", COMPCON 89, 27 Feb. 1989, San Francisco, pp. 282-287.
Hunter et al., DOS at RISE, Byte Magazine, vol. 14, No. 12, Nov. 1989, pp. 361-368.

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