LISP and Symbolic Computation, 4(1)5-27

A Logical Approach to Program Analysis

Robert R. Kessler, Department of Computer Science, 3190 MEB, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Jed J. Krohnfeldt, Cirrus Logic Inc., 1463 Centre Pointe Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035

Abstract: This paper describes MicroScope, a framework for developing analysis tools for Lisp programs. MicroScope uses a knowledge-intensive approach for program representation and analysis. The analysis tools share a common object oriented program database, and a common Prolog inference engine. The use of Prolog and a declarative representation for programs permits sharing of information, and provides high bandwidth communication between diverse analysis tools. It also supports program specification and debugging activities in the same framework. Extensions to Prolog to support analysis are described, and two tools, the Critic and the Expector, are presented.

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May 2003 - hosc@brics.dk