STOCHASTIC PROGRAM OPTIMIZATION FOR x86 64 BINARIES A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND THE COMMITTEE ON GRADUATE STUDIES OF STANFORD UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

ii I certify that I have read this dissertation and that, in my opinion, it is fully adequate in scope and quality as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. I certify that I have read this dissertation and that, in my opinion, it is fully adequate in scope and quality as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. I certify that I have read this dissertation and that, in my opinion, it is fully adequate in scope and quality as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. iii Acknowledgments This thesis and the little bits of sanity that I still lay claim to having made it through grad school, would not be possible without the love and support of my friends and family. In keeping with the spirit of this work, the ordering of names that I've used below was chosen uniformly at random, so that none may feel slighted. Special dispensation — and the honor of being named first— is given to my advisor Alex Aiken, and to those who will never have the chance to read these words,