A Semantic Basis for Pointer Analysis

Static analysis is most frequently used for compiler optimisa-tion, but it can also be used to derive properties which support the validation of software. For this purpose, the commonly available analysis tools have been based on a computational model involving a static set of named variables. This is inadequate for any language involving structures and pointers. However, considerable work has been done on pointer analysis algorithms, particularly for C, and mainly directed at the aliasing problem. These show promise of being the basis for techniques for verifying absence of pointer misuse. A formal semantics is developed for the use of pointers which enables analysis algorithms to be validated and compared. The language basis used is the Architecture Neutral Distribution Format (ANDF) a concept deened by the Open Software Foundation. Consequently the results are applicable to C, and any other language for which an ANDF producer exists.