A process algebra based program and system representation for reverse engineering

Author

Merlo, E. ; DeMori, R. ; Kontogiannis, K.

Author_Institution

McGill Univ., Montreal, Que., Canada

fYear

1993

fDate

8-9 Jul 1993

Firstpage

17

Lastpage

25

Abstract

A reverse engineering approach based on process algebras for system representation and understanding is presented. Process algebras offer both a formal framework for representing communicating processes and a proof theory for proving semantic equivalences between them. Programs and program fragments are denoted as concurrent agents and code behaviour is defined in terms of interactions among agents in a process algebra representation suitable for subsequent analysis. Semantic and behavioural equivalences between programming plans, which represent programming stereo-types, and code fragments can be defined in this formal system together with a deduction system to prove them. Several advantages and further research issues on the use of process algebra for reverse engineering and maintenance are identified and discussed

Keywords

parallel programming; program verification; programming theory; software maintenance; code behaviour; communicating processes; concurrent agents; deduction system; maintenance; process algebra based program; programming plans; proof theory; reverse engineering; semantic equivalences; system representation; Algebra; Algorithm design and analysis; Carbon capture and storage; Communication system control; Flow graphs; Laboratories; Problem-solving; Programming profession; Reverse engineering; Tree graphs;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Program Comprehension, 1993. Proceedings., IEEE Second Workshop on

Conference_Location

Capri

ISSN

1092-8138

Print_ISBN

0-8186-4042-1

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/WPC.1993.263910

Filename

263910