A practical and precise inference and specializer for array bound checks elimination

Abstract

Arrays are intensively used in many software programs, including those in the popular graphics and game programming domains. Although the problem of eliminating redundant array bound checks has been studied for a long time, there are few works that attempt to be both aggressively precise and practical. We propose an inference mechanism that achieves both aims by combining a forward relational analysis with a backward precondition derivation. Our inference algorithm works for a core imperative language with assignments, and analyses each method once through a summary-based approach. Our inference is precise as it is both path and context sensitive. Through a novel technique that can strengthen preconditions, we can selectively reduce the sizes of formulae to support a practical inference algorithm. Moreover, we subject each inferred program to a flexivariant specialization that can achieve good tradeoff between elimination of array checks and code explosion concerns. We have proven the soundness of our approach and have also implemented a prototype inference and specialization system. Initial experiments suggest that such a desired system is viable. Copyright © 2008 ACM.