Termination-Checking for LLVM Peephole Optimizations

@article{Menendez2016TerminationCheckingFL,
  title={Termination-Checking for LLVM Peephole Optimizations},
  author={David Menendez and Santosh Nagarakatte},
  journal={2016 IEEE/ACM 38th International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE)},
  year={2016},
  pages={191-202}
}
Mainstream compilers contain a large number of peephole optimizations, which perform algebraic simplification of the input program with local rewriting of the code. These optimizations are a persistent source of bugs. Our recent research on Alive, a domain-specific language for expressing peephole optimizations in LLVM, addresses a part of the problem by automatically verifying the correctness of these optimizations and generating C++ code for use with LLVM. This paper identifies a class of non… 
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Methods Citations
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7 Citations

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Citation Type

Practical formal techniques and tools for developing LLVM’s peephole optimizations
TLDR
This dissertation presents Alive, a domain-specific language for specifying peephole optimizations in LLVM, and the Alive-NJ toolkit, which automatically checks the correctness of integerand floating point-based optimizations.
Precondition Inference for Peephole Optimizations in LLVM
TLDR
This paper proposes ALIVE-INFER, a data-driven approach that infers preconditions for peephole optimizations expressed in Alive, and demonstrates the applicability of this technique to generalize 54 optimization patterns generated by Souper, an LLVM~IR--based superoptimizer.
Alive-FP: Automated Verification of Floating Point Based Peephole Optimizations in LLVM
TLDR
This paper proposes Alive-FP, an automated verification framework for floating point based peephole optimizations in LLVM that handles a class of floating point optimizations and fast-math optimizations involving signed zeros, not-a-number, and infinities, which do not result in loss of accuracy.
Alive-Infer: data-driven precondition inference for peephole optimizations in LLVM
TLDR
This paper proposes Alive-Infer, a data-driven approach that infers preconditions for peephole optimizations expressed in Alive, and demonstrates the applicability of this technique to generalize 54 optimization patterns generated by Souper, an LLVM IR–based superoptimizer.
Loop Detection by Logically Constrained Term Rewriting
TLDR
New criteria to find loops in logically constrained rewrite systems which are implemented in the tool Ctrl are presented, illustrating the usefulness of these criteria in three example applications: to finding loops in LLVM peephole optimizations, to detect looping executions of C programs, and to establish nontermination of integer transition systems.
Future Directions for Optimizing Compilers
TLDR
The problem of making optimizing compilers faster, less buggy, and more capable of generating high-quality output is examined.
How software engineering research aligns with design science: a review
TLDR
The design science lens helps emphasize the theoretical contribution of research output—in terms of technological rules—and reflect on the practical relevance, novelty and rigor of the rules proposed by the research.

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