About cookies on this site Our websites require some cookies to function properly (required). In addition, other cookies may be used with your consent to analyze site usage, improve the user experience and for advertising. For more information, please review your options. By visiting our website, you agree to our processing of information as described in IBM’sprivacy statement. To provide a smooth navigation, your cookie preferences will be shared across the IBM web domains listed here.
Publication
Science of Computer Programming
Paper
Evaluating the effectiveness of pointer alias analyses
Abstract
This paper describes an empirical comparison of the effectiveness of six context-insensitive pointer analysis algorithms that use varying degrees of flow-sensitivity. Four of the algorithms are flow-insensitive, one is flow-sensitive, and another is flow-insensitive, but uses precomputed flow-sensitive information. The effectiveness of each analysis is quantified in terms of compile-time efficiency and precision. Efficiency is reported by measuring CPU time and memory consumption of each analysis. Precision is reported by measuring the computed solutions at the program points where a pointer is dereferenced. The results of this paper will help implementors determine which pointer analysis is appropriate for their application.