Lean and Efficient Software: Whole-Program Optimization of Executables

Abstract

The objective of this project is to investigate the feasibility of improving the performance, size, and robustness of binary executables by using static and dynamic binary program analysis techniques to perform whole-program optimization directly on compiled programs. The scope includes analyzing the effectiveness of techniques for specializing library subroutines, removing redundant argument checking and interface layers, eliminating dead code, and improving computational efficiency. The contractor expects the optimizations to be applied at or immediately prior to deployment of software, allowing them to tailor the optimized software to its target platform. Today, machine-code analysis and binary-rewriting techniques have reached a sufficient maturity level to make whole-program, machine-code optimization feasible. These techniques open avenues for aggressive optimization that benefit from detailed knowledge of an application s composition and its environment.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 03, 2013
Accession Number
ADA582806

Entities

People

  • Alexey Loginov
  • Brian Alliet
  • David Ciarletta
  • David Cok
  • Frank Adelstein
  • Junghee Lim
  • Suan Yong
  • Tom Johnson

Organizations

  • GrammaTech

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Coding
  • Compilers
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computer Science
  • Computers
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Data Sets
  • Disassembly
  • Efficiency
  • Energy Consumption
  • Machine Languages
  • Optimization
  • Prototypes
  • Software Development

Fields of Study

  • Computer science
  • Engineering

Readers

  • Computer Programming and Software Development.
  • Software Engineering.