Perturbation analysis of computer programs

Abstract

Error flow analysis is the study of how errors originate, spread, and propagate during program execution based on the three steps of the fault/failure model: execution, infection, and propagation. These three steps are defined relative to a virtual computer-by judiciously selecting the instruction set and data state of this computer the need for infection analysis can be reduced or eliminated in favor of execution and propagation analysis. A key aspect of propagation analysis is injecting errors into the data state and tracing their expect. Perturbation analysis injects errors by directly modifying the data state of on executing program. The resulting code that is executed-the tail code-is analyzed for its error-flow behavior. Perturbation analysis is a language-independent and efficient method of characterizing the propagation rate of each tail function, the function computed by all tail code originating at a given location. This paper defines a model for perturbation analysis, and uses the model to explain the performance of analysis techniques (e.g. statement, data flow, and mutation analysis).