A process algebra based program and system representation for reverse engineering

A reverse engineering approach based on process algebras for system representation and understanding is presented. Process algebras offer both a formal framework for representing communicating processes and a proof theory for proving semantic equivalences between them. Programs and program fragments are denoted as concurrent agents and code behaviour is defined in terms of interactions among agents in a process algebra representation suitable for subsequent analysis. Semantic and behavioural equivalences between programming plans, which represent programming stereo-types, and code fragments can be defined in this formal system together with a deduction system to prove them. Several advantages and further research issues on the use of process algebra for reverse engineering and maintenance are identified and discussed