Goal-Directed Program Transformation

Author

Wegbreit, Ben

Author_Institution

Xerox Palo Alto Research Center

Issue

2

fYear

1976

fDate

6/1/1976 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

69

Lastpage

80

Abstract

Program development often proceeds by transforming simple, clear programs into complex, involuted, but more efficient ones. This paper examines ways this process can be rendered more systematic. We show how analysis of program performance, partial evaluation of functions, and abstraction of recursive function definitions from recurring subgoals can be combined to yield many global transformations in a methodical fashion. Examples are drawn from compiler optimization, list processing, very high-evel languages, and APL execution.

Keywords

APL; Analysis of prograns; Lisp; compiler optimization; evaluation in context; execution analysis; generalization; list processing; optimizing transformations; partial evaluation; program analysis; program transfornation; simplification; very high-level language; Computational efficiency; Cost function; Design engineering; High level languages; Local activities; Optimizing compilers; Performance analysis; Program processors; Programming profession; APL; Analysis of prograns; Lisp; compiler optimization; evaluation in context; execution analysis; generalization; list processing; optimizing transformations; partial evaluation; program analysis; program transfornation; simplification; very high-level language;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Software Engineering, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0098-5589

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TSE.1976.233533

Filename

1702344