Alias Analysis Method for Object-Oriented Programs Using Alias Flow Graphs

When a pair of expressions (or partial expressions) on a program text point to the same object (memory area), these expressions are said to be in an alias relation. These occur by indirect references etc. via a parameter passing with delivery, reference variable, pointer, etc. The existing alias analysis methods are insufficient in terms of reusability of analysis results, not allowing the reusability of object-oriented programs in the alias analyses. Furthermore, although various proposals of alias analysis methods have been published in the past, practical tools have not yet been available. This study proposes an alias analysis method for object-oriented programs that considers moduling and reutilization of alias analysis results. The Java alias analysis tool that realizes the proposed method can analyze a large-scale program such as a class library attached to the JDK (Java Developer's Kit) in a practical time. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.