A query algebra for program databases

Querying source code is an essential aspect of a variety of software engineering tasks such as program understanding, reverse engineering, program structure analysis and program flow analysis. In this paper, we present and demonstrate the use of an algebraic source code query technique that blends e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on software engineering Vol. 22; no. 3; pp. 202 - 217
Main Authors: Paul, S., Prakash, A.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.03.1996
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
IEEE Computer Society
Subjects:
Algebra
Algorithmics. Computability. Computer arithmetics
Applied sciences
Automation
Case studies
Computer engineering
Computer languages
Computer science; control theory; systems
Data mining
Database languages
Documentation
Engineers
Exact sciences and technology
Humans
Information systems. Data bases
Language
Legacy systems
Memory organisation. Data processing
Power
Queries
Query formulation
Reverse engineering
Software
Software engineering
Software maintenance
Software systems
Software tools
Software utilities
Studies
Systems development
Theoretical computing
Control flow
Algebra
Database query
Information flow
Object oriented
Program structure
Program analysis
Query languages
Optimization
ISSN:0098-5589, 1939-3520
Online Access:Get full text
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Description
Summary:Querying source code is an essential aspect of a variety of software engineering tasks such as program understanding, reverse engineering, program structure analysis and program flow analysis. In this paper, we present and demonstrate the use of an algebraic source code query technique that blends expressive power with query compactness. The query framework of Source Code Algebra (SCA) permits users to express complex source code queries and views as algebraic expressions. Queries are expressed on an extensible, object-oriented database that stores program source code. The SCA algebraic approach offers multiple benefits such as an applicative query language, high expressive power, seamless handling of structural and flow information, clean formalism and potential for query optimization. We present a case study where SCA expressions are used to query a program in terms of program organization, resource flow, control flow, metrics and syntactic structure. Our experience with an SCA-based prototype query processor indicates that an algebraic approach to source code queries combines the benefits of expressive power and compact query formulation.
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ISSN:0098-5589
1939-3520
DOI:10.1109/32.489080