Static Specification Mining Using Automata-Based Abstractions

We present a novel approach to client-side mining of temporal API specifications based on static analysis. Specifically, we present an interprocedural analysis over a combined domain that abstracts both aliasing and event sequences for individual objects. The analysis uses a new family of automata-b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on software engineering Vol. 34; no. 5; pp. 651 - 666
Main Authors: Shoham, S., Yahav, E., Fink, S.J., Pistoia, M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: New York IEEE 01.09.2008
IEEE Computer Society
Subjects:
Abstracts
Algorithms
Aliasing
Analysis
API
Automata
Automation
Behavior
Clustering algorithms
Clusters
Complement
Data mining
Digital Object Identifier
Formal methods
Formal specifications
Internet
Java
Libraries
Mining
Noise
Pattern analysis
Search engines
Software
Software engineering
Software/Program Verification
Specification
Specifications
Specifying and Verifying and Reasoning about Programs
Studies
Temporal logic
Use statistics
Validation
Validation
Software/Program Verification
Specification
Formal methods
Specifying and Verifying and Reasoning about Programs
ISSN:0098-5589, 1939-3520
Online Access:Get full text
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Description
Summary:We present a novel approach to client-side mining of temporal API specifications based on static analysis. Specifically, we present an interprocedural analysis over a combined domain that abstracts both aliasing and event sequences for individual objects. The analysis uses a new family of automata-based abstractions to represent unbounded event sequences, designed to disambiguate distinct usage patterns and merge similar usage patterns. Additionally, our approach includes an algorithm that summarizes abstract traces based on automata clusters, and effectively rules out spurious behaviors. We show experimental results mining specifications from a number of Java clients and APIs. The results indicate that effective static analysis for client-side mining requires fairly precise treatment of aliasing and abstract event sequences. Based on the results, we conclude that static client-side specification mining shows promise as a complement or alternative to dynamic approaches.
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ISSN:0098-5589
1939-3520
DOI:10.1109/TSE.2008.63