Sunday, May 07, 2006
Software analysis predicts system memory demands
A novel software analysis tool enables development teams to accurately predict the maximum size of the memory stack required to host an embedded software application.
New from AdaCore, Gnatstack is a software analysis tool that enables development teams to accurately predict the maximum size of the memory stack required to host an embedded software application. Gnatstack is an important component of AdaCore's high-integrity solution (Gnat Pro HIE), which is an enhanced ada development environment used for building safety-critical, embedded software applications that require certification. The tool is targeted at system designers creating high integrity and high reliability embedded applications.
'Manually calculating the amount of memory that should be allocated to a memory stack increases the risk that an embedded application will use more memory on the stack than is available, which can result in memory corruption, unpredictable execution, or a fatal system crash', said AdaCore Senior Software Engineer Jose Ruiz.
'Gnatstack uses data generated by the compiler to determine the worst-case stack requirements'.
'This output is used to ensure that sufficient memory is reserved for the stack(s), and to guarantee that the software application executes safely'.
Gnatstack calculates the worst-case stack requirements for every stack entry point by performing per-subprogram stack usage as well as control flow analysis.
The tool provides an audit trail for the certification of high integrity and high reliability applications, and can detect and display a list of potential problems when calculating the stack requirements.
New from AdaCore, Gnatstack is a software analysis tool that enables development teams to accurately predict the maximum size of the memory stack required to host an embedded software application. Gnatstack is an important component of AdaCore's high-integrity solution (Gnat Pro HIE), which is an enhanced ada development environment used for building safety-critical, embedded software applications that require certification. The tool is targeted at system designers creating high integrity and high reliability embedded applications.
'Manually calculating the amount of memory that should be allocated to a memory stack increases the risk that an embedded application will use more memory on the stack than is available, which can result in memory corruption, unpredictable execution, or a fatal system crash', said AdaCore Senior Software Engineer Jose Ruiz.
'Gnatstack uses data generated by the compiler to determine the worst-case stack requirements'.
'This output is used to ensure that sufficient memory is reserved for the stack(s), and to guarantee that the software application executes safely'.
Gnatstack calculates the worst-case stack requirements for every stack entry point by performing per-subprogram stack usage as well as control flow analysis.
The tool provides an audit trail for the certification of high integrity and high reliability applications, and can detect and display a list of potential problems when calculating the stack requirements.
# posted by Swathi @ 8:34 PM 
