Target-Sensitive Construction of Diagnostic Programs for Procedure Calling Sequence Generators

Building compilers that generate correct code is difficult. In this paper we present a compiler testing technique that closes the gap between actual compiler implementations and correct compilers. Using formal specifications of procedure calling conventions, we have built a target-sensitive test suite generator that builds test cases for a specific aspect of compiler code generators: the procedure calling sequence generator. By exercising compilers with these target-specific test suites, our automated testing tool has been able to expose and isolate 8 bugs in heavily used production-quality compilers. These bugs cause more than 700 test cases to fail.

Bailey, Mark, and Jack Davidson. "Target-Sensitive Construction of Diagnostic Programs for Procedure Calling Sequence Generators." University of Virginia Dept. of Computer Science Tech Report (1995).