Apparatus for analyzing source code

• US 4,931,928 A
• Filed: 11/09/1988
• Issued: 06/05/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Norton R. Greenfeld
• Original Assignee: Norton R. Greenfeld
• Inventors: Greenfeld, Norton R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zache, Raulfe B.
• Application Number:
  US07/269,135
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200, 364/300, 364/900
• US Class Current: 717/131
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/427 Parsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/436 Semantic checking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/75 Structural analysis for program understanding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

Apparatus in a computer system provides source code analysis. The apparatus includes an analysis member which extracts programming semantics information from an input source code. The analysis member operates according to the programming language of the source code as defined by a grammar mechanism. The analysis member employs a database interface which enables the extracted programming semantics information to be placed in a user desired database for subsequent recall by a desired query system. The database and query system may be pre-existing elements which are supported by a digital processor independently of the analysis member. A relational database with an SQL query system may be used.

Claims

1. In a computer system, apparatus for analyzing source code comprising:

an analysis member which extracts programming semantics information from an input source code of a user desired program;

data storage memory supported independently of the analysis member for receiving from the analysis member extracted programming semantics information and for holding said extracted programming semantics information; and

query means enabling a user to request and obtain desired information about the input source code from the data storage memory, the user analyzing the source code from the obtained information.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the analysis member includes:

a lexical scanner for separating the source code into tokens according to programming language of the source code;

a parser coupled to the lexical scanner for determining valid syntactic structure according to the programming language of the source code;

semantic analyzing means called by the parser for extracting programming semantics constructs from the input source code; and

a database interface for passing extracted programming semantics information to the data storage member in a format acceptable by support means which support the data storage memory.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a formal grammar mechanism coupled to the lexical scanner and parser for customizing processing of source code to a particular programming language defined by the formal grammar mechanism.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the data storage memory is supported by a relational database management system.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the query means includes a structured query language.

6. In a computer system, apparatus for analyzing source code comprising:

a lexical scanner for separating an input source code of a user chosen program, the lexical scanner separating the source code into tokens according to programming language of the source code;

a parser for receiving the tokens from the lexical scanner and determining valid syntactic structure of the tokens;

semantic analyzing means responsive to the parser for extracting programming semantics constructs from the input source code and therewith generating a multiplicity of programming semantics information of the input source code; and

interface means for receiving the programming semantics information from the semantic analyzing means and formatting the programming semantics information such that the programming semantics information is accessible through a user desired database.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a formal grammar mechanism coupled to the lexical scanner and parser for customizing processing of source code to a particular programming language defined by the formal grammar mechanism.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the interface means formats the programming semantics information for access through a relational database which is supported by independent management means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further comprising query means enabling a user to obtain desired programming semantics information from the user desired database.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the query means include a structured query language.

11. In a computer system, apparatus for analyzing source code comprising:

a general purpose relational database which is accessible by various tasks and supported by independent management means;

an analysis member for extracting programming semantics information from an input source code of a subject program;

a database interface component coupled to the analysis member for formatting and placing the extracted programming semantics information into the general purpose relational database; and

a structured query language for accessing user desired programming semantics information from the database upon user command, a user being able to analyze the source code from the accessed information.

12. In a computer system, a method of analyzing source code, the steps comprising:

providing apparatus for extracting programming semantics information from an input source code of a user desired program;

formatting the extracted information for storage in a preexisting database supported by independent management means;

storing the formatted information in the database; and

requesting and obtaining desired programming semantics information from the database using query means.

13. A method of analyzing source code as claimed in claim 12 wherein the step of providing apparatus includes providing:

a lexical scanner for separating the source code into tokens according to programming language of the source code;

a parser coupled to the lexical scanner for determining valid syntactic structure; and

semantic analyzing means called by the parser for extracting programming semantics constructs from the input source code.

14. A method of analyzing source code as claimed in claim 13 wherein the step of providing apparatus further includes providing a formal grammar mechanism coupled to the lexical scanner and parser for customizing processing of source code to a particular programming language defined by the formal grammar mechanism.

15. A method of analyzing source code as claimed in claim 12 wherein the preexisting database is a relational database;

and

further comprising a relational database management system for supporting the relational database.

16. A method of analyzing source code as claimed in claim 12 wherein the step of requesting and obtaining using query means includes employing a structured query language.

17. A method of analyzing source code as claimed in claim 12 wherein the step of storing the formatted information includes isolating the extracted information which is to be formatted from the management means of the database.

18. In a computer system, a method of providing information about a user selected source code for user analysis of the source code, the steps comprising:

extracting programming semantics information from each file of an input source code, the step of extracting including for each file, isolating the extracted information of the file from the extracted infromation of the other files;

formatting the extracted information for storage in and access through a user desired database system; and

through a query system coupled to the database system, providing desired programming semantics information from the database upon user request.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the step of extracting includes:

building a semantics tree structure for representing each expression in the source code, each element of an expression being represented by a node of the tree structure the nodes being ordered according to the expression and location of each element in the source code being indicated in the tree structure;

assigning each node a context as a function of use in the source code of the element represented by the respective node;

traversing the tree structure from node to node in order according to the expressions represented by the nodes, and at each node, asserting to an interface component (i) relationship of the respective element, (ii) location in the source code of the element and (iii) context assigned to the node; and

the interface component performing the step of formatting the extracted information.