A unified processor model for compiler verification and simulation using ASM

Abstract

For safety critical embedded systems the correctness of the processor, toolchain and compiler is an important issue. Translation validation is one approach for compiler verification. A common semantic framework to represent source and target language is needed and Abstract State Machines (ASMs) are a well suited and established method. In this paper we present a method to show correctness of instruction selection by performing fully automated simulation proofs over symbolic execution traces of state transformations using an automated first-order theorem prover. We applied this approach to an industrial-strength compiler and created the ASM models in such a way that we are able to reuse them to create a cycle-accurate simulator. To achieve fast simulation we compile the ASM models to C++ and present the compilation scheme in this paper. Finally we present our preliminary results which indicate that a unified ASM model is sufficient for proving correct instruction selection and generating efficient cycle-accurate simulators. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.