A comparative revisitation of some program transformation techniques

Abstract

We revisit the main techniques of program transformation which are used in partial evaluation, mixed computation, supercompilation, generalized partial computation, rule-based program derivation, program specialization, compiling control, and the like. We present a methodology which underlines these techniques as a ‘common pattern of reasoning’ and explains the various correspondences which can be established among them. This methodology consists of three steps: i) symbolic computation, ii) search for regularities, and iii) program extraction. We also discuss some control issues which occur when performing these steps.