CSC 7110: Software Engineering Environments and Tools

Winter Term 2010
Meetings: Monday and Wednesday 03:00PM - 04:20PM
Room: 0400 STAT (State Hall)
Instructor: Prof. Marwan Abi-Antoun
E-mail: (Please include CSC 7110 in the subject line for faster replies.)
Phone: (313) 577-2831 (Please call only during regular office hours. However, you may send email anytime.)
Office: 448 State Hall
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 4:30PM – 6:00PM or by appointment.

Blackboard: Important information will be posted on Blackboard (http://blackboard.wayne.edu).

Class Overview

This class is about software analysis tools and will cover the following topics:

• Static analysis tools:
  • Principles of static analysis
  • Applications
  • Assignments: write a plugin using the Eclipse Abstract Syntax Tree to perform some static analysis
• Dynamic analysis tools:
  • General principles for dynamic analysis and infrastructure
  • Applications
  • Assignments: run a dynamic analysis tool
• Evaluation of tools:
  • Exploratory and evaluative studies
  • Analytical studies (case studies, extended examples)
  • Assignment: evaluate research/commercial tool
• Other assignments::
  • Probe a software system for security violations
  • Analyze the code structure of a system

Prerequisites

• Working knowledge of the Java programming language or similar (C++, C#, etc.)
• Good knowledge of software engineering principles (CSC 4110, CSC 6110, or equivalent)
• Or instructor's approval

Schedule of Topics, Readings, and Assignments

The slides for the lectures will be in Blackboard. This schedule is tentative and subject to change. Please check back regularly. A date with an asterisk * indicates an exception to the office hours. Please make an appointment to see the instructor at a different time if needed. The important deadlines are highlighted. Generally, all assignments are due before class on the due date.

Academic integrity: Violations of academic integrity will be handled in accordance with the WSU policy.

Special accommodations: If you have a documented disability that requires accommodations, you will need to register with Student Disability Services for coordination of your academic accommodations. The Student Disability Services (SDS) office is located at 1600 David Adamany Undergraduate Library in the Student Academic Success Services department. SDS telephone number is 313-577-1851 or 313-577-3365 (TDD only). Once you have your accommodations in place, I will be glad to meet with you privately during my office hours to discuss your special needs. Student Disability Services’ mission is to assist the university in creating an accessible community where students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to fully participate in their educational experience at Wayne State University.
 

Evaluation

• Assignments (~60%)
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of analysis techniques/li>
  • Evaluate engineering tradeoffs
• Course Project (~15%)
  • Evaluate analysis tool
  • Written report and in-class presentations
  • Write and apply custom analyses
• Written Exam (Mid-Term) (~15%)
  • Theory and engineering
• Class Participation and Readings (~10%)
  • Reading questions on papers from the literature
  • Discussion, presentations in class

Late Work Policy

Possible topics

• Design Analysis (Code Structure): Design Structure Matrices/Lattix LDM
• Profiling
• Analytical studies extended examples
• Protocol checking (Plural)
• Program analyses related to program comprehension
• Points-to analysis
• Alias analysis
• Call graph and control flow analysis
• Information flow analysis
• Reverse Engineering and Architectural Recovery Analysis
• SOOT: bytecode analysis

Possible assignments

• Assignment: design analysis

• Assignment: security analysis

Possible readings

• Pointer Analysis: Haven't We Solved This Problem Yet?

Credits and Acknowledgements

This course reuses, by written permission, material by Professors Jonathan Aldrich and William Scherlis from Carnegie Mellon University.

Last Updated: Monday, May 03, 2010 09:57:33 AM