Report of research results

We would like to investigate how a binary rewriting framework like Diablo could be used

to optimize code for high performance embedded processors. This is a feasibility study in

preparation of a joint fellowship between UPC and Ghent.

UGhent has developed Diablo, a retargetable link-time binary rewriting framework. While

our focus has been mostly on program compaction, binary rewriting has a much broader

range of applications: speed optimizations, power consumption optimizations, size

optimizations, program obfuscation and watermarking, instrumentation, etc. It is also

very useful for program analysis and understanding. Diablo only works on statically

linked programs. We are looking into supporting dynamically linked programs.

UPC has experience in dynamic linking tracing and interposition techniques. DITools

enables program and libraries reconfiguration to unforeseen extensions and

customizations. We are actually working on system-level optimization for systems on a

chip and we need good compiler and linker support to exploit customization opportunities

to propagate across software layers.

So, both groups are interested in runtime and operating systems optimizations for

embedded processors. We want to explore new ideas on link-time and run-time applications

and system code compaction.

We are applying for seed funding to investigate how we could further collaborate.

Specifically, we plan a couple of 2-3 days trips during the next three moths to have some

technical discussion with our researchers and developers, and to try out our tools. Once

the research plan will be consolidated, we will likely include student exchanges and

perhaps one joint PhD student fellowship.

- Round trip Barcelona - Brussels: 300 euro

- The stay can be 100 per day

- Bjorn De Sutter (UGhent) , brdsutte@elis.ugent.be

- Dominique Chanet (UGhent) , dchanet@elis.ugent.be

- Marisa Gil (UPC) , marisa@ac.upc.edu