Program Analysis by Digital Computer

Abstract

A comparison of the properties of non-modifying and self-modifying programs leads to the definition of independent and dependent instructions. Because non-modifying programs contain only independent instructions, such programs can be analyzed by a straight forward, two -step analysis procedure. First, the program control flow is detected; second, that control flow is used to determine the program data flow or data processing. However, self-modifying programs can also contain dependent instructions, and the program control flows and data flows exhibit cyclic interaction.