Using assertions to improve language translators
Arthur B. Pyster · 1977
New enhancement techniques for language translators based on work in program verification are developed. Assertions are normally added to a program in order to verify the program is correct. Once verified, the assertions are usually ignored. This paper shows that verified assertions often contain information which can improve certain object code characteristics when the program is translated: execution time, storage requirements, and program style. The latter quality is especially important if the object code is itself in a high-level language. The techniques developed fall into three categories: early binding, using complementary constructs, and noting restricted cases.