Impact of Software Optimization on Variable Lifetimes in a Microprocessor-Based System

Abstract

Assessing and improving the level of system robustness with respect to soft errors has become one of the main design challenges, especially when designing critical embedded systems. In systems using microprocessors (e.g. most of SoCs) the system dependability is strongly correlated with the variable lifetimes. In this paper, we discuss the impact of compilation optimizations on the lifetimes in both memory blocks and internal processor registers. Evaluations on many significant examples show that specific optimization options are required when the reliability is more important than execution time or code size.

Compiler Optimizations Impact the Reliability of the Control-Flow of Radiation-Hardened Software

“…Again, it was found that the patricia application was the one with the highest reduction in the AVF at 13%. Bergaoui and Leveugle (2011) analyzed the impact of compiler optimizations on data reliability in terms of variable liveness. Liveness of a variable is the time period between the variable that is written and it is last read before a new write operation.…”

Compiler Optimizations Do Impact the Reliability of Control-Flow Radiation Hardened Embedded Software

“…In [17] the authors analyze the impact of compiler optimizations on data reliability in terms of variable liveness. Liveness of a variable is the time period between the variable is written and it is last read before a new write operation.…”