Cause Clue Clauses: Error Localization using Maximum Satisfiability

Much effort is spent everyday by programmers in trying to reduce long, failing execution traces to the cause of the error. We present a new algorithm for error cause localization based on a reduction to the maximal satisfiability problem (MAX-SAT), which asks what is the maximum number of clauses of a Boolean formula that can be simultaneously satisfied by an assignment. At an intuitive level, our algorithm takes as input a program and a failing test, and comprises the following three steps. First, using symbolic execution, we encode a trace of a program as a Boolean trace formula which is satisfiable iff the trace is feasible. Second, for a failing program execution (e.g., one that violates an assertion or a post-condition), we construct an unsatisfiable formula by taking the trace formula and additionally asserting that the input is the failing test and that the assertion condition does hold at the end. Third, using MAX-SAT, we find a maximal set of clauses in this formula that can be satisfied together, and output the complement set as a potential cause of the error. We have implemented our algorithm in a tool called bug-assist for C programs. We demonstrate the surprising effectiveness of the tool on a set of benchmark examples with injected faults, and show that in most cases, bug-assist can quickly and precisely isolate the exact few lines of code whose change eliminates the error. We also demonstrate how our algorithm can be modified to automatically suggest fixes for common classes of errors such as off-by-one.Comment: The pre-alpha version of the tool can be downloaded from http://bugassist.mpi-sws.or

Proton-proton fusion in lattice effective field theory

The proton-proton fusion rate is calculated at low energy in a lattice effective field theory (EFT) formulation. The strong and the Coulomb interactions are treated non-perturbatively at leading order in the EFT. The lattice results are shown to accurately describe the low energy cross section within the validity of the theory at energies relevant to solar physics. In prior work in the literature, Coulomb effects were generally not included in non-perturbative lattice calculations. Work presented here is of general interest in nuclear lattice EFT calculations that involve Coulomb effects at low energy. It complements recent developments of the adiabatic projection method for lattice calculations of nuclear reactions.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figure